World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, is commemorated annually on June 15 in support of the United Nations International Plan of Action which recognizes the significance of abuse and neglect of older persons as a public health and human rights issue. Throughout the world, elder abuse and neglect is largely under-recognized or treated as an unspoken problem.

In order to raise awareness on this scourge and to facilitate mutual respect and care between the elderly and youth, the Department of Social Development will commemorate World Elder Abuse Awareness Day on Friday, June 15, 2012, in Kuruman. The theme for this day is: “My world… your world… our world – free from elder abuse”, while the focus is: “Connecting Generations”.

Instead of viewing old age as an achievement and a natural stage of life with its own merits, wisdom and beauty, South Africans all too often ignore, reject and isolate the elderly. As communities no longer embrace older persons and take care of them when they could no longer care for themselves; the mindset of communities therefore has to be changed to once again respect older persons for who they are and what they could contribute in experience and knowledge to the greater good of society.

The terms “elder abuse and neglect” can be used to describe situations in which individuals over the age of 60 experience battering, verbal abuse, exploitation, denial of rights, forced confinement, neglected medical needs, or other types of abuse that cause personal harm, usually at the hands of someone responsible for assisting them in their activities of daily living, while physical impairments and social losses make older people more vulnerable to crime and abuse.

Elder abuse is a problem which occurs across all economic, ethnic, religious, gender and cultural groups. Abuse of older people occurs at home, in communities, old age homes and other institutions. Further fear for intimidation and victimization frequently leads to the victim not reporting the abuse. Older people are abused primarily by people that they trust and can include partners, children, family, friends, health workers and other care givers and strangers. Elderly abuse can take on many forms, with an older person subjected to only one type of abuse or various types of abuse simultaneously. Different types of Elder Abuse could include: Physical abuse; Psychological abuse; Material/Financial abuse; Active neglect and Passive neglect.

Therefore in order to raise awareness around Elder Abuse the Department of Social Development will be commemorating this important day in all the Districts.

PROVINCIAL EVENT

DATE: 15 JUNE 2012
VENUE: WRENCHVILLE COMMUNITY HALL KURUMAN
TIME: 10H00

This day will be commemorated through two phases:
Formal program MEC for Social Development, Mr. Alvin Botes will deliver the keynote address, a motivational speech by a local Mr. Credo Mutwa, as well as by the Chairperson of SAOPF (South African Older Persons Forum), Mr. Tom Boya. Inter-generational Golden Games, where both older persons and youth will enjoy some outdoor activities, such as :

100m (both males and females 60 – 69 and 70+);
Dress-up Relay;
Duck-walk Relay
Mixed Passing-the-Ball
Egg-and-Wooden spoon-Race

Issued by Conrad Fortune
Manager: Communications
Department of Social Development
0798730679