World Elder abuse awareness day is being recognized each year on June 15, launched by the international network for the prevention of Elder Abuse (INPEA)
We have an aging population
and the number of older people is expected to be 1.4 billion by 2030. According
to WHO, elder abuse can be defined as "a single, or repeated act, or lack
of appropriate action, occurring within any relationship where there is an
expectation of trust which causes harm or distress to an older person".
·
Around
1 in 6 people 60 years and older experienced some form of abuse in community
settings during the past year.
·
Rates
of abuse of older people are high in institutions such as nursing homes and
long-term care facilities, with 2 in 3 staff reporting that they have committed
abuse in the past year.
·
Rates
of abuse of older people have increased during the COVID-19 pandemic.
·
Abuse
of older people can lead to serious physical injuries and long-term
psychological consequences.
·
Abuse
of older people is predicted to increase as many countries are experiencing
rapidly ageing populations.
·
The
global population of people aged 60 years and older will more than double, from
900 million in 2015 to about 2 billion in 2050.
In different parts of the world, elder abuse is something that is
not being recognized and is normalized too. Different organizations and
communities come together to raise awareness and bring greater recognition to
elder abuse on this day. The Group of Friends for Older Persons (GoFOP) within
the United Nations organized an event in commemoration of the 10th Anniversary
of the World Elder Abuse Awareness Day in 2015 on “Elder abuse vs. violence
against older persons: what are the differences and what are the solutions ?”.
How
to Recognize Elder Abuse
One of the most insidious
forms of abuse is elder abuse. This is any act or omission that causes someone
who is over the age of 60 years old to experience physical, sexual, or
emotional abuse.
There are a few key signs
that you should watch out for when it comes to elder abuse. For example,
someone may become withdrawn and isolate themselves from friends and family.
They may also exhibit changes in mood or behavior that are out of the ordinary
for them. If you see any of these signs, it is important to talk to your loved
one about their safety and get professional help.
World Elder Abuse
Awareness Day is an important day to remember all those who have been abused by
an older person. It is important to be aware of the warning signs so that you
can help protect your loved ones from this type of abuse.
Individual level characteristics which increase the risk of becoming a
victim of abuse include functional dependence/disability, poor physical health,
cognitive impairment, poor mental health and low income. Individual level
characteristics which increase the risk of becoming a perpetrator of abuse
include mental illness, substance abuse and dependency – often financial – of
the abuser on the victim. At the relationship level, the type of relationship
(e.g., spouse/partner or child/parent) and marital status may be associated
with an elevated risk of abuse, but these factors vary by country and region.
Community- and societal-level factors linked to elder abuse may include ageism
against older people and certain cultural norms (e.g., normalization of
violence). Social support and living alone reduce the likelihood of elder abuse
(5).
Scope of the problem
Abuse
of older people is an important public health problem. A 2017 review of 52
studies in 28 countries from diverse regions estimated that over the past year
1 in 6 people (15.7%) aged 60 years and older were subjected to some form of
abuse (1). Although rigorous data are limited, the review provides
prevalence estimates of the proportion of older people affected by different
types of abuse (see Table 1).
Data on the extent of the problem in institutions such as hospitals, nursing
homes and other long-term care facilities are scarce. However, a review of
recent studies on abuse of older people in institutional settings (2)
indicates that 64.2% of staff reported perpetrating some form of abuse in the
past year.
Table 1: Systematic reviews and meta-analyses
|
|
ABUSE OF OLDER PEOPLE
IN COMMUNITY SETTINGS |
ABUSE OF OLDER PEOPLE
IN INSTITUTIONAL SETTINGS |
|
|
Type of abuse |
Reported by older adults |
Reported by older adults and their
proxies |
Reported by staff |
|
Overall prevalence |
15.7% |
Not enough data |
64.2% or 2 in 3 staff |
|
Psychological abuse: |
11.6% |
33.4% |
32.5% |
|
Physical abuse: |
2.6% |
14.1% |
9.3% |
|
Financial abuse: |
6.8% |
13.8% |
Not enough data |
|
Neglect: |
4.2% |
11.6% |
12.0% |
|
Sexual abuse: |
0.9% |
1.9% |
0.7% |
Emerging evidence indicates that the prevalence of abuse
of older people in both the community and in institutions have increased during
the COVID-19 pandemic. A US study, for instance, suggests that rates in the
community may have increased by as much as
Globally, the number of cases of elder abuse is projected
to increase as many countries have rapidly ageing populations. Even if the
proportion of victims of abuse of older people remains constant, the global
number of victims will increase rapidly due to population ageing, growing to
some 320 million victims by 2050, as the global population of people aged 60
years and more increases to 2 billion by 2050.
What
to Do if You Suspect Elder Abuse
On World Elder Abuse
Awareness Day, we want to remind everyone that elder abuse is an issue that
needs to be taken very seriously. If you think someone is being abused, there
are steps you can take to help get them the help they need.
First, if you are worried
about your own safety or that of the elder person, contact a trusted friend or
family member for support. You may also want to call a hotline or emergency
service in your area.
If you are the elder
person being abused, it is important to know that you do have rights and
options. You may want to speak with an attorney or a therapist to learn more
about your rights and how to protect yourself. Remember: You are not
responsible for the abuse, but you can protect yourself and report the abuse if
you are afraid for your safety or the elder person’s.
Prevention
Many strategies have been tried to prevent and respond to
abuse of older people, but evidence for the effectiveness of most of these
interventions is limited at present. Strategies considered most promising
include caregiver interventions, which provide services to relieve the burden
of caregiving; money management programmes for older adults vulnerable to
financial exploitation; helplines and emergency shelters; and
multi-disciplinary teams, as the responses required often cut across many
systems, including criminal justice, health care, mental health care, adults
protective services and long-term care (5).
In some countries, the health sector has taken a leading
role in raising public concern about abuse of older people, while in others the
social welfare sector has taken the lead. Globally, too little is known about
elder abuse and how to prevent it, particularly in developing countries.
COVID 19 AND ITS IMPACTS ON ELDER
ABUSE
Covid 19 had detrimental impacts on older people in developed and
developing countries. Research indicates that the abuse of older people has
increased during the pandemic in both community and institutional settings. The
global number of people who are abused has increased rapidly and it can
increase up to 350 million by 2050.
The reports warned us about the rise of cases of abuse against older
persons. This includes physical, sexual, psychological, and financial
exploitation. Elder people were at high risk of illness and mortality and were
also denounced through abusive language. They had to face the consequences of
the abuse, which has a longer impact and it is hard for them to recover from
it.
To prevent and respond to these abuses, many countries have taken measures
in the health sector in raising concerns about elder abuse. There are many
strategies constructed like caregiving interventions, adult protective
services, long-term care, helplines, emergency shelters, and money management
programs to help them from financial exploitation.
On this World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, WHO with its partners
published “Tackling Abuse Of Older People: five priorities for the UN Decade of
Healthy Ageing (2021–2030)". The five priorities are :
●
Combatting
Ageism
●
Increase
awareness about the problem
●
Develop
a cost-effective solution to stop the abuse
●
Raise
funds to tackle the problem
●
Make
an investment case focusing on how addressing the issue is money well spent
Conclusion
On World Elder Abuse
Awareness Day, we should all be reminded of the importance of raising awareness
about this issue. Sadly, elder abuse is a serious problem that affects millions
of people around the world. Each year, it costs governments an estimated $100
billion to care for elderly citizens who are victims of abuse and neglect. In
order to reduce elder abuse and improve the quality of life for those affected
by it, we need to continue raising awareness about this issue and work together
to find solutions.
Resources
https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/abuse-of-older-people
https://news.sd.gov/newsitem.aspx?id=28168
Written by- Shivani and Hridhu Lakshmi M
Very nicely written
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