The rate of elder abuse in Iran is one of the highest in the world; one of the three most common forms of domestic violence in society.
The publication of reports that elder abuse is the third most common form of domestic violence in Iran has increased attention to this phenomenon in Iranian society.
Reza Jafari, the director of Iran's Social Emergency, told the Iran newspaper that elder abuse is one of the most important categories in the field of social harm, and ranks third in domestic violence after child abuse and spousal abuse.
The prevalence of elder abuse has received attention in Iran because respect for and care for the elderly is highly emphasized in the cultural roots of Iranian society. Few expected that elder abuse would be growing rapidly in Iranian society.
Economic crises and pressure on low-income groups have been cited by some social issues researchers as reasons for the sudden increase in elder abuse in Iran.
The increasing number of elderly people in Iran has raised concerns about the prevalence of elder abuse. According to the World Health Organization, nearly ten percent of Iran's population is elderly, but within the next 30 years, the elderly will make up one-third of Iran's population.
Reza Jafari says about the definition of elder abuse: "Elder abuse means behavior that occurs from the person or people caring for the elderly and causes harm and reduces their quality of life."
The prevalence of elder abuse in Iran has led to various academic studies on this subject in recent years, and according to one of these studies, the prevalence of elder abuse in Iran is more than 56 percent, which is much higher than the global average.
The same study says that the most common types of elder abuse are emotional elder abuse, psychological elder abuse, elder neglect, financial elder abuse, and physical elder abuse, in that order.
Behaviors such as insults, humiliation, scolding, bullying, and exclusion from decision-making are considered examples of emotional elder abuse.
According to a study conducted on the abuse of elderly people in need of care and treatment, there is a strong correlation between abuse and physical and economic dependence of the elderly, especially when the financial burden falls on the caregivers.
The findings of a study also show that in Iran, elderly women who are more economically dependent on their caregivers are more exposed to abuse.
The spread of diseases such as Alzheimer's also creates the conditions for abuse and harassment of the elderly, and ultimately their abandonment by those around them.
Elder abuse can lead to complications such as decreased self-confidence, feelings of hopelessness, indifference, and psychological problems and disability for the elderly.
A study attributed the prevalence of elder abuse in Iran to the increase in the number of elderly people and the fact that society is in a transition phase from traditional to modern and facing its challenges.
In addition, in Iran, another problem that bothers the elderly in society is the lack of attention to the problems of the elderly in urban design and the development of new urban spaces. This includes the failure to design ramps, elevators, and escalators in spaces where the elderly cannot climb stairs.
Although activities have been carried out to help the elderly, including preparing plans to combat elder abuse and preparing national documents, fragmentation and inconsistencies have made them ineffective.
Source: Voice of America
