Senior citizens face abuse and neglect in Hyderabad

Hyderabad: Are we treating our elders well? While cases of ill-treatment of elders at home are often read and spoken about, it is surprising to note that nearly 90 per cent of elders in Hyderabad complain of being discriminated against, in public spaces. In a recent report titled Elders Abuse, released on the eve of World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, opinions of a cross-section of elders across the country have been tabulated and the results are quite disturbing. Elders in this country are complaining and societal apathy towards this is a trifle alarming.

4615 elders were interviewed in 19 cities in India. The survey showed that on an all India basis, 44 per cent of elders had experienced abuse in a public space at some time or the other. While mistreatment of abuse at home is as high as 50 per cent, the way Indian society deals with its elderly population is not a happy story either.

Eleven to 19 per cent elders complained that the service delivery persons were often very rude. Post office staffers were impatient in general and had little time to answer their queries. 12 per cent of elders faced bad behavior in hospitals while 13 per cent found bank staffers unhelpful. On the flip side, 17 per cent of shopping mall staffers were unapproachable and 61 per cent of people across all service sectors were impatient with elders as they were slow. The elders stated that the Indian society was not respectful towards them and they could get away with this bad behaviour as there was no societal accountability.

Mr Kishore Gupta, member of Senior Citizens Club at A S Rao Nagar explained, “Most of the youngsters think that elders can't understand technology and that they are outdated. Many of them are impatient with them and not willing to understand their situation. Many elders prefer to remain indoors and do not move out at all.”The survey found that 53 per cent of elders felt unsafe stepping out of their homes. 38 per cent used to drive earlier but now stay away from the wheel, because of the  the inability to deal with human and  vehicular traffic.

Old age in trauma
Elderly abuse in Hyderabad according to the survey in various categories

• 60% of elders actually experienced abuse and mistreatment by the society due to their age.
•  90% of elders perceive that Indian society discriminates against elders , making the city the highest.
•  39% of elders  experienced bad behaviour by Post Office staff
•  32% of elders received bad treatment by other customers in queue while paying utility bills: 32
•  74% of elders  have found that people get away by behaving rudely and there is no one whom they fear