AGEISM AND ELDER ABUSE

As an “ism” ageism reflects a prejudice in society against older adults. Ageist attitudes are perpetuated in many ways, for example, by the lack of positive images of the elderly in advertisements and on TV programmes and the widespread use of demeaning language about old age. The intentional mistreatment of or harm to elderly persons is elder abuse. Abuser can be any one that an older person comes in contact with. For example, he may be caregiver, a neighbour, or any other member who has a negative attitude towards the elderly persons. Mostly, they are abused by family members and relatives. Abuse can be verbal, psychological, emotional, financial and physical. Due to the fear of victimization, elderly people isolate themselves, and thereby become “a prisoner in their own home”.

Twenty-six papers divided into two parts highlight the various issues relating to ageism and elder abuse in developed and developing countries. This volume will be a valuable source material to psychologists, sociologists, social workers and gerontologists in planning the strategies to combat ageism and elder abuse in society at large.

Lynn McDonald is a Professor in the Faculty of Social Work and Director of the Institute for the Life Course and Aging at the University of Toronto (Canada). She is the Scientific Director of International Centre of Excellence dedicated to the inter-professional care of older adults. Her research interests include work and retirement, gender and poverty, elder abuse and the older homeless. She is a co-author of a major Canadian textbook, “Aging in Contemporary Canada” (2nd edition, 2008), and a number of other books and articles including one of the first Canadian texts on elder abuse. In 2002 she was awarded the Governor General’s Golden Jubilee Medal for her contributions to Canadian gerontology. In 2007, she received the Betty Havens Award in Longitudinal Research for her contributions to research in ageing.

K.L. Sharma is the founder of Indian Gerontological Association and founder editor of Indian “Journal of Gerontology”. He has published 14 books and more than sixty papers on various issues covering multiple subjects like psychology, philosophy, education and gerontology in Indian and foreign journals. He has also presented papers at national and international seminars. Dr. Sharma is one of the nine partners of International Initiative for the Care of the Elderly, a programmme of NICE, University of Toronto and a member of International Federation on Ageing, Montreal and International Association of Gerontology and Geriatrics, USA.

Dr. Sharma holds dual masters (Psychology and Philosophy) and a Doctorate in Philosophy from University of Rajasthan, Jaipur where he taught psychology and philosophy for 36 years.