Concern
for the Elder
World Elder
Abuse Awareness Day is observed today by the inter-national community. But most of the
population of the world is not aware of this day and its importance. More irony
is for whom the day is observed; they also do not know that a day is being
observed to highlight their concern. Way back in 1968 the question on Ageing
was raised in the UN Assembly by the Nation Malta. The UN General Assembly passed a resolution in
2011 to declare 15th June as World Elder Abuse Awareness Day. The UN
has started many programmes world wide and made it a regular feature of the UN.
The UN also established an International Institute of Aging in the year 1988 in
Malta through which a series of training and awareness programmes are being organized.
Further, there are courses on Gerontology and Geriatrics. Gerontology and
Geriatrics are the new disciplines evolved in recent years. The former deals
with the social issues of the aged people whereas the later deals with the
deceases of the old people. That is why Geriatrics is often known as Medical
Gerontology. There are nearly 80 crore old people in the world as on 2012 data
and it is predicted that this number will increase to 203 crore in 2050. In
India alone more than 10 crore people are in the age group of 60 years and
above and this number will increase in three times in 2050. Almost majority of
this population is suffering from one or the other kinds of abuse from their
own family or the society. The UN defines Elder Abuse 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. Elder
abuse can take various forms such as physical, psychological or emotional,
sexual and financial abuse caused intentionally or unintentionally. The abuse may be in the form of minor to major ill-treatments. The
ill-treatment may be of different kinds. Avoiding them in taking decisions in
the family, ignoring them their very existence, making them to do works which
they could not, ignoring their deceases, scolding them for their interference,
beating them for one or the other reasons, isolating them from the family, not
providing sufficient financial support, giving them a sort of psychological and
physical tortures and stress, not providing proper food, clothes and shelter
are some of the abuses the older or the aged people suffer from.
There are more
cases of abuses than reported. Particularly domestic abuses are not at all
reported world wide. They also suffer from societal abuses which make them
isolated and put them under pressure and stress and thereby making them
depressed psychologically. This depression leads them to extreme steps such as
suicidal attempts. Now-a-days the joined family system collapsed and the
married couples want to lead an independent life and they leave their parents
in the Old Age Homes. Though all the essential facilities are made available at
Old Age Homes, it cannot replace familial environment. They feel that they are
willfully isolated and lead a miserable life.
In recent years
the persons qualified in Gerontology is being engaged by the Old Age Homes to
look after the aged people and to counsel them properly so that they could lead
a comfortable and depression-free life. Further, the physicians with
specialization in Geriatrics also care for the most old age deceases and
diagnose, suggest, prescribe medicines
and the way of life to be adopted. Though this sort of measures certainly eases
out the depression of the older people but only few are aware of these
measures. Nevertheless, the old people adjust themselves and lead a miserable
life with increasing abuses by their family. This day is being observed to
bring awareness towards abuses against the elders. The family and children must
also feel the lapses on their part and irresponsible behaviour towards their
old aged parents. Also it is the duty of the society to make their life comfortable
and happy. The Governments should also think, plan and introduce such schemes
that would help the aged people to lead a self-esteem life without any
dependence on their family or children. The Government cannot escape simply by sanctioning
old age pension. It should oversee whether the pension reaches the person
concerned and utilized for the purpose for which it has been sanctioned. The
Government shall draw a plan and implementation procedure for this purpose.
Such families who isolate or abuse their old parents and family members should
be given training or counseling. Those who abuse their parents or older persons
should be punished severely, so that such incidents do not recur. An awareness
camps shall be organized often and the mind set of the people is to be changed.
The Division of Social Policy Development (DSPD) of the UN works seriously and concretely
in this direction to bring the ageing mainstream.
In India, though
this phenomenon exists in every State and almost every family with little
exception, the matter is not reported properly. This kind of domestic abuse
could be seen in many families. However, in ancient days, the aged people led a
happy and comfortable life. Because, the system was such that it compelled the
person to adopt an institution called Vanaprastha, which was well known as the
third Ashrama among the four Ashramas prescribed. In Vanaprastha having
attained the old age and having their children grown up, one should leave the
home along with his wife or alone, the option was given to the Vanaprastha
either he can leave the home alone or with his wife having handed over all
responsibilities to their heir. This system was in vogue that maintained the
balance between the Grihastha and the Old aged. Vanaprastha Ashrama was adopted
willfully by the Grihastha. Children
also felt their responsibility and made available all facilities to their
parents. The Vanaprastha also led a simple life with minimum comfort. This was
the system followed by the society in ancient days. However, this obsolete
system cannot be prescribed as solution for the present day; at least one can
adopt some of the features of Vanaprastha such as leading an isolated life without
depression, leading the life with minimum comfort and with simplicity. The
Gerontologists and Geriatricians do concentrate on these aspects of Vanaprastha
Ashrama; it may provide solution to some extent. At least on this day of International Day of
Aged Abuse Awareness, we the present generation should learn to behave with
older generation and treat them with honour and dignity that could only reduce
this kind of abuse. Unless we change our mind set towards older people nothing
is possible. At least we shall make a beginning by understanding the gravity of
the issue and make ourselves aware of the problem.
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