MARGAO: The numbers are alarming. And they give out a clear message. Our elderly are nr only saddened and afraid but are nursing wounds – both physical and mental
70 per cent of senior citizens are facing emotional and psychological abuses, besides 65 per cent of the elderly have been financially exploited in Goa.
On Wednesday, All Goa Senior Citizen Federation, in collaboration with HelpAge India, marked the World Elderly Abuse Awareness Day at Margao, wherein a special report was released at the hands of Vinayak Valvoikar, Director of Provedoria, pertaining to the abuses on senior citizens.
While the date for the rest of the country is alarming and some of the important numbers are reflected in boxes outside this story, the figures for Goa should make every Goan hang their head in shame.
Nearly 55 per cent of the elderly have been also physically abused in Goa In addition, 15 per cent of senior citizens (which could include those who have also been physically abused) have been abused with disrespect and 5 per cent by neglecting them.
During the survey, HelpAge India, also found that 42 per cent of theelderly think elder abuse is prevalent in society. 45 per cent of senior citizens who face the abuses do nothing
The report on abuses of senior citizens further revealed that nearly 45 per cent of senior citizens who face the abuses do nothing and hardly 2 per cent take support from an NGO. Shockingly, 2 percent of victims prefer to cry and feel depressed and hardly 3 percent report it to the police.
89% of widowed women have faced social discrimination 59 per cent of elderly women have said that the environment of their home is not employment friendly, stated in the report. HelpAge India report also revealed that nearly 30 per cent of elderly women have faced discrimination due to gender and 89 per cent of elderly women have faced social discrimination due to marital status ie widowed.
According to the report, 58 per cent of elderly women worry about getting physically harmed. At the same time, nearly 11 per cent of elderly women don’t feel safe and secure in the neighbourhood area.
THE WAY FORWARD: Make safety and security of senior citizens a priority The top three suggestions suggested in the report to prevent or reduce the occurrence of elder abuse include: raising awareness about elder abuse through education campaigns, strengthening laws and penalties for elder abuse offenders and providing training to caregivers on recognizing and addressing elder abuse.
However, 80 per cent feel that an increase in support from family members at home could be the best measure to make the elderly feel safe. Similarly, 43 per cent of the elderly are not able to manage the burden of caretaking roles.
Reacting to the report released on Wednesday, Dattaprasad Pawaskar, HelpAge India-Goa State In-charge said that there is an increase in abuse against elderly persons.
“More and more senior citizens, especially women, should come on the platform of senior citizen association and form a self-support system”, he stated.
Vinayak Valvoikar, Director Department of Provedoria feels that value education must include ‘elder care and respect’.
Vinod Prabhudesai, a senior citizen of Margao told O Heraldo that the report released by HelpAge India is an alarming one and hence society needs to take the issue of abuse to elders seriously.
“Forget about the physical abuse, the abuse at an emotional level is a dangerous one. Society needs to respect the elders,” he said.
