Nearly 31 percent elderly face abuse: HelpAge India report

New Delhi: Nearly 31 percent of the elderly in the country face abuse in some form, and more than half of them feel their sons were responsible for this, a report said on Thursday. The report by the HelpAge India on the eve of the World Elder Abuse Awareness Day on 15th June also said that more elderly women than men faced abuse. [caption id=“attachment_344088” align=“alignleft” width=“380” caption=“Reuters”]  [/caption] The elderly considered neglect, disrespect and verbal abuse as abuse. The report, which is based on sample survey across 20 major cities, mentioned that 75 percent of them lived with their families and 69 percent were owners of the house they were living in. Chief Executive of HelpAge India Mathew Cherian said: “Surprisingly, it was found that 56 percent felt that it was their son who abused them, contrary to the common myth that it was the daughter-in law who did so. Daughters-in-law scored 23 percent in terms of abuse.” Lt Governor of Delhi Tejinder Khanna, who released the report, said counselling was needed for the old. “There should be definitely some kind of home counselling, because in many cases there is lack of communication, lack of mutual understanding or respect between older and younger generation. In such cases, counselling service can be started there and volunteers can go and talk their problems and solve the problems,” Khanna said. The report also said police helplines and services were known to majority of respondents, but were never used for the sake of family honour. IANS