How little we know about the feelings of old people!June 15th is world elderly abuse awareness day!

June 15, 2020, 7:47 p.m. by DR. Gayatri Mohapatra ( 1072 views)

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Oscar Wilde said "The tragedy of old age is not that one is old, but that one is young".

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Our elders have lived and seen life & form the strong fabric of our society. Some are fortunate enough to be able to continue to live their lives the way they used to, but others face health problems, negligence and even abuse at the hands of their near & dear ones.

As JK Rowling said "Youth cannot know how age thinks and feels. But old men are guilty if they forget what it was to be young".

June 15th is a day to create awareness on Elder abuse. Elder Abuse takes many forms – physical abuse, emotional abuse, neglect, financial abuse and sexual abuse, making it multi-layered, complex and insidious. Some elderly are abused in their own homes, in relatives’ homes and even in facilities responsible for their care.

June is also "Alzheimer's & Brain Awareness Month”. It is an opportunity to hold a global conversation about the brain, Alzheimer’s disease, and other dementias. All over the world, many people are living with Alzheimer’s and dementia, and everyone who has a brain is at risk. Alzheimer’s & Brain Awareness Month is the perfect opportunity to create awareness & take action on this growing public health crisis. It is also a time to recognize caregivers for the unwavering support they provide to those suffering with Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia.

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Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of dementia — a general term for the loss of cognitive ability severe enough to disrupt daily life — accounting for 60 to 80 percent of cases, according to the Alzheimer’s Association.

While there are some medications available today that can temporarily improve cognitive symptoms, none can slow or stop the damage and destruction of neurons that cause Alzheimer's symptoms. The elderly population is also at higher risk of contracting the covid19 virus, with higher fatalities.

Older persons, may also face age discrimination in decisions on medical care, and life-saving therapies in the current crisis. Globally, in pre-COVID-19 era, as many as half of older persons in some developing countries did not have access to essential health services. The pandemic may also lead to a scaling back of critical services unrelated to COVID-19, further increasing risks to the lives of older persons.

Some older people face additional vulnerabilities at this time. The virus is not just threatening the lives and safety of older persons, it is also threatening their social networks, their access to health services, their jobs and their pensions.

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I would like to end this note, with a short poem by Shel Silverstein.

"The Little Boy and the Old Man"

Said the little boy, "Sometimes I drop my spoon."

Said the old man, "I do that too."

The little boy whispered, "I wet my pants."

I do that too," laughed the little old man.

Said the little boy, "I often cry."

The old man nodded, "So do I."

But worst of all," said the boy, "it seems

Grown-ups don't pay attention to me."

And he felt the warmth of a wrinkled old hand.

know what you mean," said the little old man.”

― Shel Silverstein

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(NOTE:Photos from internet for Illustrative purpose)

-DR. Gayatri Mohapatra


Comments (4)

user
Swadhina 2 years, 6 months ago
Nice
user
Mini 2 years, 6 months ago
Ageing is inevitable!Nice article!
user
AnonymousUser 1 year, 9 months ago
Very good initiative!
user
AnonymousUser 1 year, 9 months ago
Elders are our responsibility.