Research report: up to 500,000 older people are victims of violence every year – News

• The Federal Council estimates that each year up to half a million people over the age of 60 are exposed to some form of abuse, in their private sphere or at home.
• According to an investigative report, the victims are mostly dependent, needy and often weak or isolated.
• The interior department must now assess, among other things, whether a nationwide prevention program is needed.

According to an investigative report published by the Federal Council, violence against the elderly is a taboo subject, but must be taken seriously, the Federal Council complains. According to one report, it assumes that between 300,000 and 500,000 people aged 60 and over are exposed to abuse each year. Many cases remain in the dark.

Without a clear definition

Police statistics only record incidents that are reported and recorded and that are crimes in accordance with the law. According to the report, older victims, in particular, refrain from reporting to family members or caregivers. Shame, fear, or even resignation may or may no longer be reasons.

Health facilities or victim counseling centers can only partially understand the problem. According to the report, there is no clear definition of what violence against older people is. The WHO is cited as a reference, speaking of “mistreatment” or “elder abuse” and signifying actual violence and neglect. Age-related discrimination is also not perceived as violence.

Laws not directed at the elderly

There are measures and laws to prevent violence, but they are not aimed at older people and their needs. There are few offers for caregivers who practice violence. There are no multidisciplinary teams that can be contacted in the event of suspected violence against older people.

The report recommends improving support offerings. What is already being done to combat violence against older people is not enough, but there is also untapped potential. The differences from one canton to another are great.

Thin line

According to the report, there is no systematic review of what the measures and laws are doing. The various actors on the ground should also be better coordinated. It is also recommended that general practitioners, gynecologists and pharmacists be more closely involved in the work.

The Federal Council goes on to write that the line between the duty to protect the elderly and respect for self-determination is fine, as the crown crisis demonstrated, when, for example, residents of nursing homes do not they were allowed to receive visitors for weeks.

Obligation to report suspicious cases?

The Department of Internal Affairs (EDI) should now assess, together with the cantons and relevant stakeholders, within a year, whether a push program is necessary to close gaps. The Federal Council also wants to examine the mandatory reports for professionals who have regular contact with older people, analogous to child protection.

The report on the topic of violence prevention in old age is based on a field research by the Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts – Social work since before the corona pandemic. The National Council had ordered the report with a postulate.

Contact point “Age without violence”

Beaten, kicked, threatened or neglected: in Switzerland, hundreds of thousands of older people suffer violence.

The platform “Age without violence”, The link opens in a new window should help against it. Those affected receive quick help and advice via a telephone number. Witnesses of abuse can also come to the office.