The youth of India have set a bad example for their elders. It seems like they are not proactive about stepping in if they notice abuse of senior citizens. Of 2,000 youths, including women, surveyed by HelpAge India for "Elder Abuse: The Indian Youth Speaks Out," 73% accepted that elder abuse exists in society. However, only 4.6% of them intended to report such cases to the police. Even lesser, 1.1% wanted to approach an NGO and 15.6% wanted to intervene and speak to the elder about fighting abuse. In Mumbai, 82% youths admitted that elder abuse exists.

The survey also roped in at least one elderly parent from 20 cities, including Mumbai and Delhi. The surveyed population belonged to middle and upper middle class.

Prakash Borgaonkar, director, HelpAge India, Mumbai, said that many of those surveyed might also have participated in the abuse or been it's cause, but that they would not admit. "The youths also rationalise elder abuse and say it exists everywhere. It has become normalised in our social fabric. No one is likely to admit that elder abuse exists in their family," he said.

The youths were asked to fill in a questionnaire, seeking their experiences or brushes with elder abuse in their wider circle of relatives and friends.

Ramakant Patil (84) gifted his flat worth Rs1 crore to his 35-year-old son Sunil. After this, Sunil started neglecting his father. So much so that when Ramakant was hospitalised, Sunil refused to tend to him. In another case, after 75-year-old Shantabai's husband died, her son harassed her no end to transfer the property.

According to city data, 71% felt that abusive language or talking rudely was the main cause of elder abuse. That apart, 69.5% also felt that elderly people were not included in making important family decisions. Also, 45.5% categorised abuse into being isolated or giving silent treatment to elders. Of the Mumbai sample, 42% youths agreed to abuse being physical like beating the senior citizen up. Up to 32.7% said that they had witnessed abuse where the elderly were denied basics and medicines. As many as 29.1% believed that abuse was for grabbing financial assets.

Apart from property and inheritance issues, youths had attitudinal issues. There was lack of time and patience on the part of the abusers. Also, there were issues of addiction amongst them that cost the elderly dear, stated the report.

"As past research has indicated that young adults within the family are main perpetrators of abuse, this year we have carried out a survey among young adults to ascertain their viewpoints," said Borgaonkar. "In Delhi, up to 92% of youths are not willing to intervene in cases of elderly abuse. The results that have emerged are like showing the mirror to the youths. They themselves have admitted to the grave problems that plagues the elderly.

The question is, will they be sensitive towards them, or continue to be cold-hearted and look the other way."

As a solution to prevent abuse, only 31% youths said elders should keep their finances organised, while a majority suggested that they should stay socially active.

Also, the youths' perception of elder abuse may vary from the real scenario. Among the youths, 34.7% said that they had noticed elder abuse among their relatives or family. "Last year, when the elderly were surveyed, up to 50% of them said they were abused in one way or the other. It seems like the youths are underplaying the extent of abuse that they notice, or that they turn a blind eye to it," said Borgaonkar.

Types of abuse in Mumbai71% feel it is the use of abusive language or talking rudely45.5% categorise abuse into being isolated, giving silent treatment and emotional42% say it is physical abuse like beating32.7% say it is denial of basic requirements and medicines29.1% believe reason behind abuse is to grab financial assets