Recognizing and Stopping Abuse Towards Older Adults
Elder abuse is a hidden epidemic. Fear of losing care silences seniors facing financial exploitation, neglect and emotional abuse. It's time to dismantle ageism and empower our golden generation to reclaim their voices.
Although older adults know their rights in general, on many occasions they cannot exercise them due to their vulnerability, physical condition, need for care, etc.; “They don't dare to do something as essential as giving their opinion or making decisions; They remain silent so as not to risk losing care from family members, says Virginia Amalia Vázquez Téllez, an academic at the Zaragoza Faculty of Higher Studies at UNAM.
Of course, abuse is also not reported. They are afraid of even more abuse, she explains. Furthermore, we must not lose sight of the fact that, within this population group, there are those who are more vulnerable: women, from some minority (indigenous, for example) and with disabilities.
