Abuse of the Elderly is Pandemic

Elder abuse
By Philip Chua
1:00 pm | Monday, April 29th, 2013

Elder abuse or abuse of the elderly is a pandemic. It is much more common that we think. This savagery is shameful, disgusting, and against every rule on love, respect, and human decency. It is most unfortunate that while the human race has come a long way from our cavemen years, the caveman mentality and brutality among a few of us still remain. Perhaps I should not even demean our cavemen relatives. Perhaps elder abuse did not even exist in their culture during that time.

Parents would do anything, work hard, sacrifice, and even give up their life, to care for, provide for, protect, and save their children from any danger or calamity. While there are unfortunate exceptions, they are not the rule. Irresponsible and negligent parents are a lot less in proportion compared to children who abuse their parents, especially in their ripe old age, helpless, and dependent on their children, a stage of vulnerability in the winter of their life. Not only don’t they get the care and support they need, they are even abused and neglected. Some even tortured.

Sixty-six percent of the abuses are perpetrated by adult children or spouse; 42 percent of murder victims over 60 were killed by their own children, and 24 percent killed by their spouse.

As far as abuse in the nursing home, 91 percent of nursing homes in the USA are understaffed and therefore not able to provide adequate care. Thirty-six percent are in violation of elder abuse laws.

“Elder abuse, according to World Health organization, is a violation of human rights and a significant cause of illness, injury, loss of productivity, isolation and despair.”

Read more: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/399241/elder-abuse

http://bellaciao.org/en/spip.php?article22601