60 Percentage Youth Silent on Elder Abuse

CHENNAI: At the autumn of their lives when they should be spending the days in peace, a large number of elderly residents in the city — and elsewhere in the country —  face abuses from relatives, neighbours and even friends. A good majority of the youth are aware of it, but disconcertingly, most of them do nothing about it, revealed a survey that was released, today.

The nationwide survey on ‘Elder Abuse - The Indian Youth Speaks Out’, conducted by the NGO HelpAge India, was released by former judge of Madras High Court,  Justice TN Vallinayagam, at a function held at Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital in Chennai on Tuesday which was the World Elder Abuse Awareness Day.

The survey was conducted among 200 youngsters in the age group of 25 to 45, from middle and upper class localities in 10 cities including Chennai, Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai, Bengaluru and Hyderabad, living with at least one elderly parent.

According to the survey, three-quarters of the youth in the country accepted that elder abuse exists, but 60 per cent of them are not willing take direct action if they come across a case of abuse. The number is higher in Chennai at 64 per cent unwilling to intervene, though it is less than the 92 per cent in Delhi. Hyderabad is better with 55 per cent willing to intervene if required.

The report added that 54 per cent of Chennai’s youth accepted that the highest percentage of abuse happens in the age group of 70-80 years. Of these, the elderly suffer abuse at the hands of relatives the most (32.5 per cent), friends (21 per cent) and neighbours (20 per cent).

Daughters-in-law remain the primary abuser, as per the youth’s perception. Ill-treatment happens in high income households, believed 67 per cent of the surveyed youth.

Giving elders the silent treatment, keeping them in isolation and emotional abuse are among the most common forms of abuse —  43 per cent.      Physical abuse, say 29 per cent while 30 per cent say denying medicines and material abuse. As many as 72.4 percent say they have come across instances of using abusive language and talking rudely to an elder.

Over half, 53.2 per cent, of the youth feel the elders are abused over property and inheritance disputes.

To prevent abuse, 86.9 per cent youth advocate living in large joint families. Families should spend adequate time with the elders, say 32 per cent, while 29 per cent feel elders’ opinions should be given due importance. In their suggestions to elders, 67.5 per cent say they should stay social and active, and 31.5 said elders should keep their finances organised.

PERCEPTION

•   43.1 percent feel it is giving the elder the silent  treatment, isolation and emotional abuse
•   29 percent feel that physical abuse and beating up and 30 percent it is being denied the basics, medicines and material abuse
•   86.9 percent youth advocate living in large joint families to prevent elder abuse
•   53.2 percent youth feel the elder are abused over property and inheritance dispute

OPINION

•   32 percent feel that families should spend adequate time with the elders
•   29 percent feel elders opinions be given due importance
•   67.5 percent say the elders should stay social and active
•   31.5 said they should keep their finances organised

DAUGHTER-IN-LAW THE CULPRIT 

•   73 percent youth accept elder abuse exists
•   60 percent youth are not willing take direct action if they come across a case of abuse.
•   54 percent of chennai’s youth accept highest percentage of abuse happens in the age group of 70-80 years.
•   The youth come across instance of elder abuse 32.5 by relatives, 21 percent by friends and 20 percent by neighbours.
•   For 34.7 percent, daughter in-law remains the primary abuser
•   67 percent of youth it happens in the high income households.
•   72.4 percent of youth they have come across instance of using abusive language and talking rudely to an elder.