Elderly must live with dignity and respect

World Elder Abuse Awareness Day 2020

Message from Barbados Association of Retired Persons

Today, June 15th 2020, The Barbados Association of Retired Persons (BARP) joins the world as we observe and heighten the awareness of Elder Abuse under the theme Lifting Up Voices.

Elder abuse is viewed as the most hidden and unreported violation of Human Rights and affects one in every six seniors worldwide. The violators are usually persons entrusted with their care and, on occasion, loved ones.

Seniors who are a source of knowledge, support and are a unifying source of binding families through their deposits of nuggets of wisdom experience sexual, physical and financial abuse daily. These reservoirs of knowledge who, on occasion, are called upon to share their knowledge and experience in matters of importance are victims of abuse that is hidden and unreported.

The Barbados Association of Retired Persons (BARP) invites Barbadians to denounce this act of human indignity and to be cognizant of the red flags of elder abuse and to lift your voices – elder abuse can’t be erased without action.

Red flags:

·      Unexplained signs of injury such as bruises, welts or scars.

·      Significant withdrawals of funds from the senior’s accounts.

·      Unusual weight loss, malnutrition, dehydration.

·      Threatening, belittling or controlling caregiver behaviour.

·      Being left dirty or unbathed.

Information lifted from the United Nations website reveals that between 2019 and 2030 the number of persons age 60 or over is projected to grow by 38 per cent from one billion to 1.4 billion globally, outnumbering youth, and this increase will be the greatest and the most rapid in the developing world.

As a society, let us ensure that seniors spend their remaining days on earth free from sexual, physical and financial abuse. They deserve to live in an atmosphere of dignity and respect.

Whereas some might lack the physical strength to march against elder abuse, let’s use our pens and our access to social media as tools of advocacy. Lift up our voices and defend the human rights of the seniors in our midst – one case of abuse is one too many.

The Barbados Association of Retired Persons is committed to the protection and rights of seniors in our island and we shall continue to lift our voices in opposition to elder abuse. Our ultimate aim is the eradication of this global social issue from our landscape. Let’s continue to embrace the theme for 2020 Lifting Up Voices.

Marilyn Rice-Bowen

President

BARP