Shameful truth about elder abuse

You can punch, slap or kick a frail old person … steal from them … deprive them of food, water or medication … shout at them or mock them … or leave them for sitting on the toilet for hours – and, more often than not, they won’t tell anyone what you did.

Because they’re afraid.

Just like children and animals, vulnerable elders are helpless against those who attack or prey on them. Often, the abuser is a family member – a child or grandchild – on whom the old person is completely dependent. To complain is to risk further abuse, isolation to prevent any further communication with people who might help, or even abandonment.

Old people bruise easily and, because they’re often unsteady on their feet, are more prone to bumping into walls and doorways. So cuts, bruises and broken bones, can easily be explained away. If the old person tries to tell an outsider what really happened, the abuser can claim they’re confused or suffering from dementia.

So it’s hardly surprising that there are no hard statistics available. And yet, we know it happens – and it’s getting worse.

With Elder Abuse Awareness Day taking place on 15 June, Tafta is facilitating talks and dialogues within communities to educate residents and elders on the prevention of elder abuse and the care of vulnerable elders. We are calling on interested community bodies to partner with us to get the message out to elders and their caretakers.

Please join the fight against elder abuse by making a donation towards our efforts to establish a task team to tackle this issue and provide greater levels of support for those in need.

DONATE NOW

You're also invited to join in an awareness walk in solidarity with Tafta on 14 June 2019 to commemorate World Elder Abuse Day. The walk will take place in Wentworth, in the vicinity of Tafta’s John Dunn House. Please contact Abel Naicker on 031 208 4175 or email abeln@tafta.org.za.

Together, we can make this a safer place for all vulnerable elderly people.