Most times we talk about abuse, we often refer to sexual abuse, gender based abuse or child abuse.
But women and children are not the only people more susceptible to abuse.
As a matter of fact women and children already have activists, solicitors, governmental and non-governmental agencies standing against any gender based violence or abuse children face.
Abuse is any act of harm or omission that results in harm or threatened harm of an individual.
So any act or repeated act or lack of appropriate action occurring in a relationship in which there is expected trust is an abuse.
An elderly person is anybody above the age of 65.
Hence any act of such to an older person is considered as elder abuse.
Females are however still more of the victims of elder abuse.
Patterns of abuse include
- Physical abuse
- Sexual abuse
- Neglect
- Psychological abuse
- Financial abuse, etc.
All these patterns might come in form of assault, battery, deprivation, isolation, non-consensual sexual contact, threats and intimidation.
Several factors make elderly people susceptible to these mistreatments, such as inability to generate self-sustaining finances, causing dependence on care-givers, physical illnesses including mental health challenges.
Let us be on the lookout for these elderly ones who can barely help themselves out of such conditions.
If you find an elderly one with visible physical injuries, bruises not consistent with explanation, poor hygiene, poor behaviour, lack of appetite and with a care-giver who virtually controls most of the elderly one’s access to mails, phone calls or any sort of communication or always eager to dampen the voice of the elder. Watch out.
Let us help to kick out all forms of abuse in our communities.
images courtesy of Jindi law, asbarez.com and AMAC