What do you know about "elder abuse"?
Definition
WHO defines elder abuse as a single or repeated act, or lack of appropriate action, occurring within any relationship where there is an expectation of trust, which cuases harm or distress to an older person.
Key Facts
- √ Around 1 in 6 people 60 years and older experienced some form of
abuse in community settings during the past year.
- √ Rates of elder abuse are high in institutions such as nursing homes
and long-term care facilities, with 2 in staff reporting that they have
committed abuse in the past year.
- √ Elder abuse can lead to serious
physical injuries and long-term psychological consequences.
- √ Elder abuse is predicted to increase as
many countries are experiencing rapidly ageing populations.
- √ The global population of people aged 60 years and older will more
than double, from 900 million in 2015 to about 2 billion in 2050.
