Durban home for aged raising awareness of elder abuse

AS THE world commemorates World Elder Abuse Awareness Day today, a Durban home for the aged will host a walk to raise awareness.

About 15 elders and five marshals from Issy Geshen Lamont Home for the Aged, in Lamontville, will embark on a 500m walk to raise awareness in communities and show solidarity with victims of elder abuse.

Nokuthandwa Gumede, 85, a retired nurse who has been at the home for three years, said she was thrilled about the walk, as she felt it would be a great opportunity to warn other elders.

“I am a victim of elder abuse. My kids work far away, and I stayed alone in my home in Bellair, Durban. Young boys used to come to my yard, smoke dagga and kick my door in broad daylight.”

She added that the last straw was when she returned from a meeting to find that her house had been broken into.

“My children and I decided it was better for me to stay at a home. Since I have moved, my home was vandalised and everything has been stolen.”

Lewis Gabayi, 74, of Kwamashu C section recalled when he was robbed of all his pension money.

“I used to drink alcohol. Now, I would like to warn elderly people to avoid alcohol because it makes one an easy target for criminals,” Gabayi said.

He said his children had placed him at the home just over two years ago.

Sifiso Ngidi, an administrator at the home, said they would walk from the home to Lamontville Clinic, where a social worker would speak on elder abuse and then everyone would walk back to the home.

Ngidi said they asked the police to escort them, as some of the grannies were wheelchair bound.

“Like other forms of family violence, elder abuse often occurs behind closed doors, and very few cases of elder abuse are reported to the authorities. We have shown our determination to report elder abuse. It is heartbreaking that when many older people reach their golden years, some are faced with cruelty and unkindness, rather than love and respect.”

Ngidi warned that elder abuse could take many forms, including financial, psychological, physical, social or sexual, and could include mistreatment or neglect.

He said some of the warning signs of elder abuse included fear, anxiety, injuries and absence of personal care.

“Elder abuse and mental health, including depression and anxiety, are interlinked, with elder abuse having devastating psychological effects on the elderly. This can lead to social isolation, a significant risk factor for further abuse,” Ngidi said.

“Awareness days like World Elder Abuse Awareness Day help bring this issue out into the open so that we can do something about it. There are many ways we can stop elder abuse, such as by keeping in touch with our older relatives and friends, asking if they are okay or reporting any case of elder abuse to the authorities.”