Elders’ Helpline: 80% of calls are of abuse

BENGALURU: Statistics released by Nightingales Medical Trust, an NGO working for the well-being of the elderly, and Bengaluru City Police, one in five elders has been through some type of abuse, with a high number from urban areas. The Covid-19 lockdowns, which forced people to stay indoors, nuclear families and several other reasons seem to have drastically increased abuse against elders.

Releasing statistics for World Elders’ Abuse Awareness Day, Dr Radha S Murthy, co-founder and managing trustee of Nightingales Medical Trust, said, “Eighty per cent of the complaints received from senior citizens on the Elders’ Helpline are related to abuse -- 23.7 per cent on physical abuse, 77.3 per cent on emotional and verbal abuse, 26.7 per cent on financial exploitation, and 52.60 per cent were on neglect,” she said.

The day also marked 20 years of Elders’ Helpline (1090), set up for elders in distress, a joint project of Nightingales Medical Trust and Bengaluru City Police. Dr Murthy said that in the past 20 years, they received 2,35,541 calls in Bengaluru, including 8,419 calls on harassment and cheating. While 4,176 calls were by family members, 1,868 were by private and public agencies, and 2,375 calls by individuals; 433 calls were on missing elders, 93 were complaints against old age homes, 1,646 were on problems like health, financial insecurity, psychological concerns, and 43,572 calls were for information on pension and others.

Though there was an increase in abuse during the lockdown, elders couldn’t come out to lodge complaints in person, Dr Murthy said. A booklet ‘Senior Citizens: Be Safe and Cautious’, giving information on precautions to be taken, especially with regard to cybercrimes, was released at the event.
Director for empowerment of differently-abled and senior citizens, K S Latha Kumari said, “Youngsters must make use of elders’ rich experience, maturity and wisdom, and see them as a support system...,” she said.

Psychiatrist Dr C R Chandrasheakar said that 50 per cent of elders do not receive nutritious food, 80 per cent above 65 years suffer from diseases which can be prevented, including heart disorders, diabetes and others. “Elders must not worry or get frustrated, they must accept reality. If they can keep their mind active and stay active, they can prevent Alzheimer’s and dementia,” he said.