Cape Town - A total of 137 cases of elderly abuse have been reported to Western Cape social workers between 2021and 2022 but this is not the true reflection of the interpersonal violence inflicted on older people daily.
Victims are often too afraid to raise the alarm against their perpetrators who are often family members or known to them.
Abuse of the elderly includes physical abuse, sexual abuse, psychological abuse and economic abuse.
National co-ordinator for South African Older Persons Forum, Roedolf Kay said often the elderly were too afraid to report their abuser and did not want to face them in court.
“In many instances older persons are unwilling to testify against children and relatives because they do not want to see their children convicted of a crime or they are dependent on that child or relative.
“Facilities in courts for older persons to testify in-camera, as opposed to facing their abuser are also not always available. In one such case reported to us by a colleague the facility was unavailable, leaving the older person to testify directly facing her abuser.
“Old age homes are more of a controlled environment and reported cases of abuse follow the process with the DSD and within the home.
“Abuse perpetrated against older persons that live in their communities, with children or with relatives, however, often goes unreported because a lot of the time the older persons live with, are related (to) or dependent on the perpetrator.
“These older persons are often unwilling to report (cases of abuse), or testify against family members.”
Kay called on police and social development to be more proactive when utilising the Older Persons Act.
“It is clear to the SAOPF that this Instruction has been largely disregarded by SAPS. In cases where medical practitioners suspect abuse-related injuries, it is their duty to report this.”
Kay said in one particular case of financial abuse reported to the SAOPF’s Gauteng Older Persons Forum, the social worker tasked with investigating this case failed to investigate or even make contact with the complainant.
“It has been two weeks since the case was first reported, leaving the older person without food in her home because the son is allegedly withholding her SASSA (pension) card and using the money for himself,” he explained.
According to a 2022 report by the World Health Organisation (WHO), one in six people 60 years and older experience some form of abuse throughout the globe.
They said that older people being abused by nursing staff and long-term care facilities are no different, with two in three staff reporting that they had committed abuse.
They further stated that abuse of the elderly had increased during the Covid-19 pandemic, which led to serious physical injuries and long-term psychological consequences.
They said the abuse of older people is predicted to increase as many countries, including South Africa are experiencing rapidly ageing populations.
Provincial department of social development spokesperson Esther Lewis said their department had received several cases of abuse.
“The department received 137 reports of elder abuse during 2021/22 by social service organisations such as Age-in-Action as well as residential facilities. Most cases reflect physical and financial abuse.
“There are 300 residential facilities on our databases, of which 114 are funded by the department.”
Siya Monakali of Ilitha Labantu, an organisation that advocates for the rights of women and children said they were concerned.
“We have witnessed how elderly people were victims to rapes and murders. Many of the perpetrators are known to the victim. Furthermore, as a result of shifting power dynamics within many households we have witnessed how elderly people have been financially exploited and their basic needs neglected by their families. Needless to say (this) highlights the dire need for our more stringent measures to be implemented to ensure that the rights and dignity of elderly persons are protected.”
Mark van der Heever of the Western Cape Department of Health confirmed that out of their 34 emergency centres 1 601 patients over the age of 60 and older were treated for injuries relating to violence.