The Explorer Islamabad: Journal of Social Sciences

ISSN: 2411-0132(E), 2411-5487(P)

Vol-2, Issue (1): 17-22
www.theexplorerpak.org

SOCIAL NEGLECT AND AGEING POPULATION: A PILOT STUDY ON VIOLENCE AGAINST

SENIOR CITIZENS
Hina Saleem
Department of Anthropology, PMAS Arid Agriculture University, Rawalpindi
Corresponding Author;
Hina Saleem
PMAS Arid Agriculture University, Rawalpindi
h.saleem74@hotmail.com
Abstract: Senior citizens the rapidly increasing population globally become victim of neglect by the hands of their
family and caregivers. The exceeding age of human beings become make them vulnerable due to their physical
impairments, biologically changes, pathological problems, socio-psychological stresses. The research was
conducted to explore the modes of social neglect and their effects on older persons health at domestic level. The
under-taken research paper is the pilot study conducted in Rawalpindi from sample of 52 respondents, drawn by
using purposive sampling technique. The data collection was administered by using the interviewing method and
tool of study was interview guide. It has been found through this study that older persons are getting food, water
and clothing on time and properly but majority neglected in the modes of medicines, medical checkups, mobility
and money domestically. All due to which they become suffering from Diabetes, arthritis, hearth problems and
high blood pressure issues dominantly.

Key Words: Senior Citizens, Neglect, Family, Physical Impairments, Biological changes, Social and
Psychological Issue
INTRODUCTION
The study on older persons and their life holds a
strong focus in academics research globally.
Population aging is one of humanitys greatest
triumphs after great development in the field of
medicine that establishes a condition of long life
expectancy and decreased fertility rates. It is also
one of our greatest challenges (Ahmed, et al.
2015). Ageing is defined as a process, or set of
processes, of gradual development and then
decline that characterize the life span of an
organism. Ageing mostly perceived as grey hairs,
losing teeths , weak memory, wrinkles on face,
loss of reproduction ability and muscle strength
when accompanied all it is called frailties of old
age (Ahmed, et al. 2015). Ageing is basically
defined as a last phase (stated at age of 60) of life
in which physical, biological, social, physiological
and psychological changes appear (Saleem, et al.
2015).
The world population is going to be grey at rapid
pace. In 1950 there were 205 million older
citizens who reached the age of 60 and above. In

the year of 2000 the older population were 606

million, which is expected to be rise up to 2
billion in 2050 (Ahmed, et al. 2015). If we
adopted the anthropological theories to
understand the ageing processes then the
concept of ageing and its stages can be
understood in the light of cyclical theory and
progressive refinement (Saleem, et al. 2015).
Furthermore It also qualifies the evolutionary
approach given by Lewis Henry Morgan when
applied on evolution of human life cycle
(Saleem, et al. 2015).
Social neglect is a phenomenon which exists in
every society and culture. Various studies show
its importance by defining its wider impact with
reference to ageing population. One of the
studies strengthens this point and said
ignorance, loneliness, negligence and social
isolation is not the only social issue but also
public health and wellbeing issue (Ahmed, et al.
2015). Neglect is defined as with holding of the
items that are needed to sustain life, such as
food, shelter, or medical care .it is also defined
17

as action of omission (Kandel and Adamec

2009). There are basically two types of Neglect
one Active Neglect and another one is passive
neglect. In active neglect the care giver or family
member intentionally fails to fulfil his/her
responsibilities towards the older person. Where
as passive neglect the caregiver unintentionally
failed to provide care to older persons due to
burden or lack of information concerning suitable
caregiving tactics (Woolf 1998).
The older persons are neglected by family
members or caregivers in providing basic
hygiene, adequate food and water, clothing, and
medication majorly. There are various signs due
to which it is indicated that older persons
become victim of social neglect for example
Sunken eyes or loss of weight, Person with
dementia left unsupervised, Untreated pressure
bedsores, Lack of medical aids (glasses, walker,
teeth, hearing aid, medications), Dehydration,
malnutrition, untreated bed sores, and poor
personal hygiene, Unattended or untreated
health problems, Hazardous
or unsafe living
condition/arrangements (such as improper
wiring, no heat, or no running water), Unsanitary
and unclean living conditions (such as dirt, fl eas,
lice on person; soiled bedding; fecal/urine smell;
inadequate clothing) (Kandel and Adamec 2009).
From world wide data sets and researches
indicate that negligence have negative impact on
every age group but vigorous effects can be
observed specially among older (Ahmed, et al.
2015). The older persons in old age need more
care from their family due to their physical
impairments and social pressures and
psychological stresses. It is exclusive obligation
for the caregivers to take care the Ops instead of
defies them as they are facing unique challenges
and problems in which abuse and neglect is the
dominant one (Ahmed, et al. 2015). Due to social
neglect the older persons experience depression
and anxiety which is sometimes misinterpreted
with memory loss or illness but in reality it is the
result of neglect.
Due to social neglect and abuse the older persons
become victim of many health problems. In some
cases neglect is one of the major causes of stress
which affects the health of older persons. The
elders who experience neglect and abuse have
angina attacks, high blood pressure problem,
stomach and breathing issues panic attacks due

to stress and caregiver failed to understand the

actual reasons. Malnutrition is an indicator of
neglect. In most cases, the malnutrition results
because the older person is actually unable to
feed him or her and caregivers are careless and
available to feed the person (Bain and Spencer
n.d).
Older persons due to their exceeding age need
more care and protection by their family
members. Sometimes caregivers and relatives are
unfamiliar with changing situation and increasing
need of care, they dont know how to offer
proper care and support. Family members may
unintentionally fail to ensure that the older adult
has adequate and appropriate food, clothing,
medical care, supervision, or social stimulation (
American Psychological Association 2012) in this
case they passively neglected their elders. Older
adults who die as a result of abuse or neglect
typically are female victims of a male caregiver,
particularly a spouse, son, or other relative
(Shields, et al 2004). In UN principles of OPs, one
of the important principle is care that older
persons should have access to adequate food,
water, shelter, clothing and health care through
the provision of income, family and community
support and self-help (Overbury, et al. 2002).
MATERIALS AND METHODS
For the current study an extensive interview
guide was developed to collect data on modes of
social neglect and their effects on OPs health for
the purpose of pilot study. The study was
conducted in UC 56(union council) of Rawalpindi
city.
The size of sample population was 52
respondents which is drawn by using a nonprobability sampling technique. The duration of
data collection process lasts for 3 days. The
interviewing method and interview guide tool
was employed to collect the information on set
objective. The collected information via main tool
of research was cleaned vigorously for further
analysis on SPSS (16.00) version software. The
results were presented by using percentile
method and crosstab analysis.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Figure.1: Age Distribution of the Respondents
19.2

Age of Respondents
7.7
15.4

40.4
60-65

66-70

32.7
17.3
71-75
76-80

80=

18

The above figure presents the age distribution of

the respondents. The current study requires
making age groups, so criteria were set on 60
years and above. In the sample 40.4%
respondents belongs to the age group of 60-65.
19.2% respondents falls in the category of 66-70,
while 7.7% respondents fit to the age group of
71-75. 17.3% respondents were belongs to the
age group of 76-80 while 15.4% respondent were
fall in above 80+ age group.
Figure.2:
Gender
Distribution
of
the
Respondents

Female
59.6%

Gender

Male
40.4%

The above chart depicts the gender distribution

of the respondents .In the current study both
gender included for the purpose of data
collection on set objective without any biases.
59.6% respondents were female in the sample
while 40.4% were male respondents.
Table.1: Modes of Social Neglect
Response
MODES OF
Yes
No
NR/NA
NEGLECT
Food
Water
Cloths
Medication
Medical checkup
Decision making
Economic status
Transportation
Mode

57.7%
55.8%
80.3%
61.5%
40.4%
67.3%
57.7%
26.9%

36.5%
44.2%
17.3%
32.7%
59.6%
32.7%
40.4%
73.1%

5.8%
1.9%
5.8%
1.9%
-

their families never neglected them. 55.8 %

respondents were positively answered that
whenever they need water, their caregivers
immediately gave them. This is due to the strong
religious hold (Islam) in which giving water is
Sunnah. 80.3 % respondent that they were
getting clean and pressed cloths by their family
members. 61.5% responded that they take
medicines on time, due to their obedient son and
daughters who gave them medicines on time
while 32.7 % respondents never took medicines
on time because they are dependent due to
physical impairments upon their family who
sometimes forget or neglect to give them
medicines on time. Few cases revealed that they
had memory issues and they take medicines but
due to weak memory they forget to take and
their families didnt know about this problem
with them. From the study it is revealed that 59.6
% respondents never visited their doctors for
medical checkups regularly due to their
caregivers negligences. They are dependent on
their children due to their physical disabilities
.67.3% when asked responded that they
participated in HHd decision making only 32.7 %
complained that they are neglected in HHd
decision making process by their families. In
current study it is revealed that 57.7%
respondents were of the view that they were
neglected economically as mostly their sons bear
their economic expenditures .Whenever they ask
for money they neglected their call.73.1%
respondents dont have any transportation mode
due to which they are less mobile and neglected
by their family members in going to their medical
checkups, buy things according to their
wishes/need and pension matters.

The above table presents the percentile results of

different modes of life through which it was tried
to explore that older persons neglected by their
families in getting basic necessities of life or not.
In the sample n=52, 57.7 % respondents were of
the view that they were getting food on time,

19

Table.2: Crosstab Analysis of Social Neglect and Health Issues

Dehydratio
n
Hepatitis
b/c
Others

No health
problem

(17)
100%

(2)
50%

(3)
100%

(2)
100%

(5)
100%

(6)
100%

(1)
100%

(1)
100%

(2)
100%

(1)
100%

(5)
55.55%

(1)
100%

(46)
88.46%

(2)
50%

(3)
33.33%

(5)
9.61%

(1)
11.11%

(17)
100%

(4)
100%

(3)
100%

(2)
100%

(5)
100%

(6)
100%

(1)
100%

(1)
100%

(2)
100%

(1)
100%

(9)
100%

The above table shows the comparison between

social negligence and health problems. From the
result it is revealed that 17 cases were felt social
neglect in their domestic settings due to which
they are suffering from arthritis disease. 2 cases
due to negligence by their caregivers in providing
food become losing their weight which weaken
their immune system while 3 cases were
suffering from osteoporosis. 5 cases respondent
that they are suffering from diabetes as their
family neglected them due to which they got
psychologically stressed and studies suggested
that tension and stress is one of the major causes
behind diabetes. 6 cases felt negligence due to
which they had heart problems. 2 cases
respondents that due to their stomach problem
they easily got dehydration as their family
neglected them in providing care and light food
according to their age. 5 cases due to social
negligences they have multiple health issues
including paralysis, brain issues, and mostly have
complained about high blood pressure issues.
DISCUSSION
Old age the last phase of human being usually
depicted as a period weakness, frailty and
dependency. Old age commences when persons
reached at age of 60 and this period continues till
the process of death. It is the time in which Ops
are facing many challenges and issues (Akpan and
Umobong 2013). The older persons due to their
exceeding age dependent upon their family and
care givers to provide them care, protection and
social security. The current study is undertaken to
explore the modes of social neglect and their
effects on older persons health at domestic level.
Several studies classically reveals that older

Total

Heart
Problem
Hypertensi
on
Asthma

No
Response
Total

Osteoporos
is
Malnutritio
n
Diabetes

No

Weight loss

Yes

Arthritis

SOCIAL
NEGLECT

HEALTH ISSUES

(1)
1.92%
(1)
100%

(52)
100%

persons neglected socially, emotionally and

physically by their caregivers. The case of neglect
develops when caregivers through active neglect
attention ally never provided the older persons
with basic necessities of life such as food, water,
clothing, medicines, medical checkups and safe
environment to live (De- Benedicts 2007). From
this study in the light of calculated results it is
revealed that targeted people are living a healthy
ageing life as mostly the older persons are cared
by their family members. Due to intimate
relations with family the caregivers in family
provide them food, water and clothing on time
whenever the elders demand or call. The elderly
was well taken care of, similarly in the Nigerian
society, in which it is traditionally obligation for
the family to take care of their older parents as
well as the other older relatives issues (Akpan
and Umobong 2013). In the current study mostly
Ops are neglected in the matters of medication
mostly as 32.7% reported that they are not
getting medicines on time as they are dependent
majorly on their sons and daughters and
daughters in law who dont give them medicines
on time. While few also reported that due to
their weak memory they forget to take medicines
and family never pay attention and neglected in
giving them medicines on time. Family members
thought that their elders dont have any memory
issues. The study also reveals that old persons
neglected by their family members to take them
to doctor for medical checkup as in old age the
elders due to their bone injuries, physical
impairments, and other health issues are less
socially mobile, they cannot visit doctor by
themselves. Those outside the family who

20

observes or suspect abuse or neglect may fail to

intervene because they believe they thought that
it is a family issue and may be they are
misunderstanding the real situation (American
Psychological Association 2012). 57.7 % persons
respondents were of the view that as in old age
elders are completely dependent upon their
family for economic needs and expenses. They
are ignored by their sons who usually support
them economically in old age to give them money
to fulfil their needs and wishes whenever they
demanded. The son or other earning hand due to
economic pressure, Economic compulsion,
inflation single earning hand unable to bear the
expenses of their parents, even some time they
take the pension amount of their parents if they
had to bear the household expenses One of the
research also indicated the same factors as
among some cultures, there is a belief that
younger family members will take care for their
elders at home. This may lead to clashes when
family members are encountered with financial,
child-care, and job pressure, generating a
situation of caregiver problem and burden
(Takeshita and Ahmed 2004). The old age is time
of less social mobility the one reason behind this
is OPs dont have any transportation mode. The
young members stop them to travel due to their
old age which effects their life and increase the
risk of falling and accidents. Due to lack of proper
attention and care the older persons in old age
become suffering from many diseases (Saleem, et
al. 2015). The current study indicates that due to
social neglect the older persons have diabetes,
arthritis, heart problems, and high blood pressure
issues majorly. When older persons are neglected
that put negatives impacts on their wellbeing and
psychological health as a result they become
depression, stressed and tense. As a result they
got arthritis attacks, heart attacks and become
diabetic. As one of the main reason of these
diseases are tension and stress which is result of
social neglect by family members. In South Asian
region the old age is considered as a period of
oblivion (Saleem, et al. 2015). But in In Pakistan,
the older persons are living with their families
who pay attention and take care their older
adults (Irshad, et al. 2015) So they are less
neglected as compare to rest of the countries
globally.

CONCLUSION
The current study reveals that OPs are less
socially neglected as caregivers provided them
food, water and clothing properly on time, but
OPs are ignored in the matters of medical
checkup, medicines, economic expenses,
transportations and hygienic environment. Due
to negligences in these modes of life the older
persons health is affected as medical care is a
core need in old age. They are suffered from
diabetes, heart problems, arthritis and high B.P
issues majorly due to lack of proper and on time
treatment. It is recommended that Government
should introduced free medical camps for older
persons at community level or special medical
teams who door to door will visit and provide the
treatment and checkup to those elders who are
unable to visit hospitals or medical camps.
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