Social Development
In respect of the Exploratory Study of Elder Abuse in Cape Town Townships by Ikamva Labantu:
- What were the findings of this study and (b) what is his Department doing to address the reported abuse of elderly people in Cape Town?
- First and foremost, the aim of this exploratory study by Ikamva Labantu was to gain insight into the nature of elder abuse in Cape Town’s township community setting.
Over and above the most common known forms of abuse like physical abuse, sexual abuse, psychosocial abuse and economic abuse, the respondents in the focus groups also identified a wider range of abuse to include:
- Unlawful Confinement and Social Abuse
- Neglect
- Spiritual Abuse
- Lack of consideration and respect
- Systemic Abuse
- Regarding the most commonly known types of abuse, the respondents identified the following:
- Economic abuse was the most common form of elder abuse reported. For instance, some adult children forcefully taking money or seize the SASSA ATM Cards to withdraw money for their own purposes resulting in victims unable to meet their own needs such as food, medication and other necessities.
- Physical Abuse, reporting hitting, punching, pushing and cutting, often accompanied by financial abuse. This form of abuse frequently co-occurs with perpetrator substance abuse. Commonly involving dagga, tik and alcohol.
- Sexual Abuse. Respondents perceived incestuous rape of older women perpetrated by their male children and grandchildren to be common.
A health-care service provider noted that cases of sexual assault involving older men are infrequent and often linked to dementia.
The perpetrators are reportedly primarily children and grandchildren who share a home with the victims
The study also reported on three risk factors and two protective factors for elder abuse in SA, which were identified by the participants in this study.
Risk factors included: Socio-economic factors and financial abuse; Substance misuse and Diminished traditional family values
Identified Protective Factors included: Awareness of rights; Access to community networks
Key recommendations were:
- Greater public awareness of abuse of older persons
- Educate older persons on their rights
- Identify older persons that is bed bounded in the community and to ensure they receive appropriate services
- Regular health screening of older persons
- Government to improve their response to elder abuse
- Strengthen multi-purpose stakeholder relationships
- Rebuild social fabric
- Do more research on elder abuse
(b) Servies offered by the Department to address the reported abuse of the elderly include the following: awareness programmes, provision of psychosocial support and support the victim.
Besides rendering services via DSD local offices to older persons, DSD also subsidizes 3 NPOs:
- Age-in -Action. Providing training and information sharing sessions on elder abuse; Investigation of all reported elder abuse cases; Social work services including psycho-social support services and support the elder abuse line.
- Dementia SA: Providing awareness programs on Dementia and Alzheimers ; Social Work Intervention services including facilitating support groups, and Training Programme on Dementia
- Ikamva Labantu Charitable Trust. Providing Social Work Intervention Services; Investigation and follow-ups on complaints or alleged abuse of older persons.
- On Community-Based Care and Support Services (service centres/ clubs) the Department subsidizes 150 service centres across the province.
