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Header News This World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, Evergreen Club highlights the #TheInvisibleAbuse
This World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, Evergreen Club highlights the #TheInvisibleAbuse
In June 2006, World Elder Abuse Awareness Day was established. The United Nations defines elder abuse as “a single or recurring act, or a lack of appropriate action, occurring within any relationship where there is an expectation of trust that causes injury or distress to an older person,” according to the UN.
It’s a social problem that has an impact on the mental health of millions of senior citizens around the world. World Elder Abuse Day is observed on June 15 every year to raise awareness about the issue. This problem exists in both poor and rich countries, but it is frequently underreported. Estimates ranging from 1% to 10% are found for only a few wealthy countries. Although the scope of elder abuse is unknown, its social and moral consequences are obvious. As a result, a global multifaceted reaction focusing on maintaining the rights of the elderly is required.
The initiative by Evergreen Club
Elder abuse can take all forms, and not every form of abuse is visible. Evergreen Club – the online community for older adults above the age of 50, raises awareness about the psychological abuse faced by senior citizens through their recently launched campaign #TheInvisibleAbuse. On the occasion of World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, the campaign talks about the neglected issue of mental sufferings in the lives of the elderly.
Old age is the most vulnerable stage of the human life, in which many face discrimination. Some elderly people are deprived of even the most basic necessities, and their own family members do not treat them well. The campaign #TheInvisibleAbuse features posters of elderly people highlighting different kinds of abuse & trauma they go through at home, due to social isolation, financial issues or otherwise, which is often less spoken about. During the pandemic too, when the world practiced social distancing, emotional distancing among the elderly came into the limelight. This campaign emphasizes on the fact that the increasing psychological abuse among senior citizens should be stopped.
Speaking on the campaign, Tapan Mishra, Founder, Evergreen Club, says, “Evergreen Club was launched with the objective of creating a safe place for the elderly. Isolation and loneliness is one of the outcomes of mental abuse. Through this campaign, we want to create awareness about the less spoken issues of mental abuse amongst the elderly, help them recognize the ‘red flags’, and how and where they can seek help for support incase of abuse.”
Further, as a step towards inclusivity, in reaching off-the-net places, the team at Evergreen Club will now endeavor to conduct monthly sessions at old age homes. To start with, their first session will be conducted with the members of Missionaries of Charity (Pune) on this Elder Abuse Awareness Day. The goal is to be an escape from their mundane daily lives by addressing loneliness and social isolation.
Helplines available for elderly support:
1. 14567 (ElderLine): An initiative by Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment for the elderlies aims to provide information, guidance, emotional support, and in cases of abuse, immediate assistance too
2. 112: for emergencies or to report abuse.
The Campaign
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