Plight of Elders in our Society

World Elder Abuse Awareness Day brings together senior citizens, their caregivers, and governments to combat the problem of elder abuse.

Elder maltreatment can lead to serious physical injuries and long-term psychological consequences. The incidence of abuse towards older people is predicted to increase as many countries are experiencing rapidly ageing populations. 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.

Elders face too many types of problems.

Very little is thought for the elderly class and they are harassed in all spheres of life.  First and foremost, they have to struggle for medical treatment which is of utmost importance to them due to old age. This is one of the most crucial reasons why we need a serious debate about growing old; how they manage to sustain their expenses in retirement. We should look up to the problems of ageing and try to find out a permanent remedy for it.

 Various health issues due to old age  (such as limited mobility, arthritis, vision &/or hearing problems) is of main concern because it hinders the everyday tasks which many of us take for granted such as grocery shopping, bathing, grooming, housekeeping, cooking, budgeting, etc.  They usually perform these tasks because either they are living separately from their children due to the latest trend of nuclear families, and if living jointly, this is expected of them already. Similarly financial problems is also one of the major issue of concern. Money, retirement funds, cost of living, discrimination in the work place, in life is very general. There are times when their pension is also not given in time and some have to slog into the offices for the same. Where many elderly people live on social security with a small pension, there is a huge number who are dependent on their children. The expenditure on them at one time is seen as an unnecessary burden. Those children, who once used to shower their love and affection on to them, now accuse them of wasting their hard earned money. These poor elders are helpless and have no choice except to keep quiet and pass their time.

Transportation issues. Since not all elderly people are able to retain their vehicles due to the expense of upkeep and fuel as well as possible vision problems. Not all senior citizens are located on a bus-line. Some walk or depend upon family or friends.

Children fighting over the inheritance tears them apart. The property that they made with so much hard work only for their own loved ones is of more importance to the children than the creator who made them. His efforts are all forgotten and he is now taught the lesson of their rights and equality. Imagine it for yourself, if we face such a situation then how do we react?

The younger society views is too busy to even think of them and they are taken for granted by considering to be useless and frail. They have a mutual withdrawal from society and their world gets smaller and smaller. They don't tend to venture out in the neighbourhoods; they stay homebound. So much for the 'golden years'. They are alone, a lot more families are too busy to visit them, and they have less motivation for self-care and end up losing weight, dehydrated, feeling like burdens to their loved ones. It's very sad because loneliness, fear of being alone, lack of sufficient funds, loosing independence, ending up in a nursing home and somewhat forgotten by family members make them feel a burden on the earth. We should always keep it in mind that whatever may be, they are still those useful members of society who have made this place a better place to live in with their love affection, devotion and immense hard work. It is because of them we are what we are today!

Declining health, debilitating illnesses, numerous health problems, to be kept alive with scores of pills and medications on a daily basis are the major health issues which is a curse for them. Private hospitals are very expensive whereas government hospitals are overcrowded resulting into torturing waits for them. Being elderly seem to be a punishment at that time because carrying himself from one department to another is a tedious effort that he has to put in, as the hospitals are spread in large areas and the departments are far away from each other. On top of that for the tests, they get no special treatment, they too have to wait in the queue for their turn to come. Then dates and dates are given for the reports followed by the treatment. Why can they not get treatment under one roof? Why can’t special centres be opened exclusively for them? Are they not entitled for comfort and peace?

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