Minister warns of ‘unfortunate dangers’ of elder abuse
By VENUS HONORE-GOPIE
June 23 2009
“We must all be aware and recognise that elder abuse occurs in many ways,” warned Social Development Minister Dr Amery Browne who was of the view that many people do not realise they are abusing their elderly loved ones.
He was, at the time, speaking yesterday at the Fourth Annual World Elder Abuse Awareness Day. The event was held at the Shanghai Experience restaurant at MovieTowne, Invaders Bay, Mucurapo.
“One unfortunate danger of elder abuse” warned the minister, “is that, it may be happening and even the perpetrator may not know.”
According to Browne, statistics reveals that there has been an upsurge in the number of citizens above the age of 60, amounting to approximately 11 percent of the total population.
Dr Carol Boyd-Scobie, United Nations Resident Representative for the Pan American Health Organisation and the World Health Organisation, said this number is expected to grow by the year 2020.
Minister Browne said his ministry, through its Division of Ageing, had embarked on a campaign to bring awareness of the abuse on the elderly.
He said elders can be abused physically, verbally, emotionally, sexually, financially, psychologically, medically, and even socially. Browne said the elderly were “aching” over the actions of the young who engage in criminal activities and this, too, was a form of abuse.
“Seniors in these areas have been paying a heavy psychological price...Terror, fear for life, property and fear for life of offspring,” the minister declared.
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