CHENNAI: Today is World Elder Abuse Awareness Day . It is the day when the world voices its opposition to the abuse and suffering inflicted to some of our elders generations. According to the UN, the global population of those 60 years and above will more than double, from 542 million in 1995 to about 1.2 billion in 2025.

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A recent survey done by NGO Agewell Foundation reported that on an average, 25-30% of India’s elderly population go through abuse. According to another 2014 study by HelpAge India, nearly 59% of sons emerged as top abusers contrary to popular belief that daughters-in-law are the one who abuse elders.

Geriatric specialist Dr VS Natarajan recently wrote to the state government to create awareness among the public to check and prevent elder abuse. “Previously a lot of elderly patients came to us with medical problems. Now, they come to us with both medical and social problems. They are affected psychologically too,” he said. “Around 2-3% of elders move out of their house voluntarily. However, a majority of them move out because they face physical, verbal and mental abuse,” he added.

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“There has been a change in the attitude of youngsters over the past 10 years. They have come to think of elders as a burden. Personal happiness is more important than family,” said Dr Natarajan.

Saroja, 66, (name changed) lives alone in the city even though she has two sons. “I last saw my sons when my husband passed away in 2000. Both of them are in the US. It has been 15 years now and they haven’t come to visit me. My first son calls me occasionally. I haven’t heard from my second son in a long time. I have been alone for so long and still believe that they will come back.” While she hopes and prays for her sons, Dr B Harishankar, who tends to her, said, “Being alone has affected her. She gets panic spells and breaks things in frustration. Isolation leads to depression. She sometimes gets mistreated and abused by maids too. It is a pitiable condition.”

READ ALSO: 50% elderly in country face abuse, study says

In the HelpAge India survey report, the most common type of abuse reported is verbal abuse. Over 41% of elders deal with verbal abuse every day. Experts say that those who have no income at all go through a lot of abuse. “Their children think that they are a waste of space and time. Those who have chronic ailments are also abused,” said Dr Natarajan. While adjustment seems to be the only solution here, psychologists say while elders can often be eccentric and demanding, youngsters need to understand that this will just be a phase and elders will eventually understand to adjust according to the needs of others living with them.

