World Elderly Abuse Awareness Day was commemorated yesterday worldwide.
Nowadays, elderly people in the society suffer from social isolation, financial and other abuses because of loss of physical or mental capacity, or through the loss of friends and family members. It is within this backdrop that Cameroonians yesterday, June 15, 2016 joined the international community to commemorate the World Elder Abuse Awareness Day. The day aimed at preventing incidents of elder abuse by giving targeted information and encouraging community participation to bring greater recognition of poor treatment of older people wherever they live, and to highlight the need for appropriate action.
It is reported that elder abuse is an important public health problem. While there is little information regarding the extent of abuse in elderly populations, especially in developing countries, it is estimated 1 in 10 older people experience abuse each month. But that which is evident is the consequences of maltreatment of elderly people which usually lead to physical injuries,-ranging from minor scratches and bruises to broken bones as well as head injuries leading to disability and sometimes long-lasting, psychological consequences, including depression and anxiety.
In Cameroon, it is common to see old people neglected and left to themselves. While some older parents are abandoned by their families to some caregivers’ homes, others are deserted in various streets in the country at the mercy of any passerby. Looking tattered and at times sick, some old men and women are seen in the streets of Yaounde either begging for food or money to buy food or get basic needs.
The Ministry of Social Affairs has taken as duty to sensitise families and communities particularly every October 1 which is International Day of Older Persons, on the rights of the elderly people as well as giving support to associations that take care of old people. The World Elder Abuse Awareness Day is therefore a day for everybody to be at the forefront of raising public awareness and supporting older people experiencing or at risk of experiencing abuse from family or friends.
