June 15 is World Elder Abuse Awareness Day. Elder abuse is 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. The United Nations General Assembly, in its resolution 66/127, designated June 15 as World Elder Abuse Awareness Day. It represents the one day in the year when the whole world voices its opposition to the abuse and suffering inflicted to some of our older generations. #StopElderAbuseChallenge #WEAAD2018 #INPEA

1. Elder Abuse
Issues and Challenges
By
Mr. Sailesh Mishra
Founder President
Silver Inning Foundation

2. Silver Inning Foundation 2

3.
"Trees grow stronger over the years, rivers wider.
Likewise, with age, human beings gain
immeasurable depth and breadth of experience
and wisdom. That is why older persons should
be not only respected and revered; they should
be utilized as the rich resource to society that
they are”
- United Nations Ex. Secretary-General Kofi Annan
Love ,Care and Respect will give them Dignity and
better Life
Silver Inning Foundation

4.  India is a vast country both in terms of area as well as
population. It has a total area of 3,288,000 square
kilometers. Its Total population as on 2011 was over
1.25 Billion
 India is gradually undergoing a demographic
change. With decline in fertility and mortality rates
accompanied by an improvement in child survival and
increased life expectancy, a significant feature of
demographic change is the progressive increase in the
number of elderly persons
 Elderly are the most ignored and neglected
segment
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5.  Due to better medical facility, good lifestyle
longevity increase
 In 2008 India population of Elderly was around 8% of
total population 86 Million
 In 2014 Elder Population approx 104 million, 174
million projected in by 2026, 356 Million in 2050
 Average age in 1951 – 42 yrs, Average age in 2008 -
68.6 yrs
 It will be75 years in 2045-2050.
 According to UN India will be soon Ageing nation, India
has 2nd largest number of Senior Citizens
 Around 70% Elderly are in Rural area
 Many Elderly are illiterate and rely mostly on Family
members
 90% of Indians Retires without Pension
 Feminization of Ageing
 Increase of 80 + very old population
 Increase in Incidence of Dementia & Alzheimer’s: 3%
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6.  According to UNICEF Life expectancy in India :
 In 1951 42 yrs
 In 1970 49 yrs
 In 1990 58 yrs
 In 2005 64 yrs
 In 2008 68.6 yrs ( Female : 70yrs)
 There is 60% increase in 60 yrs of lifespan
 3 TYPES OF SENIOR CITIZENS: Drastic change in 3
segment :Young Old (60- 69 yrs ), Old Old (70 –
79yrs ) Very Old (80+ yrs)
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9.  In India, old age was never a problem. Elder
abuse was considered as a ‘western’
problem and old age home was an alien
concept.
 Earlier, the elderly persons of a family were
respected a lot and they continued to live
with respect till their death.
 Times have changed. The elders are treated
as burden, often neglected / ignored and the
story is different if you suffer from some
form of Dementia / disability or you are
Caregiver for your parents/elders or you are
in sandwich generation
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10. • Everyone in this World faces varieties of problems. But
there might be indescribable suffering in old age. No
one wants to grow old. But the force of inevitable
time, everyone has to grow old. An aged person now
termed, as Senior citizen becomes unwanted
‘person’ in the family. This is the harsh reality.
Therefore, it becomes necessary to make you aware of
your rights.
• Human Rights are universal, civil, political,
economic, social and cultural rights and belong to
all human beings, including older people. Human
Rights of aged are explicitly set out in the Universal
Declaration and International Conventions as well as in
the Constitution of India.
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11. • An adequate standard of living, including adequate
food, shelter and clothing.
• Adequate social security, assistance and protection
• Freedom from discrimination
• The highest possible standard of health
• Be treated with dignity
• Protection from neglect and all types of physical or
mental abuse
• Full and effective participation in decision-making
concerning their well-being
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12.  The U.N. General Assembly on December 16, 1991
adopted 18 principles which are organized into 5
clusters:
 Independence
 Participation
 Care
 Self-fulfillment
 Dignity of the older persons
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13.  Elder abuse as a social problem remains
hidden.
 Least researched topic with very little
intervention.
 According to pan-Indian surveys, 40% of
elderly subject to some form of abuse
 Elderly are equally responsible
 We consider it as “Family Matter”
 Few Intervention by Government and Society
 More abuse done by Family and Relative 55%
 More Abuse incase of Dementia/Alzheimer's
 Hardly any report on Elder abuse in Old Age
Homes and Institutions

14.  Single repeated act
 Lack of appropriate action
 Occurring within any relationship where there is
an expectation of trust
 Harming development of his/her personality
 Elder Abuse is infliction of Physical, emotional
or psychological harm on an Elderly. Alder
Abuse also can take the form of Financial
exploitation or intentional or unintentional
neglect of an Elderly by the care givers or third
party.

15.  Physical
 Sexual
 Emotional or Psychological
 Financial and Exploitation
 Neglect
 Abandonment

16.  Physical abuse can range from slapping or shoving
to severe beatings and restraining with ropes or
chains.
 When a person uses enough force to cause
unnecessary pain or injury
 It can be hitting , beating, pushing ,kicking,
pinching, burning or biting or depriving of food,
medicine and water

17.  Emotional or psychological abuse can range
from name- calling or giving the ‘silent
treatment’ to intimidating and threatening the
individual.
 When family member or care giver or other
person behaves in a way that causes fear,
mental anguish and emotional pain or
distress
 It also includes insults and threats
 It also includes treating older person like a
child and isolating the person from family
,friends and regular activity

18.  Financial exploitation can misuse of an elder’s
funds
 It includes fraud , taking money under false
pretenses , forgery ,forced property transfer ,
Scams , using elderly money to purchase
expensive items without knowledge or
permission , denying the older person access to
his or her own funds or home
 It also includes improper use of power of
attorney
 Illegal or unauthorized use of a person’s
property

19.  Neglect can include to failure to provide food,
water, clothing, medication and assistance of
activity for daily living
 Avoiding
 No paying attention to the psychological and
social needs
 Sometime Elderly HARM themselves through
Self Neglect – not eating ,not going to doctor
,not taking medicine, alcohol/drug abuse –
Problem – how to respect their independence
and when to intervene

20.  Elder abuse can also include deserting an
elderly, dependent person with the intent to
abandon them or leave them unattended at a place
for such a time period as may be likely to endanger
their health or welfare

21.  Abuse creates potentially dangerous
situation and feelings of worthlessness
and it isolates elderly from people who can
help
 Many of us don’t consider Elder Abuse as
Health Issue and so we don’t try to intervene
as we consider this more as a social problem
and not a health care problem
 It affects body, feelings, thoughts, and
behaviors to varying degrees
 Untreated medical or mental conditions

22.  Elderly are physically weaker and more vulnerable
-their bones are more brittle and healing takes
longer
 Even a minor injury can cause serious and
permanent damage
 Untreated injury and Pain
 Sprains, dislocations, fractures, or broken bones
 Change in appetite – withdrawal of food or weight
 malnutrition, dehydration
 Absence of needed dentures, eyeglasses, hearing
aids, walkers, wheelchairs, braces, or commodes
 Drug overdose or apparent failure to take medication
 Bed sores
 Unsafe living conditions

23.  Sleeplessness
 Anxiety
 Depression or Psychological distress
 More of Psychosomatic problem : associated with the mind, and
some of these problems can become so deep-rooted that they
eventually start to affect the body. psychosomatic illness are
experiencing pain, nausea, or other physically felt symptoms but with
no physical cause that can be diagnosed.
 Thoughts of suicide, death, or suicide attempts
 Poor self-image or esteem
 Restlessness, irritability
 self-destructive behavior
 Is emotionally upset, agitated, withdrawn, and non responsive
 Psychological distress
 Loss of memory, concentration, or decision-making capability

24.  Elder Abuse: According to a rough estimate, nearly
40 % of older people living with their families are
reportedly facing abuse of one kind or another
 Only 1 in 6 cases actually comes to light .
 Most elders are ill-treated by their own children,
who have emerged as the largest group of
perpetrators at 47.3 %.
 Neglect is the most common form of abuse at
48.7 % followed by emotional/psychological, financial
exploitation, physical abuse and abandonment
respectively.
 There is growing number of insecurity, injustice
and abuse of Elderly in India

35. Most of the complaints which we
receive are:
• Harassment by family
members/friends/relatives
• Legal Matters
• Enquiry for Old Age Homes
• General Enquiry
•1 out of 8 elderly said “no one cares
they exist”
•30% of elderly are subject to some
form of abuse/neglect from families
•9 out of 10 calls in Mumbai were
related to property related abuse

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44.  This Lawyer has Cheated 65yrs Fatima , with
paralyzed husband ,no children's of Rs.25 Lakh
Gold Jewelry in Nov 2011 on pretext of making
Will, Police did not lodge complaint :FIR / NC ,
Just took written letter, says complaint need to
provide evidence ?

45.  Mohin Kamwani ,
Mumbai ,widow of
Freedom Fighter sent to
Jail on Republic Day
26th
Jan 2012 , because
of her ‘ suicide plan’
due to NO justice /
Inaction by Police and
Govt for Elder Abuse by
family members for
many years

46.  Versova resident Jaishree Gholkar, 65, lives in a crumbling
house with stray dogs, and survives on food provided by
neighbours, even though she owns a 600-sq mt plot.
 The elderly woman, who has not changed clothes in months, has no
family to call her own. She separated from her husband decades
ago, and her parents are no more. Her two brothers died, and the
other three are in the US, indifferent to her condition.

49.  For Protection of Women Anti Dowry law is Very
good , but its should not be Misused .
 4279 Male & 2192 Female Elderly : 6471 60+ Arrested
(2010)
 91% of the people arrested were found not guilty (pre
& post trial). 79% found not guilty after the
completion of the trial - but these 79% were also
arrested without any Investigation.
 Maximum conviction in 498A is in cases of 304B (30430
after trial), where the person has already spent more
than 1 year in jail, but proved their innocence in 304B,
but convicted in 498A by default to neutralize their jail
term.
 Source: Details of Dowry Law - 498A Misuse Cases for the year 2010
(Source - Ministry of Home Affairs - National Crime Records Bureau -
NCRB Statistics) http://ncrb.nic.in/CII2010/cii-2010/table12.htm

50.  No Specific / Dedicated Elder Law
 Section 125 of the Cr PC:A magistrate can order the child to
maintain his old parents.
 Hindu Adoptions and Maintenance Act (HAMA) :an aged a
parents can demand maintenance from same way a wife can
demand from her husband
 Domestic Violence Act (DVA): Lodge complaint with local
Police
 Maintenance of Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens
Bill: Dec 2007- Its revolutionary law - Tribunal headed by
the SDM will decide the case. No Advocate,90 days time
line,3rd Party can file suit. Not yet Implemented all over
India. Rules framed in Maharashtra in July 2010 and now
Tribunals formed as ‘inform by state govt.’ Maintenance of
Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act 2007
(MWPSCA) : Not yet implemented . Maintenance Max Rs
10,000/- p.m. Penality Rs.5000/- - 3 months jail .

51.  CHAPTER V: PROTECTION OF LIFE AND
PROPERTY OF SENIOR CITIZEN : The State
Government shall, take all measures to ensure that -
 the provisions of this Act are given wide publicity
through public media including the television, radio and
the print, at regular intervals;
 the Central Government and State Government
Officers, including the police officers and the members
of the judicial service, are given periodic sensitization
and awareness training on the issues relating to this
Act;
 effective co-ordination between the services provided by
the concerned Ministries or Departments dealing with
law, home affairs, health and welfare, to address the
issues relating to the welfare ofthe senior citizens and
periodical review of the same is conducted.

52.  Awareness campaign
 Formation of Senior Citizens Committee in every locality
 Multi-Service Gero-Care Center
 Set Minimum Standard for Institutions
 License & Monitoring and Evaluation of Institutions
 Legislation / ACT’s
 National Nodal Agency for Elder Abuse
 Grievances cell like Tribunals/Consumer Court / Fast Track Court
 Report abuse
 Intergeneration programmes
 To appoint Elder Welfare Officer in each police station
 Frequent meeting like ‘Mohalla Committee’ , Police Public Meet
 Increase social security pension upto Rs.3000/- p.m.
 Participation and responsibility of Civil Society /NGO
 4 Digit Elder Helpline – eg. Child Line
 National Alliance of NGO’s
 LOK Adalat

53. Let us all Protect Senior Citizens rights which will
help them to lead dignified, secure lives, as
equal members of society. Exercising these
rights will enable Elders to be treated with
respect on an equal basis with younger people.
Love, Care and Respect will give them Dignity and
better Life
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54.  1st
Oct International Day of Older Persons , since
1991
 15th
June World Elder Abuse Awareness Day,
since 2012
 21st
Sep , World Alzheimer’s Day , since 2012
Silver Inning Foundation

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59.  Situation of the Older Persons in India: Ilango Ponnuswami,
Ageing Research Foundation of India, South.India
 www.silverinnings.com
 www.censusindia.gov.in
 ARDSI
 HelpAge India Research and Development Journal
 AGEING IN INDIA IN THE 21ST CENTURY : Harmony
 INDIAN NATIONAL POLICY ON OLDER PERSONS (NPOP)