World Elder Abuse Awareness Day 2021: Senior citizens experienced increased abuse during pandemic

According to a recent survey conducted in India, approximately 75 per cent of older people experienced increased abuse during the pandemic-induced lockdowns.

The United Nations had announced that the World Elder Abuse Awareness Day is marked on 15th June every year since the year 2006. It was declared as a day for combating elder abuse and eliminating the fear of speaking about mistreatment by family members.

The major aim of this day is to create an awareness against a cruel manifest prevailing in our society- elder abuse.

What is Elder abuse?

According to The World Health Organisation , elder abuse can be physical, social, sexual, mental or even financial. It basically means ill-treatment which causes harm or distress to an older person.

The outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic has affected the older people in a shocking way. Older people are at a greater risk of severe illness and mortality due to the pandemic.

The elderly are also facing abuse due to the continuous changes in the society- digital revolution, urbanisation and the changing cultural and traditional values.


Theme of World Elder Abuse Awareness Day 2021

The current theme of World Elder Abuse Awareness Day is ‘ Access to Justice .’ The theme serves as a reminder of the critical need to completely meet the needs of older people and how important it is to take care of them.

The World Health Organisation and other United Nations affiliated organisations have asked for an immediate action plan to combat the abuse on elders. Older people who have been victims of abuse and neglect confront difficulties in speaking about violence and seeking legal help.

Why is it important to protect the senior citizens?

All age groups are at risk of contracting COVID-19, older persons are at a significantly higher risk. An estimated 66% of people aged 70 and over have at least one underlying condition, placing them at increased risk of severe impact from COVID-19.

Older persons may also face age discrimination in decisions on medical care and life-saving therapies.

The pandemic has also resulted in scaling back of critical services unrelated to COVID-19, further increasing risks to the lives of older persons.

The coronavirus is not just threatening the lives and safety of older persons, it is also threatening their social networks, their access to health services, their jobs and their pensions.

António Guterres, UN Secretary General shared a video message to launch a policy brief on older persons. The impact on health and long-term care services for older persons must be recognised and the challenges they are facing, including their ability to access medical treatment and care must also be addressed.