Around 29 per cent caregivers in the Indian families (mainly son, daughter-in-law, daughter, son-in-law) are feeling the ‘burden of giving care to an elder’, while 15 percent have termed caregiving as a ‘severe’ burden — recognising the problem of old age as one of the most pressing issues of the current scenario.
The nationwide report released by a Delhi based NGO HelpAge India on Friday said that 25.7 pc caregivers felt fatigue and frustration resulting in aggressive behaviour towards their older relative while 35 pc of the caregivers ‘never’ felt happy looking after the elderly.
The report comes on the eve of United Nations recognised ‘World Elder Abuse Awareness Day’ which falls tomorrow on June 15.
Every year ‘World Elder Abuse Awareness Day’ is marked across the globe with the aim to create awareness about the heinous crime of Elder Abuse. The wide prevalence of Elder Abuse in India, has been revealed in past surveys carried out by HelpAge. Unfortunately, in most cases the abuser is their own child, mostly the Son & Daughter-in-law. The top forms of abuse have been disrespect, neglect and verbal abuse.
HelpAge India CEO Mathew Cherian stressed on the fact that despite the abuse, elders face at home, in the hands of their adult children, they choose to remain within the family ambit. “Their solution is always sensitise their children, their primary caregivers, and not move away from the family. It is therefore important to look into space of the Caregiver. To understand the burden of elder care and the challenges faced by them. For only if we are able to understand, can we also empower and encourage them to look after their elderly parents. For we firmly believe that ‘My Parent is My Responsibility’, and that the best care for elders should be at home,” he said.
The report which is based on a survey of 20 cities — focuses on the generation aged 30 – 50 years, covering Tier 1 and 2 cities. This is the generation which has to look after their elderly parents and their own children and has been the prime abuser as highlighted in past surveys by HelpAge.
But despite the burden, many adult caregivers still fulfilled their duties of care as 32 per cent of the caregivers reported to be extending physical care to elderly’ for Activities of Daily Living (ADL) such as assisting them in changing clothes, walking, eating, bathing, toileting etc.
The report also sheds some light on the percentage of women looking after elders at home is far more than that of their male counterparts.
The report suggested that there is a need to give emotional support to elderly who often suffered from anxiety, lack of self-confidence, depression & loneliness was often felt.
Some measures were also suggested by the caregivers viz to decrease the ‘burden of care’ looking after the elderly dependents were: subsidised medicine, better medical transportation facilities, government-supported Old Age Homes, provision of Health Card, free treatment in government medical institutions, GST free and discounted medicines, improved medical staff in government hospitals, medical insurance policy, Mediclaim and transport facility for visiting hospitals.
The NGO also plans to conduct an inter-generational march tomorrow on ‘World Elder Abuse Awareness Day”, at Jantar-Mantar, to bring home the message that there is ‘No Excuse for Elder Abuse’ and that ‘My Parent is My Responsibility’ — campaign the organisation is running to sensitise and urge young adults to look after their parents and elders at home.
Over 300 senior citizens along with young adults are slated join the march in the national capital.
(UNI)
