An average of 178 elderly abuse case are reported annually, a number which social workers say is the tip of the iceberg. Straits Times Photo: Alphonso Chan
ALMOST every evening, an elderly man would complain to the police that his family had locked him out of his house.
A case of abuse or a family at its wits' end?
It transpired that the man's family did so as he had the habit of roaming the streets aimlessly and, while in the house, switching the stove on and off. Afraid that he would set the house on fire, his family members locked him out when they went to work and let him back in when they returned home.
The police referred the man to a centre that helps victims of family violence, and a social worker there advised his family to get him medical help.
As the social worker predicted, the reason for the habits that stumped the man's family was that he had moderate dementia. Knowing this, the family supervised the man more closely, but as his condition deteriorated and they could not cope, they sent him to a nursing home.
Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports (MCYS), Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, highlighted this real example on Wednesday in a symposium on family violence, as he dwelt on the principles that should guide agencies tackling the 'scourge' of elderly abuse. [rc]
Theresa Tan
E-Mail: theresat@sph.com.sg
Copyright © 2008 Singapore Press Holdings Ltd
October 22, 2009
SINGAPORE: Why children abuse elderly
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SINGAPORE / The Straits Times / Home / October 22, 2009
Children may act out of sheer frustration but have no intention to hurt the elderly
By Theresa Tan
An average of 178 elderly abuse case are reported annually, a number which social workers say is the tip of the iceberg. Straits Times Photo: Alphonso Chan
ALMOST every evening, an elderly man would complain to the police that his family had locked him out of his house.
A case of abuse or a family at its wits' end?
It transpired that the man's family did so as he had the habit of roaming the streets aimlessly and, while in the house, switching the stove on and off. Afraid that he would set the house on fire, his family members locked him out when they went to work and let him back in when they returned home.
The police referred the man to a centre that helps victims of family violence, and a social worker there advised his family to get him medical help.
As the social worker predicted, the reason for the habits that stumped the man's family was that he had moderate dementia. Knowing this, the family supervised the man more closely, but as his condition deteriorated and they could not cope, they sent him to a nursing home.
Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports (MCYS), Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, highlighted this real example on Wednesday in a symposium on family violence, as he dwelt on the principles that should guide agencies tackling the 'scourge' of elderly abuse. [rc]
Theresa Tan
E-Mail: theresat@sph.com.sg
Copyright © 2008 Singapore Press Holdings Ltd
An average of 178 elderly abuse case are reported annually, a number which social workers say is the tip of the iceberg. Straits Times Photo: Alphonso Chan
ALMOST every evening, an elderly man would complain to the police that his family had locked him out of his house.
A case of abuse or a family at its wits' end?
It transpired that the man's family did so as he had the habit of roaming the streets aimlessly and, while in the house, switching the stove on and off. Afraid that he would set the house on fire, his family members locked him out when they went to work and let him back in when they returned home.
The police referred the man to a centre that helps victims of family violence, and a social worker there advised his family to get him medical help.
As the social worker predicted, the reason for the habits that stumped the man's family was that he had moderate dementia. Knowing this, the family supervised the man more closely, but as his condition deteriorated and they could not cope, they sent him to a nursing home.
Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports (MCYS), Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, highlighted this real example on Wednesday in a symposium on family violence, as he dwelt on the principles that should guide agencies tackling the 'scourge' of elderly abuse. [rc]
Theresa Tan
E-Mail: theresat@sph.com.sg
Copyright © 2008 Singapore Press Holdings Ltd
