World Elder Abuse Awareness Day is observed on June 15. There will be an event raising awareness of elder abuse at the Shepparton Senior Citizens Centre on June 15 at 10:30 – 11:30 … you are invited to come and “stir a cuppa with seniors’.
It represents the main day in the year when the world voices its opposition to the abuse and suffering inflicted on older people.
What is elder abuse?
Elder abuse is mistreatment of an older person that is committed by someone with whom the older person has a relationship of trust such as a partner, family member, friend or carer. Elder abuse may be physical, social, financial, psychological or sexual and can include mistreatment and neglect. Elder maltreatment can lead to serious physical injuries and long-term psychological consequences
Sometimes family, friends and carers may not know that their actions amount to elder abuse.
The World Health Organization describes elder abuse as a violation of human rights and a significant cause of illness, loss of productivity, isolation and despair. (WHO 2002 Active Ageing Policy Framework). As such, it is an issue that affects not only the person who is impacted directly but also the broader community.
Older people have the right, just like people of all ages, to live safely free from harm, abuse, and exploitation. Any actions that breach this right are a form of abuse.
Elder abuse has been shown to affect women and men, people from different cultural backgrounds, people with different levels of education and wealth, and both city-dwellers and country folk.
The incidence of abuse towards older people is predicted to increase as many countries experience rapidly ageing populations. Although the extent of elder abuse is unknown, it is nonetheless a global social issue which affects the health and human rights of millions of older persons around the world, and an issue which deserves the attention of the international community.
There will be an event raising awareness of elder abuse at the Shepparton Senior Citizens Centre on June 15 at 10:30 – 11:30 … you are invited to come and “stir a cuppa with seniors’.
