66% youths say elder abuse exists
SURVEY Abusive language ‘topmost’ form of abuse seniors are subjected to, opine 100% respondents
Abusive language was the ‘topmost’ form of abuse the elderly citizens were subjected to, opined 100% youths in Kanpur during a recent survey. Denial of basics and medicines was another major form of abuse against the seniors, felt 30.5% respondents in the district.
Nearly 66% youths admitted that elder abuse exists in the society. While 39% of them perceived that the primary abusers were daughters-in-law, 44% thought it were the sons.
These facts came to fore in a study to assess the height of elder abuse in the society. The survey was carried out by an NGO ‘HelpAge’ India in 20 states of India. In UP, the survey was carried out in Kanpur.
As per the study, property and inheritance disputes emerged as the main reason for the abuse of senior citizens.
Officials associated with the NGO said it’s for the first time when youths in 18-34 age group were included in the survey.
“Earlier, the surveys were carried out among elderly people. Past research indicated that the main perpetrators were young adults within the family. Hence this time, in 2015, it was decided to carry out survey among young adults to ascertain their viewpoints,” said AK Singh, state head, HelpAge India.
In contrast to the opinions of 44% youths who believed that sons were the main abusers, in 2014 survey (that was carried among elderly), only 23% seniors had blamed the son, while the remaining blamed daughters-in-law.
“Yes, this is interesting when youths are blaming the sons, while the elderly had blamed daughters-in-law,” added Singh. As per the survey, 77.5% respondents said ‘elders should stay social and active’ while 22.5% said they should ‘keep their finances organised’ as measures to prevent abuse.
“Interestingly, 86.9% youths advocated living in large joint families as a measure to prevent elder abuse,” added Singh.
Singh said around 86% youths were willing to intervene if they came across a case of abuse – by talking to the abusers, asking them to change their behaviour and talking to the abused.
But shockingly in cities such as Delhi, 92%youths were not willing to intervene. The trend was followed by Chennai and Hyderabad where 64 and 45 % youths believed in the same theory, said Singh.