WHILE there may not be statistics available on the pervasiveness
of maltreatment and abuse of the elderly in nursing homes here
('Shocking scenes at nursing home'; June 10), we wonder if this is
just the tip of the iceberg.
Having worked with vulnerable elderly people who are victims of
abuse in their domestic family settings at Trans Safe Centre - a
centre that assists the elderly and families on issues of family
violence - we are aware that generally, what we see is only
skin-deep.
A study in the United States has estimated that for every one
case of elder abuse in domestic setting reported, five go
unreported.
With an ageing population and heightened stress in families in
Singapore, we anticipate a rising trend of elder abuse here.
In many instances, elder abuse may be related to issues of
caregiving and the lack of resources.
When a person becomes infirm, helpless and dependent on others
to meet even basic needs, the last thing he would want if he is
still cognitive is to be made to feel useless and seen as 'a
problem'.
It would be very sad if that last bit of human pride and dignity
is robbed by the way the infirm and old are treated, by the very
people who are supposed to care for them.
If our society can actively protect the rights of children, we
can also protect the rights of the elderly. It is time that
policymakers recognised the need for a higher standard of elder
care services and trained professionals to attend to the needs of
the elderly.
It is our hope that more can be done in caring for the elderly,
in particular the poor elderly, so that they can age with
dignity.
There is a need to provide additional resources to the elder
care sector as a whole so that staff are adequately supported and
facilities enhanced.
Let us continue to respect and take good care of our elders as
they journey into their twilight years.
Yee-Chow Choy Yin (Mrs)
Executive Director
Trans Family Services