The oldies in society are honourably identified as senior citizens. That honour, gracefully accepted as a time-honoured tradition in the land, seems to have faded in our times leading to the event of  World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD) observed every year on June 15. The International Network for Prevention of Elder Abuse designated this day in 2006 recognising the growing incidences of elder abuse all over the world. The ancient quote prescribing to consider mother (Mathru), father (Pithru) and teacher (Guru) as God may have witnessed a time-warp nowadays, but all come under the identity of elders, per se. That ancient saying also includes one’s guests (Athithi) at home to be considered as God. The practice of younger members of the family bowing before their elders and touching the feet in reverence, without any ostentative gestures or spoken words, even as the elders verbally bless the younger members, mercifully, has not yet vanished in society yet. Not complying with that totally Indian cultural practice is often noticed by the elders without any show of displeasure or disappointment. So far, so good, as long as the elders are not made victims of either verbal or physical abuse by the younger members of their families.

In retrospect, the societal scenario in the land portrayed parents taking care to ensure proper grooming of their children, often ending up with providing financial security to themselves in their sunset years, presuming that their children would take care of them without any trace of hardship. That taken-for-granted presumption stands falsified (barring exceptions) on an alarming scale in modern times.

The incidents of the elderly members in the family finding themselves worldwide at the receiving end of torment inflicted by their own sons and daughters, although only a fraction of the number of such incidents see the light of day, have reportedly aroused non-government agencies and voluntary groups of professionals to address this socially sensitive issue. Some governments too have shown concern towards the plight of the elders bugged by abuse in different ways, particularly when they are in dire need of care, by passing laws that are to be implemented by the judiciary and law-keeping machineries. Apart from these loosely implemented provisions, some elders do take to consulting certified financial planners with knowledge of the related laws of the land who guide on the nuances of writing Wills at appropriate time, mainly to hold the legal heirs to their assets in check.

Most senior citizens come to grief after belatedly realising their neglect of their health, both physical and financial, as they approach old age. Observing WEAAD may serve as a reminder to this section of elders not to live in a state of stupor that their offsprings provide the same care that they received from their parents.