| This is the second part of a series of four articles on | | | | Mortgage Loan and ensure a steady flow on income. |
| Elder Abuse: Role of Civil Society and Government. | | | | Taking recourse to legal provisions should be the last |
| We saw earlier an overview of Elder Abuse and | | | | resort. Having anger alone or standing on one's |
| various parties associated with it. We shall now talk | | | | prestige alone is not enough. Civil Suits take years to |
| about the victims per se and what they can do. Role | | | | get decided and lot of time & time are wasted. |
| of State and Central Government is also discussed | | | | Pointers to the State and Central Governments: |
| briefly. | | | | Central Government: Present MWPSCA 2007 does |
| Victims of Elder Abuse - What they can do | | | | not talk about softer issues of Elder Abuse. |
| Senior citizens should empower themselves with | | | | Provisions must be made in this to render it a |
| facts, information and data required to face and | | | | comprehensive piece of legislation. Presently it is an |
| tackle abuse. They should have phone numbers and | | | | act to tell the World Bodies like the UN: "Look Here, |
| addresses of lawyers, doctors, police, pressure | | | | We also have a law on Senior Citizens". The subject |
| groups, counseling centers and the like. Ignorance of | | | | of Elder Abuse relates more to HRD (Human Rights |
| rights and the law in particular is harmful and places | | | | protection) and MOSJE should liaise with HRD and |
| the senior citizen in a vulnerable position. Senior | | | | promote meaningful program to handle EA issues. |
| citizens should join several associations and peer | | | | Standards for OAH should cover EA prevention and |
| groups like walkers clubs, prayer groups, Day Care | | | | reporting also. |
| Centers etc. When abuse occurs they should openly | | | | State governments must adopt the Central law. |
| discuss it with others without feeling shy or ashamed. | | | | Rules framed there under must include EA in Old Age |
| Senior Citizens must make themselves financially | | | | Homes, Nursing Homes, Senior Facilities or Assisted |
| sound and independent. | | | | living centers or Hospices. Tribunals set up under the |
| They should never give away their property to their | | | | MWPSCA need to liaise with SCAs or Resident |
| wards or disclose all their assets to everyone. Where | | | | Welfare Associations for solving EA cases. |
| feasible they should not hesitate to take Reverse | | | | |