This generation of older Maltese has achieved a range of remarkable accomplishments and has contributed to important socio-economic transformations. It can never be overstated that older persons deserve to live in peace and dignity; to experience an optimal quality of life in this critical phase of their lives, irrespective of their socio-economic background or levels of contribution.
However, cases of suspected and unfeigned elder abuse are increasing. Social workers have gone on record to highlight how, too often, older citizens, whether living in the community or care homes, experience abuse, exploitation and neglect. Relatives, professionals and care-givers may misappropriate lifetime savings or take precious belongings, labeling vulnerable elders as senile or foolish – a frequent form of psychological abuse. Or they may fail to provide them with the level of care that they deserve and require.
There is no doubt that cases of elder abuse will escalate in the coming decades. At the end of 2012, nearly a quarter of the total population – or 102,026 persons – were aged 60 years and over. In the foreseeable decades, the population of persons aged 65 and over is projected to increase to around 111,700 – a rise of 72 per cent when compared to this segment of the population in 2010. As a result, older persons are more likely to live with a disability, a major risk factor in experiencing abuse.
Such a scenario highlights the need to support the World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, occurring annually on June 15, which provides an opportunity for communities around the world to promote a better understanding of abuse and neglect of older persons and raise awareness of the cultural, social, economic and demographic processes and challenges involved. This day serves as a call to action for individuals, organisations and communities to take a stand against elder abuse and plan new laws and policies that protect vulnerable elders.
The improvement of elder abuse legislation has been a key priority since I assumed office. Unfortunately, the previous administration was wholly ineffectual in responding to the need to protect vulnerable elders, with ministers and parliamentary secretaries preferring to specialise in frequenting public seminars and meetings to harp about goals and objectives that, eventually, never materialised.
Although public consultation is key to the workings of the present government, no ministry or parliamentary secretariat is content to limit its work to engaging in talking shops. The Labour Party has no interest in becoming an expert in discussion as an end in itself, where no decisions or actions are taken. We are not interested in assuming the Nationalist Party mantle of unproductive, bureaucratic and self-serving actions.
Harsher penalties for crimes perpetrated against older persons will be introduced this year
Rather than embracing the ‘debating society’, this government is resolute in its quest to transform political rhetoric into tangible policies, enabling people to reach higher levels of successful ageing.
Upon assuming office, my first priority was to ensure the introduction of legislation that halts the increase of elder abuse and promotes social justice by allowing more severe punishments to be given to perpetrators.
In this respect, I am pleased to announce that harsher penalties for crimes perpetrated against older persons will be introduced this year. We will incorporate new forms of deterrents in the Criminal Code, specifically dealing with abuse – which so far has been defined in a very broad manner – so as to encapsulate all forms. But the special focus will be on the maltreatment of older persons.
This new legislation will include innovative concepts to ensure maximum protection, even from relatives, so as to safeguard the interests of older persons. From a purely academic perspective we mingled civil and criminal concepts to achieve more effective levels of protection without the need to resort to both criminal and civil proceedings, which is generally time consuming, expensive and disheartening.
This, I am pleased to say, is only the beginning. In the coming months, the Parliamentary Secretariat for the Rights of Persons with Disability and Active Ageing will be launching policy strategies that facilitate the collection and analysis of data on elder abuse from a range of sources. At present, no single entity compiles data on abuse victims aged 60 and over.
At the same time, the government will establish converging pathways for social and health care professionals to follow when they have identified older persons who experienced some level of harm. The Parliamentary Secretariat will leave no stone unturned until Maltese legislation shields people from harm.
This Act will be about all those measures that keep ‘adults-at-risk’ safe, including inquiry and advocacy services, as well as protection orders. However, most important is that the Act will safeguard and respect older persons’ right to choose what to do in life.
There is no doubt that the government’s efforts to deter elder abuse is only the beginning and that much more needs to be done even with regard to legislation. In fact we are in the process of drafting the second batch of amendments.
However, the Parliamentary Secretariat’s success in drawing up the much-needed legislation augurs well. I am sure that this government will make a serious difference in enhancing professional and public awareness of elder abuse, serving and advocating for victims and establishing an array of legal remedies that protect older persons from harm.
Justyne Caruana is Parliamentary Secretary for Rights of Persons with Disability and Active Ageing.