Mistreatment most common form of elderly abuse in India: Study

Indian population has approximately tripled during the last 50 years, but the number of elderly Indians (60+) has increased more than four-fold. The 2011 Census has shown that the elderly population (60+) of India accounted for 98.3 million

The Agewell Foundation, which works for the welfare and empowerment of the elderly, said that out of 28,295 affected elderly respondents, 10,452 (36.94 per cent) ranked mistreatment as the most common form of abuse

As many as 6,204 affected respondents (21.78 per cent) said restrictions in their social life by family members or others was second common form of abuse faced by them.
The survey sample included 50,000 elderly persons from 300 districts across the country. Out of the 50,000 elderly respondents, 29,693 claimed that they are self-dependent so far as financial independence is concerned.
Almost 26.51 per cent (13,256 respondents) said that they are dependent on their family members for finances while another 14.1 per cent (7,051) were depending on people otherthan their own family members.
Of the 29,693 persons who claimed to be financially independent, only 29.26 per cent (45.85 per cent elderly men and 8.39 per cent elderly women) had actual control over their finances, according to the study. A whopping 14,364 of them said they could not manage their money matters as their family members or relatives don’t allow them to.
Remaining 70.74 per cent respondents have only partial or no control over their finances.
Of the total 50,000 elderly persons interviewed during the survey, as many as 28,295 (56.6 per cent) said that they face harassment over house or land property, even though many of them are the owners of their properties.
Under the ‘social status in old age’ category, 47.5 per cent respondents said that social environment status of their family and society is respectable, while the majority (52.5 per cent) find it not respectful.
The study found that 34.3 per cent had no access to safe, affordable, accessible and sustainable transport facility and 81.03 per cent do not find road transport facilities elderly friendly, according to the study.
Overall 74.2 per cent elderly people accepted that they are getting proper food in old age, while almost every fourth person (25.8 per cent) is reportedly not getting proper food.