Four million elderly, or one in
three, are subjected to abuse in Italy, geriatricians said
Wednesday.
Of these, 2.9 million people aged over 65 suffer
psychological abuse, 600,000 are defrauded financially, 400,000
are physically abused, and 100,000 are sexually abused.
As well, 68.7% of retirement home residents are physically
abused, while in two thirds of known cases, the abuser is a
member of the family.
The elderly also risk suffering abuse at the hands of
carers, neighbors, and public health workers.
"Once in a while the media reports on violence against the
elderly, but that's just the tip of the iceberg," said Italian
Society of Gerontology and Geriatrics (SIGG) President Nicola
Ferrara.
He said the SIGG is calling for doctors to be better
trained to recognize signs of abuse.
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