Violence against elders: Korosec calls for more protection and education!

Violence against elders: Korosec calls for more protection and education!

June 15th is the day against violence against older people. On the occasion of this important date, Senior Citizens' Association President Ingrid Korosec comments on the often ignored problem. She describes that violence in any form is unacceptable, especially when it comes to older people. This form of violence is often treated as a taboo topic and therefore often goes unnoticed. Korosec emphasizes that older women in particular are affected by physical and psychological violence as well as social isolation, often triggered by their life partners.

A central aspect of the discussion is the shame that many of those affected have to contend with. They are often afraid to seek help, which increases the number of unreported cases of violence against older people. Korosec welcomes the government's current focus on violence protection, particularly for older women with dementia or disabilities. She calls for more comprehensive measures that strengthen both protection against violence and preventive approaches for older people.

Diverse forms of violence

Elder abuse includes a variety of abuses. This includes not only physical and psychological violence, but also neglect, financial exploitation and linguistic discrimination. These forms of violence occur in different environments, be it in public spaces, in families or in institutions. The complexity of this issue is often overlooked, resulting in violence not being perceived as such. Many older people are affected by violence due to complex family and social structures that result from conflicts, financial dependencies and a social climate characterized by derogatory attitudes.

The Ministry of Social Affairs has dedicated itself to this and recommends measures to raise awareness in order to sensitize society to this issue. The traveling exhibition “Stop – No Violence!” is an initiative that will be carried out in Austria over three years to raise awareness through interactive elements and information offerings.

Protection and prevention

On the occasion of the upcoming World Day against the Abuse of Elderly People, the German Institute for Human Rights is calling for a UN convention to protect this vulnerable group. Expert Claudia Mahler makes it clear that despite increased awareness, there are major obstacles to protecting older people. The field of violence research is still poorly developed compared to other topics. This leads to knowledge gaps that negatively impact prevention and protective measures strategies.

In view of the demographic development, in which, according to forecasts, one in six people will be 65 years of age or older by 2050, the risk of violence and neglect is particularly high. Crisis situations and economic instability increase the pressure on support mechanisms. Mahler therefore calls not only for the legal framework to be strengthened, but also for better training in the nursing sector in order to prevent violence.

The day against violence against older people therefore offers an important platform to draw attention to these serious problems and to demand necessary social changes. Only through joint action can older people be better protected and their rights strengthened.