The Explorer Islamabad: Journal of Social Sciences ISSN: 2411-0132(E), 2411-5487(P) Vol-2, Issue (1): 17-22 www.theexplorerpak.org
SOCIAL NEGLECT AND AGEING POPULATION: A PILOT STUDY ON VIOLENCE AGAINST SENIOR CITIZENS Hina Saleem Department of Anthropology, PMAS Arid Agriculture University, Rawalpindi Corresponding Author; Hina Saleem PMAS Arid Agriculture University, Rawalpindi h.saleem74@hotmail.com Abstract: Senior citizens the rapidly increasing population globally become victim of neglect by the hands of their family and caregivers. The exceeding age of human beings become make them vulnerable due to their physical impairments, biologically changes, pathological problems, socio-psychological stresses. The research was conducted to explore the modes of social neglect and their effects on older person’s health at domestic level. The under-taken research paper is the pilot study conducted in Rawalpindi from sample of 52 respondents, drawn by using purposive sampling technique. The data collection was administered by using the interviewing method and tool of study was interview guide. It has been found through this study that older persons are getting food, water and clothing on time and properly but majority neglected in the modes of medicines, medical checkups, mobility and money domestically. All due to which they become suffering from Diabetes, arthritis, hearth problems and high blood pressure issues dominantly.
Key Words: Senior Citizens, Neglect, Family, Physical Impairments, Biological changes, Social and Psychological Issue INTRODUCTION The study on older persons and their life holds a strong focus in academics research globally. Population aging is one of humanity’s greatest triumphs after great development in the field of medicine that establishes a condition of long life expectancy and decreased fertility rates. It is also one of our greatest challenges (Ahmed, et al. 2015). Ageing is defined as a “process, or set of processes, of gradual development and then decline that characterize the life span of an organism. Ageing mostly perceived as grey hairs, losing teeth’s , weak memory, wrinkles on face, loss of reproduction ability and muscle strength when accompanied all it is called frailties of old age (Ahmed, et al. 2015). Ageing is basically defined as a last phase (stated at age of 60) of life in which physical, biological, social, physiological and psychological changes appear (Saleem, et al. 2015). The world population is going to be grey at rapid pace. In 1950 there were 205 million older citizens who reached the age of 60 and above. In
the year of 2000 the older population were 606 million, which is expected to be rise up to 2 billion in 2050 (Ahmed, et al. 2015). If we adopted the anthropological theories to understand the ageing processes then the “concept of ageing and its stages can be understood in the light of cyclical theory and progressive refinement “(Saleem, et al. 2015). Furthermore” It also qualifies the evolutionary approach given by Lewis Henry Morgan when applied on evolution of human life cycle” (Saleem, et al. 2015). Social neglect is a phenomenon which exists in every society and culture. Various studies show its importance by defining its wider impact with reference to ageing population. One of the studies strengthens this point and said “ignorance, loneliness, negligence and social isolation is not the only social issue but also public health and wellbeing issue” (Ahmed, et al. 2015). Neglect is defined as with holding of the items that are needed to sustain life, such as food, shelter, or medical care” .it is also defined 17
as action of “omission” (Kandel and Adamec 2009). There are basically two types of Neglect one Active Neglect and another one is passive neglect. In active neglect the care giver or family member intentionally fails to fulfil his/her responsibilities towards the older person. Where as passive neglect the caregiver unintentionally failed to provide care to older persons due to burden or lack of information concerning suitable caregiving tactics (Woolf 1998). The older persons are neglected by family members or caregivers in providing basic hygiene, adequate food and water, clothing, and medication majorly. There are various signs due to which it is indicated that older persons become victim of social neglect for example “Sunken eyes or loss of weight, Person with dementia left unsupervised, Untreated pressure bedsores, Lack of medical aids (glasses, walker, teeth, hearing aid, medications), Dehydration, malnutrition, untreated bed sores, and poor personal hygiene, Unattended or untreated health problems, Hazardous or unsafe living condition/arrangements (such as improper wiring, no heat, or no running water), Unsanitary and unclean living conditions (such as dirt, fl eas, lice on person; soiled bedding; fecal/urine smell; inadequate clothing)” (Kandel and Adamec 2009). From world wide data sets and researches indicate that negligence have negative impact on every age group but vigorous effects can be observed specially among older (Ahmed, et al. 2015). The older persons in old age need more care from their family due to their physical impairments and social pressures and psychological stresses. It is exclusive obligation for the caregivers to take care the Ops instead of defies them as they are facing unique challenges and problems in which abuse and neglect is the dominant one (Ahmed, et al. 2015). Due to social neglect the older persons experience depression and anxiety which is sometimes misinterpreted with memory loss or illness but in reality it is the result of neglect. Due to social neglect and abuse the older persons become victim of many health problems. In some cases neglect is one of the major causes of stress which affects the health of older persons. The elders who experience neglect and abuse have angina attacks, high blood pressure problem, stomach and breathing issues panic attacks due
to stress and caregiver failed to understand the actual reasons. Malnutrition is an indicator of neglect. In most cases, the malnutrition results because the older person is actually unable to feed him or her and caregivers are careless and available to feed the person (Bain and Spencer n.d). Older persons due to their exceeding age need more care and protection by their family members. Sometimes caregivers and relatives are unfamiliar with changing situation and increasing need of care, they don’t know how to offer proper care and support. Family members may unintentionally fail to ensure that the older adult has adequate and appropriate food, clothing, medical care, supervision, or social stimulation ( American Psychological Association 2012) in this case they passively neglected their elders. Older adults who die as a result of abuse or neglect typically are female victims of a male caregiver, particularly a spouse, son, or other relative (Shields, et al 2004). In UN principles of OPs, one of the important principle is care that “older persons should have access to adequate food, water, shelter, clothing and health care through the provision of income, family and community support and self-help” (Overbury, et al. 2002). MATERIALS AND METHODS For the current study an extensive interview guide was developed to collect data on modes of social neglect and their effects on OPs health for the purpose of pilot study. The study was conducted in UC 56(union council) of Rawalpindi city. The size of sample population was 52 respondents which is drawn by using a nonprobability sampling technique. The duration of data collection process lasts for 3 days. The interviewing method and interview guide tool was employed to collect the information on set objective. The collected information via main tool of research was cleaned vigorously for further analysis on SPSS (16.00) version software. The results were presented by using percentile method and crosstab analysis. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION Figure.1: Age Distribution of the Respondents 19.2
Age of Respondents 7.7 15.4
40.4 60-65
66-70
32.7 17.3 71-75 76-80
80=
18
The above figure presents the age distribution of the respondents. The current study requires making age groups, so criteria were set on 60 years and above. In the sample 40.4% respondents belongs to the age group of 60-65. 19.2% respondent’s falls in the category of 66-70, while 7.7% respondents fit to the age group of 71-75. 17.3% respondents were belongs to the age group of 76-80 while 15.4% respondent were fall in above 80+ age group. Figure.2: Gender Distribution of the Respondents
Female 59.6%
Gender
Male 40.4%
The above chart depicts the gender distribution of the respondent’s .In the current study both gender included for the purpose of data collection on set objective without any biases. 59.6% respondents were female in the sample while 40.4% were male respondents. Table.1: Modes of Social Neglect Response MODES OF Yes No NR/NA NEGLECT Food Water Cloths Medication Medical checkup Decision making Economic status Transportation Mode
57.7% 55.8% 80.3% 61.5% 40.4% 67.3% 57.7% 26.9%
36.5% 44.2% 17.3% 32.7% 59.6% 32.7% 40.4% 73.1%
5.8% 1.9% 5.8% 1.9% -
their families never neglected them. 55.8 % respondents were positively answered that whenever they need water, their caregivers immediately gave them. This is due to the strong religious hold (Islam) in which giving water is Sunnah. 80.3 % respondent that they were getting clean and pressed cloths by their family members. 61.5% responded that they take medicines on time, due to their obedient son and daughters who gave them medicines on time while 32.7 % respondents never took medicines on time because they are dependent due to physical impairments upon their family who sometimes forget or neglect to give them medicines on time. Few cases revealed that they had memory issues and they take medicines but due to weak memory they forget to take and their families didn’t know about this problem with them. From the study it is revealed that 59.6 % respondents never visited their doctors for medical checkups regularly due to their caregiver’s negligence’s. They are dependent on their children due to their physical disabilities .67.3% when asked responded that they participated in HHd decision making only 32.7 % complained that they are neglected in HHd decision making process by their families. In current study it is revealed that 57.7% respondents were of the view that they were neglected economically as mostly their sons bear their economic expenditures .Whenever they ask for money they neglected their call.73.1% respondents don’t have any transportation mode due to which they are less mobile and neglected by their family members in going to their medical checkups, buy things according to their wishes/need and pension matters.
The above table presents the percentile results of different modes of life through which it was tried to explore that older persons neglected by their families in getting basic necessities of life or not. In the sample n=52, 57.7 % respondents were of the view that they were getting food on time,
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Table.2: Crosstab Analysis of Social Neglect and Health Issues
Dehydratio n Hepatitis b/c Others
No health problem
(17) 100%
(2) 50%
(3) 100%
(2) 100%
(5) 100%
(6) 100%
(1) 100%
(1) 100%
(2) 100%
(1) 100%
(5) 55.55%
(1) 100%
(46) 88.46%
-
(2) 50%
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
(3) 33.33%
0
(5) 9.61%
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
(1) 11.11%
(17) 100%
(4) 100%
(3) 100%
(2) 100%
(5) 100%
(6) 100%
(1) 100%
(1) 100%
(2) 100%
(1) 100%
(9) 100%
The above table shows the comparison between social negligence and health problems. From the result it is revealed that 17 cases were felt social neglect in their domestic settings due to which they are suffering from arthritis disease. 2 cases due to negligence by their caregivers in providing food become losing their weight which weaken their immune system while 3 cases were suffering from osteoporosis. 5 cases respondent that they are suffering from diabetes as their family neglected them due to which they got psychologically stressed and studies suggested that tension and stress is one of the major causes behind diabetes. 6 cases felt negligence due to which they had heart problems. 2 cases respondents that due to their stomach problem they easily got dehydration as their family neglected them in providing care and light food according to their age. 5 cases due to social negligence’s they have multiple health issues including paralysis, brain issues, and mostly have complained about high blood pressure issues. DISCUSSION Old age the last phase of human being usually depicted as a period weakness, frailty and dependency. Old age commences when persons reached at age of 60 and this period continues till the process of death. It is the time in which Ops are facing many challenges and issues (Akpan and Umobong 2013). The older persons due to their exceeding age dependent upon their family and care givers to provide them care, protection and social security. The current study is undertaken to explore the modes of social neglect and their effects on older person’s health at domestic level. Several studies classically reveals that older
Total
Heart Problem Hypertensi on Asthma
No Response Total
Osteoporos is Malnutritio n Diabetes
No
Weight loss
Yes
Arthritis
SOCIAL NEGLECT
HEALTH ISSUES
(1) 1.92% (1) 100%
(52) 100%
persons neglected socially, emotionally and physically by their caregivers. The case of neglect develops when caregivers through active neglect attention ally never provided the older persons with basic necessities of life such as food, water, clothing, medicines, medical checkups and safe environment to live (De- Benedicts 2007). From this study in the light of calculated results it is revealed that targeted people are living a healthy ageing life as mostly the older persons are cared by their family members. Due to intimate relations with family the caregivers in family provide them food, water and clothing on time whenever the elders demand or call. The elderly was well taken care of, similarly in the Nigerian society, in which it is traditionally obligation for the family to take care of their older parents as well as the other older relatives issues (Akpan and Umobong 2013). In the current study mostly Ops are neglected in the matters of medication mostly as 32.7% reported that they are not getting medicines on time as they are dependent majorly on their sons and daughters and daughters in law who don’t give them medicines on time. While few also reported that due to their weak memory they forget to take medicines and family never pay attention and neglected in giving them medicines on time. Family members thought that their elders don’t have any memory issues. The study also reveals that old persons neglected by their family members to take them to doctor for medical checkup as in old age the elders due to their bone injuries, physical impairments, and other health issues are less socially mobile, they cannot visit doctor by themselves. Those outside the family who
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observes or suspect abuse or neglect may fail to intervene because they believe they thought that it is a family issue and may be they are misunderstanding the real situation (American Psychological Association 2012). 57.7 % person’s respondents were of the view that as in old age elders are completely dependent upon their family for economic needs and expenses. They are ignored by their sons who usually support them economically in old age to give them money to fulfil their needs and wishes whenever they demanded. The son or other earning hand due to economic pressure, Economic compulsion, inflation single earning hand unable to bear the expenses of their parents, even some time they take the pension amount of their parents if they had to bear the household expenses One of the research also indicated the same factors as “among some cultures, there is a belief that younger family members will take care for their elders at home. This may lead to clashes when family members are encountered with financial, child-care, and job pressure, generating a situation of caregiver problem and burden” (Takeshita and Ahmed 2004). The old age is time of less social mobility the one reason behind this is OPs don’t have any transportation mode. The young members stop them to travel due to their old age which effects their life and increase the risk of falling and accidents. Due to lack of proper attention and care the older persons in old age become suffering from many diseases (Saleem, et al. 2015). The current study indicates that due to social neglect the older persons have diabetes, arthritis, heart problems, and high blood pressure issues majorly. When older persons are neglected that put negatives impacts on their wellbeing and psychological health as a result they become depression, stressed and tense. As a result they got arthritis attacks, heart attacks and become diabetic. As one of the main reason of these diseases are tension and stress which is result of social neglect by family members. In South Asian region the old age is considered as a period of oblivion (Saleem, et al. 2015). But in In Pakistan, the older persons are living with their families who pay attention and take care their older adults (Irshad, et al. 2015) So they are less neglected as compare to rest of the countries globally.
CONCLUSION The current study reveals that OPs are less socially neglected as caregivers provided them food, water and clothing properly on time, but OPs are ignored in the matters of medical checkup, medicines, economic expenses, transportations and hygienic environment. Due to negligence’s in these modes of life the older person’s health is affected as medical care is a core need in old age. They are suffered from diabetes, heart problems, arthritis and high B.P issues majorly due to lack of proper and on time treatment. It is recommended that Government should introduced free medical camps for older persons at community level or special medical teams who door to door will visit and provide the treatment and checkup to those elders who are unable to visit hospitals or medical camps. REFERENCES Ahmed, Aftab, Abid Ghafoor Chaudhry, and Seemab Khan 2015 Declining Age and Social Roles: A Gerontological Perspective of Older Persons of Rawalpindi. Science International 27(1):719-721. Ahmed, Aftab, and Abid Ghafoor Chaudhry 2015 Ageing and Ageing Stereotypes: Perception of Older Persons’ of Rawalpindi. The Explorer Islamabad 1 (4):97-100. Ahmed, Aftab, Abid Ghafoor Chaudhry, Muhammad Imran Afzal, and Harris Farooq 2015 Loneliness and Diseases Prevalence: A Gerontological Perspective of Elder’s Disease Status. Professional Med J 22(3): 343-348. Akpan, Imoabong, and Mfonobong E. Umobong 2013 An Assessment of the Prevalence of Elder Abuse and Neglect in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. Developing Country Studies 3(5): 8-14. American Psychological Association 2012 Elder Abuse &Neglect In Search of Solutions. Bain, Panny, and Charmaine Spencer n.d BC Health Files Health Effects of
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