'Over half of adults abusing elders are daughters-in-law'

Fifty-seven per cent of working adults aged 25-45 and living with at least one elderly parent in Bengaluru are ready to interact with the abused as well as the abuser to avert elder abuse, a report by HelpAge India shows.

The report titled ‘Elder Abuse–The Indian Youth Speaks Out’ was released on June 15 (Monday), the World Elder Abuse Awareness Day. It is based on a survey carried out among young working adults aged 25-45 years living with at least one elderly parent. As per the nationwide report, 73 per cent of the youth admit that elder abuse exists, with maximum abuse happening among relatives.

Briefing reporters after releasing the report, Rekha Murthy, Deputy Director, State Head Karnataka, HelpAge India, said: “The survey was carried out four months ago across ten metropolitan cities including Bengaluru. A sample size of 200 households was selected from 20 middle and upper middle class localities in each city.”

The report’s findings about Bengaluru show that about 51 per cent of the abused are in age bracket 50-60 years and about 1.2 percent of the abused are more than 80 years old. “While about 57 per cent of the youth in Bengaluru are ready to interact with the abused, about 37 per cent of them have no intention to intervene. About 53.1 per cent of elder abusers are daughters-in-law, followed by sons (49.4 per cent) and daughters (35.8 per cent). Use of abusive language and emotional abuse emerged as the most frequent forms of abuse. In about 26 per cent of abuse cases, elders are subjected to physical violence,” Murthy said. Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime) M Chandrashekhar, who was present on the occasion, said youths must ensure elders were treated well.
HelpAge India, a charity organisation working for elderly, said it had conducted a survey among elderly citizens earlier too, this time young adults were asked their points of view about elder abuse. About 50 per cent of respondents were working men, 25 per cent were stay-at-home women and 25 per cent working women.