June 16, 2009
By Sonya BellKenneth Sampson, a 70-year-old pensioner from Delft, is one of the thousands of elderly South Africans being abused by their own relatives.
The young man and woman come to his home regularly, says Sampson, where they pester him for money from his social grant and walk away with his possessions to fund their tik addiction. Sampson says they've taken his boots, his coat and his phone.
"I put it down and it's gone."
On Monday, Sampson was one of 400 people who marched through Delft to support World Elder Abuse Awareness Day.
The march, organised by Age-in-Action, ended at the Delft Community Centre, where police officers and the ward councillor addressed the crowd. They encouraged people to speak out about abuse they see in the community and report it to the police.
Abuse perpetrated against the elderly includes physical, emotional, financial and sexual abuse.
The abusers are mostly family members, including grown children and grandchildren. Many victims are too afraid to speak out, and suffer in silence.
In addition to financial abuse, Lindgren says addicts could get emotionally and physically abusive, taking out their aggression from the drug on elderly relatives.
Raising awareness about abuse and people's rights is the idea behind World Elder Abuse Awareness Day. "Awareness is a form of prevention," says Lindgren.
Sampson says he has been suffering abuse for four years and it has left him "penniless". The abuse once turned physical, when the young man pushed him out of a door. He says his relatives are rude and swear at him. A recently purchased kettle, full of boiling water, was smashed on his floor, along with a clock radio.
Raising awareness about abuse and people's rights is the idea behind World Elder Abuse Awareness Day. "Awareness is a form of prevention," says Lindgren.
Sampson says he has been suffering abuse for four years and it has left him "penniless". The abuse once turned physical, when the young man pushed him out of a door. He says his relatives are rude and swear at him. A recently purchased kettle, full of boiling water, was smashed on his floor, along with a clock radio.
Anyone wanting to speak to someone about elder abuse can be directed through Medical Response at 0800 003 081.
Abridged
SOURCE: Independent Online - Cape Town,Western Cape,South Africa
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