EY 2010 calls for awareness for the elderly and domestic violence

A briefing held this morning for the European Year for Combating Poverty and Social Exclusion (EY 2010), has called for more respect for the elderly and awareness on the rights of persons experiencing domestic violence.

Malta has a continuous aging population, with people aged 65 and over expected to increase to 103,000 by 2010, parliamentary secretary for the elderly Mario Galea said. This would mean 25% of the population, compared to the present 13.7%.

“The elderly face three main problems: old age discrimination, financial problems and the need for good health, mobility and independence,” said Rose Sammut, secretary of the National Council for Elderly. Sammut stressed on the ability of the elderly to still provide something worthy to the society, but age discrimination leads to the idea that “elderly have nothing to offer to our society.”

Sammut said that all this leads to emargination and social exclusion of the elderly. “Society needs to be of help to them. It should seek to encourage them to participate within it whilst they are still in good health.” She also said that the elderly face abuse. “People abuse of the elderly by bossing them around and thinking that they cannot decide for themselves or are gullible for everything they are told.”

Amongst the proposals to improve the elderly's quality of life, Sammut said that a code of ethics amongst carers and the elderly can contribute to safeguard their dignity. “Keeping them up-to-date with simple technological advancements could help contribute to the participation of the elderly. Many of them already volunteer to work amongst their community,” she said, adding that giving importance to the capabilities of the elderly would allow them to believe in themselves, feeling part of society and still having "a reason for living."

Stephanie Xuereb, director of the elderly and community services, underlined the importance of the elderly as an asset and being of intrinsic value to society. “Healthy ageing policies encourage the elderly to take control over their physical and mental health and their social well being,” she said.

Referring to domestic violence in Malta, Marceline Naudi, chairperson of the Domestic Violence Commission, felt that not enough is being done to reach out to all those who live with abuse as an everyday reality. Referring to a 2009 Eurobarometer survey, Naudi said that “it is shocking that  Maltese society does not think that people suffering from domestic violence are at risk of poverty.”

The survey, conducted by the EU's statistical arm, had found that most Maltese saw the unemployed and the elderly at the most risk of poverty. “People suffering from domestic violence are invisible. A society which does not condemn domestic violence, is a poor society,” Naudi said.