Treatment of the aged (in Asia)

In Asia, the elderly population has increased rapidly. Approximately 7.4% of the current total population in the region is elderly. In fact, there are about 77 million older persons now in India. This number is estimated rise to 177 million in another 25 years.

In view of this increasing aged population, are the elderly on equal standing as compared to the rest of the population? In some instances, the aged population does enjoy equal rights in the Asian society.

Firstly, the aged was respected in our society and treated as assets, as they were seen to be experienced veterans coupled with many years of knowledge. For example, the various prime minister in the Southeast Asia countries were aged. Indian PM, Manmohan Singh, was 71. Junichino Koizumi, PM of Japan and Hu JinTao, head of China, were practically “youth movement” figures at 61. This has showed that the aged was treated with due respect and valued as valuable members of our society who are able to handle prominent leadership roles.

Secondly, there were also various laws and rules implemented to provide the elderly with more rights. For example, in Japan, there was an Amendment to the Law concerning the stabilization of employment of the Aged (the “Amendment”), which took effect in 2006. The Amendment requires every employer that currently sets its mandatory retirement age under 65 to implement one of the following measures: Extend the mandatory retirement age to 65;Introduce a re-employment system for employees between ages 60 and 65; or Abolish mandatory retirement. This law has ensured that the aged can choose whether to work longer, and gave them more chances of being employed. The rights of the aged are thus being observed here.

Also, there has been a global action on aging. The UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) take an active role in mainstreaming ageing-related issues into national development strategies and policies. In the spirit of the 1999 International Year of Older Persons, UNESCAP Member States adopted the Macao Declaration and Plan of Action on Ageing for Asia and the Pacific, which defines major areas of concern and priorities for action on aging in the region. To facilitate MIPAA implementation, UNESCAP adopted the Regional Implementation Strategy for the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing 2002 and the Macao Plan of Action on Ageing for Asia and the Pacific 1999. UNESCAP’s Population and Social Integration Section organize regional meetings, seminars and training sessions for its Member States and NGOS. It also conducts regular regional surveys on aging to foster and monitor implementation of the Macao and Madrid plans of action on aging. This showed that the rights of the elderly are put into priority in the SEA, and thus they are treated fairly.

However, there were also some cases where the aged were not treated fairly. There had been cases of elderly abused in some parts of the world. For example, according to a survey by the Health, Welfare and Labor Ministry in Japan, one of every 10 aged people believed to have experienced cruel treatment during the year through October 2003 was in danger of losing his or her life. The average age of sufferers was 81.6 years, and 77 percent were women. Thirty-two percent of those believed responsible for cruel treatment were sons of the victims; 21 percent were wives of the sons; and 20 percent turned out to be the victims' spouses.

Furthermore, abuse of the elderly in the community and within institutional settings has been largely unrecognized. Their ill health has often been attributed to natural, accidental or undetermined causes when in fact they were the consequences of abusive or neglectful behaviour. In some cultures, women are more dependent- financially and emotionally on families than men - making them more vulnerable to abuse. Elderly abuse is generally ‘hidden’, since older persons find it shameful to admit that they are abused and are ashamed of the stigma. Elderly people on the whole are likely to face both neglect and violence. The difference being that whereas neglect is an act of omission, violence constitutes an act of commission or perpetration. Abuse of the elderly covers physical abuse - infliction of pain or injury, physical coercion or physical drug-induced restraint; psychological or emotional abuse - infliction of mental anguish, illegal or improper exploitation, non-consensual sexual contact (sexual abuse) and refusal or failure to fulfill a care-giving obligation (neglect).

Mistreatment of older people often occurs within institutional settings such as nursing homes, residential care institutions, hospitals and day care facilities. Evidence from India suggests that in some instances staff often perpetuate institutional abuse when they impose rules or over-protective care in the name of discipline. Some institutions that lack professionally trained management may also end up abusing the elderly. According to a report by the National Center on Elder Abuse, an early study of abuse by non-spousal caregivers revealed that 23 percent engaged in some form of physical abuse. A survey administered to a sample of 342 callers to a help line for caregivers found that 12 percent of the callers had physically abused the person in their care at least once.

Physical and psychological violence impacts the health of an elderly person. Despite the impact of violence on the elderly, physical and cognitive impairments combined with extensive family ties make it difficult for an elderly person to leave an abusive relationship or to take corrective measures. Displacing the elderly and depriving them of responsibility are potentially harmful cultural norms in many countries. Other forms of abuse are related to the mourning rites of passage for widows (especially those who are childless) in some communities. By custom these widows are either forced to marry their husband’s brother or face expulsion from their homes. Accusations of witchcraft are often leveled at elderly (and childless) women in some communities in the region. Since these practices are firmly entrenched social customs, they may not be considered abuse even by caregivers or professionals. For example, on July 29 2002, five women in India were hacked to death because they were believed to have been practicing "witchcraft." The murders took place in the tea belt area of Jalpaiguri state of India. During the previous decade, 79 women had been murdered in this area on suspicion of witchcraft.