Home alone: Don't forget the elderly

Home alone: Don't forget the elderly -Anthony Thanasayan

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Created on Thursday, 02 October 2014 10:40

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Written by Anthony Thanasayan

Category: Columnist

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INTERNATIONAL DAY of Older Persons was observed all over the globe yesterday.

It is a day designated by the United Nations General Assembly a quarter of a century ago for Older Persons.

This year's theme was 'Leaving No One Behind: Promoting a Society for All'.

The UN points out that the guiding principle of the theme 'Leaving No-One Behind'  "necessitates the understanding that demography matters for sustainable development and population dynamics will shape the key developmental challenges for the world in confronting the 21st century.

"If our ambition is to 'Build the Future We Want', we must address the population over 60 which is expected to reach 1.4 billion by 2030."

I came across some very disturbing facts on the UN's website about how the elderly are victimised around the world.

Shockingly, these are persons aged 80 years or older who suffer abuse and neglect two to three times their proportion of the older population.

Among the known perpetrators of such abuse and neglect are family members; they account for 90 percent of the cases.

Two-thirds of the perpetrators are adult children or spouses.

The offenders are most commonly close relatives, especially grown-up children, the spouse or siblings.

Less often is the abuser a son or daughter, an in-law, a grandchild, a niece or nephew, a  friend or neighbour.

The typical target is a frail, ailing woman who is more than 70 years old.

The UN report goes on to say that in most cases, the victim and the abuser live in the same household in social isolation from friends, neighbours and kin who might otherwise informally deter the wrongdoing.

When homebound parents are physically beaten or financially exploited, sons are the most likely culprits.

When daughters and daughters-in-law are abusive, their maltreatment usually takes the form of emotional and physical neglect.

Mistreatment by home health aides and nursing-home staff members is also suspected to be commonplace.

Older persons who are mistreated can suffer from severe emotional distress, especially depression, and are likely to die more quickly.

I personally know of at least two cases in my area where dementia, which experts say affects one in three persons over 80 years of age, exacerbates the problem.

Because of a lack of understanding of how the condition robs an individual of the ability to make lucid decisions, the police failed to take action against the son who was abusing his mother both physically and financially.

Even the welfare officers who, by right, should be well-versed about dementia, failed to act quickly, resulting in the elderly becoming even more vulnerable to their abusers.

On another note, there is so much that we as a society can do for the elderly citizens in our country. It doesn't have to be complicated. Sometimes, the simplest of gestures can make a big difference in their lives.

These include:

• An endless supply of patience: Watch that tone of yours when speaking to an elderly person. Never sound harsh, impatient or uncaring. Allow each individual to take his/her time, bearing in mind that as one gets older, it takes extra effort to get things done. You will need that too, one day, when you are their age.
  
• Special queues for the elderly: These have been promised by the government but not all facilities provide them. A doctor's appointment may only last for a few minutes for older people but the process could take several hours, causing great discomfort for them. An express lane would definitely make a difference. Diabetics who turn up for their regular blood checks should be seen as quickly as possible. This is because they began fasting the night before and waiting to be treated in the morning can trigger dangerous low-sugar level reactions since they cannot have their breakfast before the test. Can hospitals also have attendants to accompany the elderly to the various clinics when they come alone, please?
  
• Being sensitive when dealing with the elderly: Please don't shout at those who have hearing aids. They may not have heard you fully the first time with their gizmos but they can pick up rudeness and impatience very quickly and get hurt by your attitude.
  
• Providing nursing-home care: It's not cruel to put your elderly parents in a caring nursing home. However, it is not acceptable when you decide not to visit regularly. Take along your dad or mum's favourite food when you visit each week. And don't forget that solemn advice: Be good to your children and grandchildren as they are the ones who will most likely decide what kind of nursing home to put you in when it is your turn.
  
• Kind acts by local councils: Local councils, please do up your broken pathways and pavements especially in public parks. Keep them in good condition always. Neglected public facilities are a danger to the elderly and children. Please also have a hotline for elderly and disabled people living alone so that they will be able to call the local council for help in an emergency. Having a list of senior and handicapped residents and checking up on them from time to time is a great idea and great practice.