One in three Italian elderly abused

(ANSA) - Rome, June 15 - 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.