Stop Elder Abuse and Neglect

Today I join thousands of bloggers around the world in BlogCatalog’s Blogging for a Great Cause Challenge : Bloggers Against Abuse September 27th, 2007

The Outcome we are after is to be part of the largest group of bloggers to ever blog about an important cause, all on the same day.

Almost every country in the world is facing an aging population. As the elderly population increases in size, there is concern that more cases of elder abuse and neglect may surface.

When a person in a position of trust jeopardizes the health or well being of an elderly person through any action or inaction, it is defined as Elder Abuse and Neglect.

The 5 main Elder Abuse and Neglect:

PHYSICAL
Infliction of physical pain and injury. This includes direct, aggressive behaviours such as bodily assault, torture, physical confinement and sexual abuse.

PSYCHOLOGICAL
Verbal aggression such as intimidation, humiliation, making unreasonable demands and deliberate ignoring. This includes actions that cause fear of violence, isolation or deprivation, feelings of shame, harassment, threat and insults.

NEGLECT
Deliberate refusal to meet basic needs, ie failure to provide food, shelter, clothing, medical care and financial support.

ABANDONMENT
Deliberate attempt to desert elderly person.

FINANCIAL
Exploitation and / or misuse of funds or resources. It includes misappropriation of money, valuables or property.

Vulnerable and powerless, elders who are abused or exploited often suffer in silence. It can increase in intensity and frequency over time. It may create permanent and personally devastating impact on the victims. If left untreated, it may even lead to grave consequences. It is thus important for us to understand the causes as well as contributing factors of elder abuse.

If you know of any such elder who needs your help, please act now. Stop Elder Abuse! For Singaporeans, you can contact the following for help :

1) Family Service Centre Helpline 1800 – 838 0100

2) Singapore Action Group of Elders (SAGE) 1800 – 353 8633

3) Seniors Helpline: 1800 555 5555.

It provides information on eldercare services, counselling services for seniors or anyone with issues concerning seniors.


(info source : Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports)