by Leela Ramdeen, Chair, CCSJ and Director, CREDI
Tomorrow the world will observe elder abuse awareness day. One of the foundational social justice principles in our Church is the need for us to recognise and promote the dignity of each human person at all stages and in all circumstances – from conception to natural death.
Archbishop Harris has rightly raised a red flag warning us/our nation about the danger of going down the path of destruction. Let us use our free will wisely and strengthen our own spirituality. Let us also pass on Christian values within our families and in our communities so that we will pull back from the brink of destruction. Elder abuse is part of the destructive ‘mix’ in TT/the world.
We must eliminate some of the stereotypes about our elderly, many of whom are not abused and continue to live active lives and use their God-given gifts to build our nation. However, we will be living in denial if we fail to develop our awareness of the grave social ill of elder abuse. Let’s take action within our communities to eliminate this scourge which manifests itself in many forms, e.g. neglect, abandonment, financial exploitation, sexual, physical and psychological abuse. Elders who are ill, frail, disabled, mentally impaired or depressed are at greater risk of abuse.
On 16th June, I will celebrate my 65th birthday. As I get older, I thank God daily for my loving, caring family as abusers of the elderly can often be family members, friends, and those we trust. The UN states: “The global population of people aged 60 years and older will more than double, from 542 million in 1995 to about 1.2 billion in 2025. Around 4 % to 6% of elderly people have experienced some form of maltreatment at home. Elder maltreatment can lead to serious physical injuries and long-term psychological consequences. The incidence of abuse towards older people is predicted to increase as many countries are experiencing rapidly ageing populations.
“Elder abuse is a global social issue which affects the health and human rights of millions of older persons around the world, and an issue which deserves the attention of the international community.”
The elderly are one of the “two poles of humanity” to which Pope Francis referred in 2013 en route to World Youth Day. He said: “A people has a future if it goes forward with both elements: with the young, who have the strength, and things move forward because they do the carrying; and with the elderly because they are the ones who give life’s wisdom. We do the elderly an injustice. We set them aside as if they had nothing to offer us.”
The Holy Father’s words on 5th March, in his address to members of the Pontifical Academy for Life, should resonate with us. As EWTN reported, inter alia, he said: “The elderly, first of all, need the care of family members…Abandonment is the most serious ‘illness’ of the elderly and also the greatest injustice they can suffer: Those who helped us to grow must not be abandoned when they need our help, our love and our tenderness.”
He noted that many elderly are either “left to die or made to die” due to their physical or social condition. Palliative care is necessary, he said, “because it counters a mentality of utility that often leaves elderly persons marginalized and alone.”
We in TT/the Caribbean, like in many parts of the world, have an ageing population. TT is yet to develop a co-ordinated approach to address the needs of the elderly who must be able to live safe, secure lives without fear, neglect or exploitation. Elder abuse is widespread. Often the silent cries for help by those who are abused go unnoticed.
The moral test of a nation is how it treats the most vulnerable. If we are true evangelizers, we will develop outreach ministries in our parishes to meet the needs of our elderly. By being advocates for the elderly – lobbying the private sector, Government etc., we can build inclusive communities. Let’s do it.
The programmes offered by The Catholic Social Services Elder Abuse Intervention Team, “a multi-function social service agency that serves people of all faiths and cultures throughout central and northeast Alberta, Canada”, should inspire us also. See: http://www.catholicsocialservices.ab.ca e.g. Seniors Protection Partnership, Elder Abuse Intake Line, and Elder Abuse Resource and Support. As the Team says: “You can bring hope to seniors experiencing, or at risk of experiencing, abuse or neglect…”
