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| Photo by Jamila Estanislao |
“Elder abuse, despite its seriousness, is an invisible issue in the Philippines. Data on this subject is hardly available due to underreporting and limited research focused on it,” - Karen Gomez-Dumpit, Focal Commissioner on Aging and the Human Rights of Older Persons
According to the World Health Organization, Elder abuse is a “single or repeated act, or lack of appropriate action, occurring within any relationship where there is an expectation of trust, which causes harm or distress to an older person.” It is a worldwide issue that comes in different forms: physical, psychological, sexual, financial, or material, and abandonment or neglect.
It is a serious issue that should be talked about more, but in the Philippines, it used to be quite rare to hear any incident of elder abuse. This was because elder abuse was not often reported and mostly downplayed into simple conflicts within the family. Which gave way to the invisibility of the said issue in our country that inevitably led to its almost irrelevance to our society. However, when the pandemic occurred, elder abuse started going rampant, making headlines in the news. What's most unfortunate is their family, relatives, and friends are the offenders.
Which emphasizes even more the need to tackle this issue and implement laws protecting the elderly from any kind of abuse. Additionally, here are a few more reasons why we should talk about elder abuse in the Philippines:
1. Suffering in Silence
Most elders who experience abuse cannot get the help they need because they mostly don’t have the strength to do so. In extreme cases, they are isolated from society and are stuck with their abusers everyday. Their lack of access to the authorities is another factor in letting this issue go under radar. This leads to different sorts of injuries on the elders whether physical, psychological, and emotional.
Without people actively talking about this issue, these adults will continue to suffer in silence because they would never find the strength to seek help without people supporting and protecting them.
2. Human Rights Violation
Elder Abuse is a violation against human rights. Elders deserve to live a normal, safe life in a society where they are cared for and protected from any types of harms and abuses that may befall them. Therefore this must be brought to light- all efforts must be exerted to bring awareness and a stop to this issue.
3. It Is More Common Than We Think
There are a lot more abused, exploited, and neglected elders than we think. They could be one of the elders we know or worse, one of our relatives. Not to mention that these senior citizens are frail, sick, or unable to get help for themselves. So it is up to us to seek out the signs and advocate for their protection.
But now maybe you’re wondering what you can do to spread awareness and mitigate this issue. Here are some things you can do:
A. Look For Signs of Abuse
Given that most abused elders are suffering in silence, we have to be vigilant and check on our elders every now and then- stranger or not. Some of the telltale signs of abuse are bruises, some type of bleeding, wounds, and any sign of injury. If the elder is often isolated and left alone, it is an evident sign of abuse behind closed doors as well. Additionally, if they are being neglected one way or another, that is also abuse. Lastly, being treated harshly on any occasion is another sign of abuse. But remember, any sign, big or small, is significant. Ask the elder about it, you may never know, they might be waiting for someone to ask so they could get help.
And if you do come across one, immediately report it to the authorities.
B. Spread Awareness
It is cliche at this point but spreading awareness about this issue is a big thing, especially in a society where it is not often detected. Doing this will not only make the issue more relevant, it will also open to more demands of protection for the elders that the government should have given them in the first place. Most importantly, talking about this will make these elders feel seen and heard, it will make them realize that they are not alone and that there are people out there fighting for their rights.
C. Do Not Downplay Any Abuse
Abuse is not something to laugh at. It is serious but oftentimes, it gets watered down into simple conflicts and misunderstandings within the family when it should not be. Abuse is abuse despite its severity and the situation.
D. Advocate for the Rights of the Elders
The elders are one of the most vulnerable people in our society, they are frail and mostly dependent on others to survive or the other way around where they are being exploited and robbed by their own family. Advocating for their protection and rights is something that would greatly benefit them. It doesn’t have to be anything grand; telling people about the issue and educating them about its consequences in our society is already instrumental and so does sharing posts and articles regarding elderly abuse. Every little thing counts.
As I end this, let me leave you another statement by Karen Gomez-Dumpit:
“Older persons have the right to be free from violence, abuse, and neglect. Families, communities, and older persons themselves also have important roles to play in ensuring that no older person experiences human rights violations,”
