“ARE ELDERS A BURDERN?”

Contents

• Acknowledgements.• Preface.• INTODUCTION.• Importance of elders – – In our society.– In our family.– In children’s life.

• Elders are ‘not’ a burden.

• Reasons for considering elders as a burden.• Factors that contribute to the depression in

elderly.• Elderly abuse.– Domestic abuse.– Institutional abuse.– Emotional or psychological abuse.– Financial exploitation.

• Elders being self-neglected.• Steps that should be taken to stop elderly abuse.• Steps taken by Indian government to stop elderly

abuse.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

• I express my gratitude to my English teacher Mrs. Vanaja Joy who explained this concept very efficiently and guided me to make this assignment. I also thank my friends , my parents and all other individuals who had contributed to make this assignment.

Preface

• The concept “ ARE ELDERS A BURDERN” deals with the growing trend of leaving elderly people alone in old age homes.

• Disadvantages of elderly abuse, importance of elders and many other points related to this concept has been described in this presentation.

INTRODUCTION

• Growing and aging is a natural process that changes the relation of the human being with others in a social way.

• With the aging, the human being acquires experiences in positive or negative exitences with which it will be able to have a new perception on the way to live.

• Elders are the people who are greater in age or seniority, whose age is 65 or above and an older, influential member of a family, tribe, or community.

• Our elders are the greatest treasure and tradition keeper of our family, but in this modern and advanced 21st century generation there has been a steady rise recently in reports of cases of elderly being abused , harassed and abandoned in India. Traditionally older people have been revered in India signified by the touching of their feet by the younger generation. But more children are now leaving their parental homes to set up their own.

• Let us see this concept in detail.

Importance of elders

IN OUR SOCIETY - Elderly people are the most important factor responsible for preserving the traditional and cultural values present in a particular ethnic group or community. These elders gains some traditions of their community by their elders and they teaches their cultures to the younger generation and this younger ones when grows old gives the cultures to the succeeding generation. In this way elders are a key factor which help in keeping the traditional values going on generation by generation and making a diversity of traditions and culture in a nation like, India.

IN OUR FAMILY – Elders are like roots of a tree that holds down the family firmly and keep the family strong. They give advice and judgments in time of crisis and important matters. Elders like our grandparents are the soul of a family. They are the ultimate mentor of the family. They take care of young ones and share their experience and give advices which is very useful for the members of the family. Usually, their old stories are very entertaining and help in giving moral values to children. Another important role they play is to solve disputes among their family members. They help in preserving the traditions of the family.

IN CHILDREN’S LIFE - Elders, be it grandfathers or grandmothers, they always have a special place in the family, and every time members of family seek them for their views on any matter. Elders have a deep relation with their grand children. They spend time with them, play with them, and teach them important rules and values of life in form of stories. These stories, often entertaining have a great impact on a child's mind. Even grandparents, understanding this fact, tell stories about various genres of life, giving advice in an entertaining form. Children nowadays go to playschools, that's the reason they don't get to spend enough time with their grandparents.

Elders are NOT a burden!• If we look into our life it is obviously clear

that elders are not a burden but rather they are a form of blessings for us because they are the people who teach us how to behave in society, our tradition and culture. They are the greatest treasure of a family, a society and a nation. But in this generation, these all qualities of elders is not valued or evaluated properly. Now people have started thinking that elders are a burden for them. But in fact this is not at all true.

Reasons for considering elders as a burden -

• People giving more importance to money.• Lack of residential space.• Growing materialism.• Selfishness.• Breaking of joint family system.• Craze for nuclear family.• Lack of willingness to serve the physically

impaired elders.

Factors that contribute to the depression in elderly.

• Migration of young couples from the rural areas to cities in search of better employment opportunities to live a better life.

• Rude attitude of their children towards them.• Incompletion of their medical necessities.• Lack of medical, psychological and daily care.• Social isolation.

• Retirement.• Life events – either traumatic or unresolved.• Dealing with changes in living conditions or

situations like moving to an old age home.

ELDERLY ABUSE

• DOMESTIC ABUSE - Maltreatment of an older person by someone

who has a special relationship with the elder. (e.g. spouse, sibling, child, friend, caregiver).

Spouses make up a large percent of elder abusers. Partnerships in which one member of a couple has traditionally tried to exert power and control over the other.

Young couples trying to get control over them.

• INSTITUTIONAL ABUSE - Abuse that occurs in residential facilities for

older persons. (e.g. nursing homes, foster homes, group homes, board and care facilities.

Abusers are persons who have legal or contractual obligation to provide elder victims with care and protection. (e.g. staff, professionals, paid caregivers).

• Emotional or psychological abuse – The infliction of anguish, pain, or distress through

verbal or nonverbal acts. Includes, verbal assaults, insults, threats,

humiliation, harassment. Treating the older person like an infant. Isolating an elderly person from his/her family,

friends or regular activities. Giving an older person the “silent treatment” or

enforced social isolation.

• Financial exploitationThis involves unauthorized use of an elderly person’s funds or property, either by a caregiver or an outside scam artist.

An unscrupulous caregiver might - • Misuse an elder’s personal checks, credit cards, or accounts.• Steal cash, income checks, or household goods.• Forge the elder’s signature.• Engage in identity theft.

Typical rackets that target elders include• Announcements of a “prize” that the elderly person has won but must pay money to claim.• Phony charities.• Investment fraud.

ELDERLY BEING SELF-NEGLECTED.

• Self Neglect is behavior of an elderly person that threatens his/her own health/safety. Self-neglect excludes a situation in which a

mentally competent person who understands the consequences of his/her decisions, makes a conscious and voluntary decision to engage in acts that threaten his/her safety as a matter of personal choice.

Steps that should be taken to stop elderly abuse.

• Elders should share a relationship with their children that is educational as well as enjoyable.

• Young children want things their way and tend to get aggressive. It is important to see the things and the world through their eyes to avoid bitterness and differences.

• Children should not try to inflict themselves and their opinions on them but should obey them.

• Maintain a strong, healthy and loving relationship with them.

• Respect their sentiments and obey them.• Give them encouragement and support.• Provide adequate medical care and daily

needs to them.

Step taken by Indian government to stop elder abuse.

• Programmes will be developed to promote family values, sensitize the young on the necessity and desirability of inter generational bonding and continuity and the desirability of meeting filial obligations 

• State policies will encourage children to co -reside with their parents by providing tax relief, allowing rebates for medical expenses and giving preference in the allotment of houses 

• Short term staying facilities for older persons will be supported so that families can get some relief when they go out.

• Counseling services will be strengthened to resolve inter familial stresses.

• Setting up organizations like “Help Age India” etc.

Our elders are a valuable resource and they plays a tremendous role in society, in children’s life and in a family. So we should preserve and use this resource very wisely.

THANK YOU.

Made by – Piyush Patel.