Communities, families should care for the elderly not abuse them
World Elder Awareness Day is a day to tell people it is not okay to abuse the elderly.
Age-in-Action joins the world in commemorating World Elder Abuse Awareness Day on June 15 every year.
The organisation takes to the streets to voice its disdain with the scourge of elder abuse and to teach communities about the invaluable role of older people in society.
Despite the efforts of national and international NGOs and governments to create awareness about the value of the elderly and their human rights, all too often they are mistreated and forgotten and in many instances not seen as contributors to society.
Age-in-Action embraced the World Elder Abuse Awareness Day campaign 13 years ago when INPEA launched the day.
Many stakeholders felt that this launch was long overdue as many elderly people were not being treated with the dignity and respect they deserved.
Many elderly people fought the fight for liberation, yet they are still bound by the shackles of poverty, abuse and neglect.
Instead of enjoying their twilight years, many are living in fear of victimisation, abuse and neglect often at the hands of unscrupulous family members
Age-in-Action hopes to relay the message that it is not okay to abuse the elderly to as many South Africans as possible.
Types of abuse:
• Physical abuse:
Acts that cause injury or physical discomfort.
Examples of physical abuse are slapping, pushing, hitting, restraining, bruising, burning and cutting.
Signs of physical abuse are among others bruises, burns, swelling and unexplained injuries.
• Emotional/psychological abuse:
Emotional/psychological abuse is acts that inflict emotional or mental suffering.
Examples of emotional abuse are being ignored, insulted, blamed, humiliated, isolated, blackmailed, sworn at, treated as a child, called names, shouted at and intimidation.
Signs are nervousness, agitation, anxiety, low self-esteem, fear and withdrawal and depression.
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• Financial/material abuse:
The misuse of funds and assets, or obtaining property or funds without the full consent or knowledge of the elderly person or under duress.
Illegal exploitation of funds, property, assets, pension or other monies, as well as theft, fraud and damage are examples of financial abuse.
• Social/physical isolation:
Locking an older person away in a room or abandonment.
• Passive neglect:
The failure to fulfill care needs.
It is the withholding of or not providing the care and basic necessities required for physical and mental well-being – this includes withholding of food, warmth, clothing, essential medication and deliberate abandonment.
Signs of passive neglect are untreated medical conditions, malnutrition, dehydration, dirty living conditions and a dirty physical appearance.
• Self-abuse/neglect:
The failure to care for him/herself, abuse of alcohol, drugs and improper diet.
• Sexual abuse:
Sexual behaviour towards a person without their full knowledge and/or consent – sexual assault or harassment.
Signs of sexual abuse are bruising, bleeding, pain or injury in the abdominal, anal and genital areas, recurrent bouts of cystitis or venereal disease and/or symptoms of emotional abuse.
• Violation of human rights:
The withholding of information or dominating decision making.
It is the denial of fundamental rights, for example, respect for dignity, personal privacy, freedom of thought, belief, opinion, speech, expression and movement.
Elderly people have the right to freedom, security, accurate information and not to be subjected to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment.
The key to supporting the numerous challenges older people face as a result of the HIV/Aids pandemic, drug abuse by grandchildren in their care, abuse and financial hardship lies in interventions at familial and community level.
Successful awareness campaigns can only be achieved through collaboration with all levels of society.
Fighting the scourge of abuse and finding interventions that will aid the grandparents to shoulder their quadruple burden of care remains a collective responsibility.
For more information call 073 928 3560 or email to gauteng@age-in-action.co.za.
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