World Elder Abuse Awareness Day 2022: Be their Voice

A Brief Look At Its Significance

It’s often said that you return a dozen kilos heavier from your grandparents’ place. The kind of sheer love and care our grandparents have for us is unparalleled. They are our first introduction to an age group much older than us. Their thoughts and stories stay with us and we often find ourselves seeing them and remembering them every time we come across a kind old lady across the street or an eccentric and funny grandpa playing with his grandson.

It’s often hard to believe why someone would put an elderly in tough and unexplainable conditions. According to reports published by the World Health Organization, globally, at least 1 in 6 people aged 60 years and above have suffered some or the other form of abuse. That’s a figure that’s hard to believe and absorb. Studying the reports, one could infer that it could be domestic abuse, physical abuse, financial abuse, emotional abuse, or sexual abuse. However, such issues are often neglected due to lack of awareness.

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World Elder Abuse Awareness Day was officially recognized by the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in 2011 to highlight such issues that often go unreported and unnoticed by masses. It is observed on June 15 every year to spread awareness about the same and in doing so, make an attempt  to curb the problem.   Elder abuse is a global issue that needs urgent attention.

Condition Of Elderlies In India

We Indians take immense pride in paying much deserved respect and attention to our elders. But there also exists a dark facet of India that we often refuse to believe or are perhaps unaware of. In certain parts of our country, the elderly and senior citizens are being mercilessly abused and thrown out of their own homes, which they built with their own hard-earned money. Betrayed and helpless, they are forced to take shelter in old age homes.

One such shelter is called SMIT Old Age Home. Located in Mumbai, it was established in 2010 as a way to provide shelter for every person who is in dire need of it. To dig a little deeper and know more about the situation of elderlies, our team from ImpactGuru, one of the leading crowdfunding platforms in India, decided to visit the foundation.

Coming across elderly who have been abused and battered in their own homes was a devastating experience for our team. There were people who were abused mentally and physically by their own kids. But knowing that there were residents who couldn’t even narrate their own stories due to their mental frailty was a much more difficult experience.

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While listening to their heartbreaking stories, our team found out how SMIT Foundation is in urgent need of funds to provide for their residents. They are currently living under a lease which is going to expire soon. They won’t have a roof above their heads if urgent help is not sent. You can support them by clicking here.

How To Spot Elderly Abuse Around You

1. Observe closely: One can often spot the symptoms of abuse in a victim if observed closely. If you notice bruises, unexplained injury marks, or sores over their body, then there are high chances that they are in urgent need of your help - be it emotional, financial, or for medical emergencies.

2. Look for underlying issues: If an elderly is being irrationally moody, agitated, and angry all the time, it's a grave matter that needs to be looked at. So, it’s not just their physical symptoms that matter.

3. Listen closely: Listen intently to what they’re trying to convey while they are conversing with you. Sometimes, the victim actively tries to reach for help to get out of such situations. All you have to do is lend an ear.

4. Check on their living conditions: Observe if the elderly are kept in proper hygienic conditions or not. At times, an appropriate hygienic environment is not provided to them, which, in turn, takes a toll on their physical well-being. 

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How Can You Help?

1. Contact the concerned authorities: Another way of providing help would be to contact the concerned authority to get the victim out of the stressful environment and finding the right accomodation for them. A police complaint will ensure that the victim is safe and in the hands of a harmless caregiver.

2. Start a fundraiser: Crowdfunding websites can help to raise money for an abuse victim. The funds that have been raised will help them in getting the right kind of treatment for the abuse they have suffered over the years. They can get out of an abusive environment and start a new life with much needed guidance.

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How Does ImpactGuru Come Into The Picture?

Usually, money plays a vital role in helping an abuse victim. That’s where ImpactGuru comes into the picture. If you know a senior, who is an abuse victim and needs urgent help, then starting a fundraiser for them would be a step in the right direction. Crowdfunding in India is a fairly new concept but is picking up pace due to its noble service. You can start your own fundraiser campaign by clicking here.