The terms “flash mob” and “senior” rarely belong in the same sentence, but some seniors and volunteers in Massachusetts staged a flash mob – complete with singing “When I’m 64″ at a supermarket to mark World Elder Abuse Awareness Day. Video proof below:
Elder abuse is a particularly difficult crime to recognize and respond to. Its victims are vulnerable in a way that can be invisible – dependent upon their adult children and other caregivers for basic necessities, but not in the same way as children. Additionally, aging and a vast array of health difficulties can leave seniors less able to prevent themselves from being victimized and to cope with the crime after it happens.
There are no quality national-level data on elder abuse. It is important to point out, however, that there are some big misconceptions about age and crime. The general public often perceives elders as experiencing more criminal victimization, when, in fact, it is actually a more youthful demographic (16-24) that has the highest rate of victimization.
It is not the number of seniors who are abused that matters, but rather the unique challenges that such abuse poses for both elder victims and the supporting agencies who help them.
Ethos, the non-profit elder services and advocacy organization that sponsored the flashmob, estimates that there are 20,000 incidents of elder abuse in Massachusetts each year. No doubt, there are more victims who are not elders.
But this population, who has raised us, guided us, nurtured us, and holds our collective wisdom and social history, nevertheless deserves special attention.
Related articles:
- Secret shame as elders abused by loved ones (smh.com.au)
- Presidential Proclamation — World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, 2012 (pattidudek.typepad.com)
- Crime Victims’ Rights Week (crimedime.com)
- TSA Pretends to Lose Interest in Patting Down Your Gran (crimedime.com)
- Who Are Crime Victims? (crimedime.com)
Louise Behiel
June 19, 2012
great video. WE have had some interesting video clips of seniors dancing on our downtown mall lately, although I have to admit I haven’t paid a lot of attention. Elder abuse is so prevalent, but it is often not seen as abuse but rather the internal workings of a family. Very sad but we have to be aware. thanks for your usual good information
CrimeCents
June 24, 2012
Thanks, Louise! You are so right. Abuse between family members is so very recast as “family dispute” that it becomes normalized.
joyceahood
June 19, 2012
Thanks for posting this.
CrimeCents
June 24, 2012
Thanks for stopping by joyceahood. It was such a great way to raise awareness about a difficult topic – how could I resist writing about it?
nutsfortreasure
June 19, 2012
Reblogged this on Living and Lovin .
CrimeCents
June 24, 2012
Thanks so much for reblogging! I thought it was a great video and I had to write about it.
nutsfortreasure
June 24, 2012
I know a lady in a piece that was done for TV E Murphy bad enough not to know your family but to be treated in such ways as we know happens is sickening The Thanks go to you!