The abused elderly.

The world has now focussed its attention on the aged as they are growing in numbers. Many developed countries have provided various patterns of care processes for the elderly. India too is feeling the impact of ageing population and is trying to cope with the demands of this population. Various problems have to be faced by the ageing population and one of them is the abuse of the elderly. This abuse is overt or covert and in different areas of their life style, that is economic, social or religious and occurs in daily life patterns. Often the abuse could also be included in legal patterns of transactions between the aged and their relatives. Because the aged are a surplus or the greying population they are helpless and unable to combat these situations. Stereotypes also work against the aged. It is therefore necessary to make aged legally literate and allow them to live in dignity.