Promoting Welfare Of The Elderly

When the world recently celebrated the Elder Abuse Awareness Day, it must have inadvertently recognised the various forms of abuse, which the senior citizens of Nigeria are being subjected to, particularly in the hands of the country’s pension authorities.

“EFCC detains six for alleged N5 billion pension fraud”. “Pension scam and the faces of corrupt officials’’. “Pension scam, heartbreaking.’’  “Pension Scam: Court okays seizure of 108 properties’’. These were some of the screaming newspaper headlines reflecting the massive fraud perpetrated in pension administration.

These elderly people, who are the most vulnerable members of the society, may be unable to challenge the anti-social activities of those perpetrating pension frauds due to their physical, social and economic constraints.

As a result of such developments, the elders’ words, which are meant to be words of wisdom, are somewhat reflecting anger, frustration and hopelessness, while some of their utterances are justifiably spiced with curses.

By most accounts, many aged members of the society are going through some harrowing experience. Consider this scenario: In 2011, a prominent businessman in Lagos decided to travel to his village for Christmas, but he was involved in a fatal accident caused by the mystic powers of an old woman in the man’s village. If not for the quick intervention of the law-enforcement agencies, the hapless woman would have been lynched.

All the same, the man’s family members have sworn never to go to the village again, while his children have been indoctrinated to perceive any old woman or man they run into as a witch or wizard.

Meanwhile, a man, who just retired from a government media agency, was recently offered a 25-percent pittance by a pension funds administrator as part-payment of his pension instead of the maximum 50 per cent stipulated by law. In any case, the 50 per cent pension payment is barely enough to fund any meaningful project.

“These vices are just a tip of the iceberg while assessing what the senior citizens are going through in the hands of these scammers who ironically pray to be as old as those they are maltreating one day. But as the saying goes, what goes around must come around,’’ says Pastor Kunle Oriyomi, an Abuja-based cleric.

The UN categorises any country with 10 per cent of its population above the age of 60 as an ageing nation and the world devotes one day every year to voice its opposition to elder abuse and the suffering inflicted on old people.

An elderly person is especially vulnerable because of his or her cognitive deficits such as dementia, physical frailty and general dependence on others, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO).

Available statistics indicate that the global population of people, who are 60 years old and above, will more than double from 542 million in 1995 to about 1.2 billion by 2025.

Around four per cent to six per cent of elderly people have experienced some form of maltreatment at home and such abuse can lead to serious physical injuries and long-term psychological consequences.

“The elders can be abused in various forms. It could be physical, psychological, emotional, sexual and financial, neglect and abandonment,’’ says Dr Ambrose Osadolor, a sociologist.

Elder abuse has turned out to be a global social concern which affects the health and human rights of millions of old persons across the world and a topic which aptly deserves the attention of the international community.

There are widespread campaigns in Nigeria for the promulgation of a law to foster the survival, development and protection of children. Since the enactment of the Child Rights Act in 2003, however, the interests of Nigerian children are adequately protected.

But observers note that the children are growing up and fast-becoming adults who will soon join the league of old people. They, therefore, advocate increased interest of the citizenry in the well-being of elderly persons, saying that with time, the youth will become the aged.

Mrs. Maryam Muhammad, who lives in the ‘Old People’s Home’ in Karu, Federal Capital Territory Abuja, concedes that it is not part of the cultural norms of the Nigerian society to keep elderly persons in old people’s homes, away from their relations, even if the old person is childless.

“We are here by circumstance; I have nobody to turn to. I am a diabetic and hypertensive patient. I was roaming the streets when these people, who are running the home, picked me up, provided shelter, food and medication for me,’’ she said.

Muhammad, however, insists that if all the stakeholders,  the government and the people alike – had lived up to their responsibilities and expectations, she would not have been in the home.

She, nonetheless, commends the managers of Amazing Grace Foundation, owners of the home, for being God-fearing, saying that the foundation  takes in old persons without any consideration for factors such as religion or ethnicity.

Mrs. Patience Haruna, another occupant of the home, says that some of the major challenges facing old persons include abandonment, lack of care and poverty.

“It looks as if we are outcasts and we are isolated from the society because we are old. There is an erroneous perception that we have little or nothing to contribute to the society,’’ she moans.

However, the Director of the Amazing Grace Foundation, Mrs. Adenike Dawodu, urges all Nigerians to adopt and cultivate the culture of bringing aged members of their families to the old people’s homes for proper care.

“This is because many people may not have the time to take care of their aged ones, while hired maids may not be able to pamper and look after them adequately,’’ she says.

Observers note that most Nigerians believe that the idea of keeping the elderly in old people’s homes is alien to their culture, they, nonetheless, urge the citizens to show greater appreciation for those who are old and advanced in years.

A consultant geriatrician, Dr Ogugua Osi-Ogun, notes that even though old age is not a disease, it is a risk factor for diseases, urging the people to be more sensitive and patient while looking after aged persons.

“Give a lot of respect to the elderly and learn from them because they are custodians of our customs and culture,’’ she says.

Ponle is of the News Agency of Nigeria

Buki Ponle