Ahead of World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, which falls on June 15, the Dr. V.S. Natarajan Geriatric Foundation, organised a pledge-taking ceremony in Erode on June 10, a note from the organisation said.

Around 2,000 persons, including school and college students and members of the general public, took a ‘Let us respect our elders’ pledge. An updated edition of the booklet ‘Let Us Respect Elders’, first released in 2017, was unveiled at the programme. Freedom fighter and centenarian K. Lakshmi Kanthan Bharathi was the chief guest on the occasion and delivered a special address.

The organisation first obtained a G.O. from the government of Tamil Nadu and organised a pledge-taking ceremony and human chain in 2017. This was followed by activities in subsequent years as well.

The note, from founder and chairman V.S. Natarajan, a senior geriatrician, stressed that with family and societal structures undergoing several changes, many senior citizens these days are lonely and isolated. This can affect their mental health. Also, with increasing age can come increasing health ailments.

Elder abuse is defined as any act or lack of action that causes harm or distress to an older person. While this is not a topic most like to discuss, it is a reality. Physical, verbal, psychological, financial, and sexual abuse can take place, and abuse can also take place through neglect. Family factors such as financial burdens and caregiver stress could lead to abuse.

Educating the public, ensuring respite care, setting up social connections for the elderly and their caregivers, and counseling can all help, the note said.