Taiwan reports over 26,000 cases of elder abuse in 2023

More than 26,000 cases of domestic violence against elderly people were reported in Taiwan last year, up from 20,182 in 2022. Psychological abuse accounted for 44.1 per cent of cases in the first half of this year, with nearly 58 per cent involving the elderly person's descendants.

More than 26,000 cases of domestic violence against elderly people were reported in Taiwan last year, Ministry of Health and Welfare data showed, highlighting the need to protect the country's 4.67 million people aged 65 or older. Reports of suspected domestic violence against elderly people rose to 26,684 cases in 2023 from 20,182 in 2022, according to Department of Protective Services data.

There were 14,292 cases in the first half of this year, with psychological abuse accounting for 44.1 per cent, physical abuse 37.9 per cent, and stalking or harassment 25.5 per cent, with some cases involving multiple forms of abuse, the department said. Nearly 58 per cent of the cases involved the elderly person's descendants, while 27.1 per cent involved a spouse or partner.

Economic abuse was recorded 362 times last year, up from 161 in 2022. In the first half of this year, 188 entries were recorded in the economic-abuse classification, or 1.32 per cent of the total number of reported cases, the department said.

Elder abuse is often associated with family dynamics and the distribution of family resources, department Director Kuo Tsai-jung said. Supporting families and helping them improve their relationships are important in preventing this kind of domestic violence, she said. The ministry has worked with local governments to promote public awareness of elder abuse as well as the 113 hotline for domestic violence, while bolstering reporting mechanisms, Kuo said.

Economic abuse often involves psychological and physical violence as well, stemming from the pressures of long-term care and family dependency, especially when older people cannot work, she said. In some cases where adult children depend on money from their parents, they might have feelings of low self-worth due to employment setbacks or health issues, and could turn to emotional manipulation and verbal and physical abuse to control their parents, she added.

If family conflicts are not addressed, more serious violence could occur if parents lose their ability to care for themselves, household resources become scarce or their children have substance abuse problems, she said. In cases such as these, social workers usually conduct interviews and provide psychological support to help parents establish financial and emotional boundaries, while guiding parents toward legal resources to protect themselves, Kuo said.

One way to prevent elder abuse is to ease the caregiving burden on family members by utilising long-term care services, Providence University adjunct associate professor of social work Wang Hsiu-yen said. It is important to improve communication and caregiving skills by deepening an understanding of the physical, psychological and social aspects of aging, as well as proper care for people with dementia, she said. In addition, older people who are still mobile should be encouraged to take part in activities to prevent them from becoming socially isolated, Wang said. Elderly people and their families should report any abuse and seek help, she added.