Twilight trauma: 76% elderly in Hyderabad face abuse at home

HYDERABAD: Ill-treatment of elderlies in the city has risen dramatically with a recent study showing 76% reporting abuse. Topping the list of abusers are their sons, reveals the ‘Elder Abuse in India-2018’, a report released by the NGO, HelpAge India, in view of United Nation's World Elder Abuse Awareness Day observed on Friday.



The study, which surveyed 5,015 elderly persons from 23 cities across India, revealed that elderly people in Hyderabad, on an average, have experienced four years of abuse. While almost 72% experienced disrespect, 64% have been subjected to verbal abuse and 55% have been neglected by their family.



“In Hyderabad, harassment cases are on the rise with children forcing their parents to divide the property. Other than that, neglect cases are also high wherein children ignore their parents and push them to move to old age homes,” said Mohammed Raza, state head of HelpAge India for Telangana and AP. He further added that cases of harassment and neglect are higher among upper and upper middle class families.


As per the findings, cases of harassment over property stand at 30% even as being treated as a burden due to old age topped the list of reasons for harassment with figure touching 36% among the elderly.


Lack of awareness among the aged about redressal mechanisms makes matters worse. According to the study, awareness about redressal mechanism through NGOs or social groups, Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act and police help line is the lowest in Hyderabad.


Exploring the reasons why elderly do not report about abuse to any person or agency, the study found, it was due to lack of confidentiality to solve the problem, lack of awareness to deal with the situation, to maintain confidentiality of family matter, fear of retaliation etc.


“Elderly in the city are highly conscious of their family reputation. In most cases, they don’t want their plight to be heard. This has led to rise in abandonment of senior citizens in hospitals, temples and other places,” said R N Mittal, chairman of Senior Citizens Association, Hyderabad.