52 per cent of parents abused by sons, finds study

Every year, June 15 is observed as World Elder Abuse Awareness Day to heighten awareness about the issue.

The theme for 2018 is ‘Changing Cultural Ethos and Impact of Technology on Elders’.

HelpAge India carried out the study in 23 tier-I and tier-II cities across the country and in Tamil Nadu it was carried out in Chennai and Madurai. 

In every city, 218 elderly people were surveyed and in all 5,014 elders were studied.

Vijay Prakash, manager, HelpAge India, said elders face three types of abuse — physical, mental and financial.

The study found that 25 per cent of elders across the country accept that they have faced abuse in various forms.

Interestingly, the study found that sons abuse their parents more than the daughters-in-law.

As much as 52 per cent of the elders were abused by their sons, while 36 per cent faced abuse by daughters-in-law. The findings seek to negate the wrong notion prevailing in the society that daughters-in-law abuse their mothers-in-law more, said Vijay Prakash.

Collector K Veera Raghav Rao released the study report and said youngsters should be aware that they too will age and if they abuse or neglect elders, they may face a similar situation later in life.