SINGAPORE: Elder abuse cases 'may rise with the recession'

. SINGAPORE / The Straits Times / Story / June 7, 2009 By Mavis Toh Madam G.H. Teo has four children but wishes she had none. The 79-year-old widow, who used to work as a seamstress, lives in a one-room flat in the Outram area and survives on the little that is left of her savings. In May last year, she found her 48-year-old drug addict son milking her savings from a joint account. When confronted, he threw a stool at her. Easy targets 'When people are under pressure and financially strapped, there is a higher chance they will neglect the elderly...I've seen many instances where children siphon off parents' money in joint accounts. This is getting more rampant.' Ms. Helen Ko, executive director of the Centre For Seniors Copyright ©2009 Singapore Press Holdings Ltd.