World Elder Abuse Awareness Day: Warning signs and solutions
To highlight the signs of elder abuse and explain the rights and options that elderly people should have, Cheryl Naidoo, manager of the Durban Association for the Aged, spoke to Caxton Local Media.
HELP spread the word for World Elder Abuse Awareness Day on Thursday, June 15. It can be hard to imagine that anyone would deliberately want to harm an elderly person, but unfortunately, elder abuse is a widespread problem. Some instances of elder abuse are intended to exploit the person financially; you’ve probably heard of scams targeting seniors. In other cases, it’s simple negligence: Caregivers don’t provide the basic necessities, like nutritious food, appropriate medication, safety, or assistance with hygiene.
World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, or WEAAD, is an annual initiative that was launched on June 15, 2006, by the International Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse and the World Health Organisation. In its 66/127 resolution, the United Nations General Assembly designated that date as World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, a day in which the entire world voices its opposition to any form of abuse of the older generation.
To highlight the signs of elder abuse and explain the rights and options that elderly people should have, Cheryl Naidoo, manager of the Durban Association for the Aged, spoke to Caxton Local Media.
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The Durban Association for the Aged
“Elder abuse is a global issue affecting older people and has been regarded as a social problem across various genders, cultures and racial groups. The Durban Association for the Aged is a registered non-profit organisation that was formed on December 5, 1970 and has been at the forefront of combating elder abuse and rendering social services to older persons. The association is situated at 145 Lemuria Grove, Arena Park, Chatsworth, however, services are rendered throughout the entire eThekwini Municipality district,” said Naidoo.
The association is immensely involved in various programmes that support elderly people. “Our organisation has been a pillar of hope for many senior citizens by rendering social services and community programmes aimed at empowering senior citizens. The association is committed to rendering professional social services at no cost to older persons. Elder abuse is a concerning issue in South Africa as there are rising statistics of elder abuse in many communities. There is a growing demand for social workers, as it is regarded as a scarce skill with few employment opportunities in the country. However, there is a growing need for social services and improvements in the welfare sector which are responsible for the protection of vulnerable groups. There is also a plea for support from communities to support the NPO sector that accepted the responsibility to render services to older people,” she said.
What is elder abuse?
Naidoo describes elder abuse as a deliberate/intentional act against an older person, causing harm, which affects him/her. “There are various types of abuse, such as physical abuse, verbal abuse, emotional abuse, psychological abuse and financial abuse,” she said.
Naidoo says there are various risk factors that could lead to someone abusing an elder, such as:
- Age
- Mental illness and health conditions
- Social isolation
- Substance abuse
- Economic circumstances
- Dysfunctional family
- Housing needs
- Disability
- Intolerance towards older persons
The DAFTA manager says it is important for loved ones or caretakers of the elderly to look out for the following signs in their elder: “Depression, anxiety, signs of PTSD, physical signs, anti-social behaviour, poor sleeping, change in eating patterns and addiction.”
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Solutions
Naidoo says that it is important to report abuse. “Report any form of abuse to the police. Open a case with SAPS. Apply for a protection order from the local magistrate’s court. Cooperate with social workers and investigating officers during the investigation. Be willing to be accommodated at a safe house during a life-threatening situation.”
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