Elder abuse and Neglect

Religious obligations of sons to look after and care for parents are now a day's fading away. The increasing proportion of population living for longer years, now confronted with the problem of not knowing what to do with the elderly citizens. The joint family, long held out answer to this problem, is neither as widespread as popularly believed, nor does it seem capable of accommodating the pressures created by the demands of a modern urban and industrialized lifestyle. The honourable living within a joint, multi-generational family has become difficult; a dignified separate existence too is not easy. Far worse is the expression of societal neglect, abuse abandonment and unconcern. Though, elder abuse is yet to be conceptualized in Indian society. But its presence can be felt. With this objective the present study pertains to visualize the presence of elder abuse in the society, the context of elder abuse and the action taken by the elderly victims.