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Submitted by Sen on 14 June 2018
Image showing an elderly person in a red shirt over a white T-shirt reacting to verbal abuse and neglect by placing his head over his hands

Understanding neglect, disrespect and other forms of Elder Abuse with Sonali Sharma, Communications Director, Helpage India and how to protect yourself against abuse. Spotlight on the programmes organised for Elder Abuse Awareness Day on June 15.

‘While the taboo topic of elder abuse has started to gain visibility across the world, it remains one of the least investigated types of violence in national surveys, and one of the least addressed in national action plans’ : How much would you agree with this and why?

I would totally agree with this. India is largely a country where elders are given respect. This has always been a part of Indian culture. But with urbanisation, and specially with technological advancement, that equation is changing. Senior citizens, by and large, are not being able to keep up with the rapid use of technology that the younger generation remains so immersed in. There are umpteen cases in which a senior person is trying to talk to the son or daughter who cannot even bother to reply, as he is too busy with his smartphone or ipad.

But these cases go largely unreported. There are two main reasons why the older people do not like to go to the authorities to lodge any complaint: One is concern for family honour, and the second is fear from the abuser or fear of retaliation. Because ultimately they will have to come and live with the abuser.

This has been a growing concern in the last 10 to 15 years and our surveys reveal neglect and verbal abuse to be the most common type of abuses perpetrated towards the old members of the family. They are increasingly made to feel that they are no longer the financial resource for the family. So, often they are pushed under the carpet. Retired people especially have to face this treatment. They are often considered a burden on the family.

As far as our country is concerned, what would you say is the most common type of elder abuse?

Neglect is the most common form of elder abuse in our country, and, of course, disrespect.

Is it that elder abuse has gained momentum in our country over the past few years, or has it been always a reality? To what extent has it increased recently?

I think elder abuse has always been a reality in our country. But no one has been talking about it. There is usually a mix of three kinds of elder abuse: disrespect, neglect and verbal abuse. Disrespect would mean something like ignoring or even a condescending attitude. We feel, just as the growth of technology is really amazing, but when older people fail to pick it up and the younger people do not take the trouble to teach them, it is tantamount to neglect. So, the excessive use of technology by the younger people often turns into a slow menace. Not helping the older people to move with the times amounts to disrespect and neglect. Therefore, there is a lack of patience and a lack of desire to strike a balance.

What are the factors to which you would ascribe this rise in elder abuse?

There are many factors which are at play here: a lack of adjustment with the elderly, economic and emotional dependence of the old people and a changing cultural ethos. Property also often plays a big role.

Do you think elder abuse is an under reported problem? Why?

Yes it is under reported for various reasons. There is fear of retaliation, there is family honour to think of as well as to maintain confidentiality in the family. Often the older people do not know how to deal with it and what recourse to take. The other overriding concern for them is whether reporting the problem will actually solve the problem or not.

Even though abuse in any form is to be looked down upon, what according to you is the worst form of abuse? And why?

This is difficult to say. There is no justification for hitting, and that is a rampant form of abuse. On a personal note, I would classify physical and verbal abuse and even disrespect to be the worst forms of abuse. And neglect of the senior people as well.

How does an organisation like yours exactly help the abused? What has been your success rate?

From the changing ethos point of view, we conduct digital empowerment workshops for the elder groups to make them more conversant with the technology of today. Older people also tend to be lonely, so we try to create a social life for them. We urge them to remain active. We also have an Elder helpline 1800 180 1253, a Toll Free all India number. Property issues often turn serious for them. So we conduct workshops to empower them and help them learn to take care of their properties. We tell them how to plan their finances properly and prevent them from giving the property away. We try to create a cushion around them. So it is a twin kind of support: Outlet and protection.

How far does an Elder Abuse Awareness Day on 15th June take forward the issue?

Massively. On the 14th we are going to release a report on Elder Abuse, which is marked on a global scale. We need to accept that Elder Abuse exists and we also need to talk about it. We have been one of the pioneers to talk about it. There is an act called the Parent Maintenance Act, which is a legislation passed in 2007 to provide more effective provision for maintenance and welfare of parents and senior citizens. We also discuss this act with the senior citizens as well as other people, to make everyone more aware that such an act exists. On 15th June in Delhi we have organised a march on Parliament Street. We conduct marches where older people participate, holding placards, saying “I know you are busy. Do you have some time to spare?’. We try to give a platform to the old people where they can talk about the issue which sends messages out to the younger generation as to where they are going wrong. These programmes help them get both visibility and respect.

Helpage also runs a programme called SAVE, which is an acronym for Student Action for Value Education, which consists of three core tenets: Inculcating values of care and respect for the elderly in school going children, preparing today’s children and youth for their old age and creating an age friendly society. Helpage runs this programme with the expressed aim of encouraging these values in children at a very young age.

How can elders protect themselves pro-actively from abuse?

They need to follow certain basic rules, and this is what we advise them,

  • Don’t give your property away during your lifetime.
  • You can install a CCTV inside the house to record any untoward incident.
  • Please follow the Parent Maintenance Act.
  • Try and be socially active.
  • Plan your finances properly so that you don’t have to be dependent later.
  • Join digital literacy workshops to make yourself more self-sufficient and confident.
  • Save the Elder Helpline 1800 180 1253, a Toll Free all India number.