Violence and Abuse
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ISSUE Ageways 59 Practical issues in ageing and development APRIL 2002 Violence and abuse Elder abuse - a hidden reality Challenging harmful beliefs Learning about rights Action to promote respect plus Gender in project planning NOTICEBOARD Comment Letters Action against abuse New format one aspect of ageing, and that Welcome to Ageways 59, in which Thank you to everyone who has education never ends. we focus on an issue that is written about Ageways’ new format. She came to the group feeling beginning to emerge as a serious Here are a few responses.We will isolated. Now she says it has changed and widespread problem – violence include a survey form in issue 60 her life. She began to see herself as and abuse of older people. to obtain more feedback. an ageing person, with inevitable A key problem is lack of recognition Thank you very much for your excellent loss, but also with new things to of elder abuse, and a taboo in publication.The contents are useful for discover: living alone without feeling talking about it. The causes of elder us, and the new look is better. lonely, developing her independence, abuse are often complex, linked widening her social and emotional Sarangadhar Smal, Director, Nysasdri, India. links, and planning projects she to wider problems in society and Email: [email protected] age-discriminatory attitudes could achieve. and systems. We like the new style Ageways and Prof. Psic. Graciela Petriz, have always found Ageways a very Programme of Continuing Education This issue of Ageways suggests useful resource for our training and for Older People (PEPAM), Faculty of practical ways of identifying, community work. Humanities and Educational Science, preventing and dealing with elder calle 47 N° 879, 1900 La Plata, Argentina. Maria Kanger, Executive Director, COMBRA, abuse. It emphasises the need for Fax: 54 221 423 6672 Uganda. Email: [email protected] a broad approach that tackles not Email: [email protected] only the effects of abuse but also Congratulations on the new look of its underlying causes, requiring Ageways, which will definitely Support for disabled children action at all levels of society. contribute to make it a more I have informally rendered services effective and attractive tool for to older people since 1985. I am Celia Till and Fiona Clark information exchange. increasingly convinced that Editors Birgitte Ebbesen, UNHCR, rue Van Eyck, 11B, community-based rehabilitation 1050 Brussels, Belgium. projects for older people and for those with mental handicap are Contents We are glad about the contents and mutually supportive. Elder abuse – a hidden reality 4 new presentation of Ageways.It gives us useful guidance on extending We find from home visits to identify Challenging beliefs services to older people. mentally handicapped children, that about witchcraft 6 they always live with older people, R M Premadasa Bodhinayake, President, A place to learn about rights 7 Uva Farmers Development Foundation, either grandparents or other relatives. Dealing with abuse 8 Jangulla, Hali Ela, Sri Lanka. Indeed, we often rely on the oral Finding out about abuse 10 traditions of older people to identify One woman’s experience those with mental handicap. Information sources 12 I would like to tell you the story of one Last Christmas 2001 we held a party Taking gender into account 13 woman’s experience from the many in the village for disabled people. Members and programmes 15 workshops we hold with older people The turn-out was amazing. From Action to promote respect 16 as part of the Programme for the youngest to the oldest, Continuing Education of Older People. everyone enjoyed themselves. Themes of future issues Issue 60 (June 2002) HIV/AIDS In the group, people can discuss their In our outreach stations we have Issue 61 (October 2002) Livelihoods fears – of ageing, illness and death. found 30 previously unknown older Issue 62 (March 2003) End of life By sharing these fears, they are disabled people.We now have plans Issue 63 (June 2003) Disability gradually understood. Participants get to build a day care centre specifically to know each other and establish a We welcome articles for for older people. network among themselves. consideration.They should be Please could you consider issuing received three months before A student in the 80-plus group has guidelines on how to approach this the month of publication. learnt that chronological age is just combination of older people and 2 Ageways 59 NOTICEBOARD News people with mental disabability. Second World Assembly on Ageing More information: Andrew Humphreys, We need to work towards integrating HelpAge International has arranged Campaign Coordinator, Action on Ageing, the two vulnerable age groups within for more than 50 older people from HelpAge International, PO Box 32832, London N1 9ZN, UK. one action programme. Africa, Asia, Latin America, Caribbean Email: [email protected] Josephine Bakhita, Director, Amani Centre and eastern Europe to take part in the Website: http://www.helpage.org for Children with Mental Disabilities, Second World Assembly on Ageing, The draft Plan of Action is available PO Box 579, Morogoro,Tanzania. Madrid in April 2002. A new on the United Nations Programme Fax: +255 23 2600829 International Plan of Action on Ageing on Ageing website at: Email: [email protected] will be adopted at the assembly. http://www.un.org/esa.socdev/ageing Radio programme is run by us The move forms part of HelpAge International Day parade I would like to correct some errors in International’s Action on Ageing the article in Ageways 56 about my campaign, which seeks to ensure that radio programme, Older People’s Words. the demands of older people living in poverty are included in the new plan, Firstly, the programme is run entirely and that resources will be available to by the production team – currently implement it. myself and Maximiliano Mores. It does not belong to FAIAF. At the assembly, HelpAge International will launch a new report, State of the The programme was my own idea. As a world's older people 2002. The report social communications graduate, I was draws on consultations with older interested in using communications to people around the world, and provide a social service. A colleague Mbané Jean Robert/EPV identifies three pillars for policy and and I researched older people’s action on ageing: equal rights for older Older people in the village of Fomopea, communications needs, and we Cameroon, celebrated the International citizens; a fair share of national and developed the programme as a result. Day for Older People on 1 October with international resources; and inclusion a march and speeches organised by local FAIAF – an Argentinian NGO in decision-making and in civil society. NGO Ensemble Protégéons les Vieux (EPV). supporting older people – took part in one of the programmes. Later, we received money to cover some of our expenses from an NGO coordinating New publications body which FAIAF is a member of.We have never received any professional How to build a good small NGO is More information: HelpAge International Asia/Pacific Regional Development Centre fees or government support. available on the web. It contains guidelines and exercises, with links to (address on page 15). If anyone needs further information, other resources. It includes a section please can they contact me. on best practice for projects with older Addressing the nutritional needs María Cecilia Lorenzo, people in Africa, written by Amleset of older people in emergency Older People’s Words, Av.Tronador 2395, Tewodros, HelpAge International’s situations in Africa: ideas for action Bo Parque Capital, Córdoba CP 5016, highlights key issues affecting the Argentina. Tel: +54 351 4692079 Africa regional training coordinator. nutrition of older people in Email: [email protected] Available at: emergencies and suggests ways in http://www.networklearning.org which the rights and needs of older We welcome letters from readers. people can be more effectively Please write to: The Editor, Working with video provides practical addressed. Ageways, HelpAge International, guidelines on using video to empower older people, developed at a PO Box 32832, London N1 9ZN, UK More information: Dolline Busolo, or email: [email protected] workshop organised by HelpAge Regional Nutritionist, HelpAge International Letters may be edited. International’s Asia/Pacific Regional Africa Regional Development Centre Development Centre in October 2000. (address on page 15). Ageways 59 3 VIOLENCE AND ABUSE Elder abuse a hidden reality The extent and nature of violence and abuse of older people Experiences is just beginning to emerge. Fiona Clark discusses why it of abuse happens and what can be done to prevent it. Based on evidence in the HelpAge International network, older people have most frequently identified physical violence as their primary concern, as well as financial abuse, such as robbery, theft and being persuaded to hand over money or property. In Africa, older people are increasingly at risk of physical violence related to cultural beliefs and accusations of witchcraft, especially against older women. In a single month, HelpAge Hein du Plessis International partners in Pension queue in South Africa – attacks at pension pay points relate to wider issues Mozambique identified 142 acts of poverty and unemployment, and ageism in society. of abuse committed against older people in the communities in which G neglect and abandonment – lder abuse is a serious they work. Of