Stop Elder Abuse

An initiative to end Harassment of Elderly in Karnataka

A Chained Elderly Man was rescued in Bangalore

Elder Abuse: A Worldwide Problem

93-year-old Anantaiah Setty was found chained below an elevated platform erected for the overhead tank.  He was rescued by the City police from the terrace of his house near Banashankari Temple where his family had allegedly chained him for the last one-and-a-half years. The nonagenarian was hardly fed, and left to defecate in a narrow open space. Setty, who was later shifted to Jayanagar General Hospital, said his family was indifferent to his plight. “They didn’t look after me well. Not a single day in the last 18 months did they give me two square meals. I was left with no option but to beg in the neighbourhood,” The incident came to light when neighbours tipped off a Kannada news channel about Setty. The police then raided the house and rescued the elderly man and provided him rehabilitation and medical help. 

The World Health Organization defines Elder Abuse as "an act intended to harm an older person by way of physical, emotional or psychological, mental, neglect or financial distress. Elder abuse includes harmful acts committed by close family, known relatives, friends, neighbours and paid caregivers".

According to the WHO, elder abuse is a problem that exists in both developing and developed countries, yet is typically under-reported globally. Until recently, this serious social problem was hidden from the public view and considered mostly a private matter. Even today, elder abuse continues to be a taboo, mostly underestimated and ignored by societies across the world.

In India, elder abuse is one of the major problems elder face. About 50% of elders have faced some form of abuse and of them 71% are abused by their own family members.

Ill-treatment of Elderly in Karnataka

18%

62.7% of elderly
are abused
Verbally / Emotionally

63%

43.3% of Seniors
face
Neglect

89%

Over 20% of Senior Citizens are exploited
Financially

43.3%

17.9% of elderly in Karnataka face some form of
Physical Abuse

 3 ways elders can get the help they need

(All complaints are treated with utmost confidentiality.
Public witnessing harassment can file a complaint anonymously)

Call 1090Bangalore 
Call 14567: Rest of Karnataka

File a Complaint
on this site.

Send your details on
WhatsApp to 8095 00 1090 

Bangalore Urban: ELDERS HELPLINE 1090

This Elders Helpline is a joint project of the Bangalore City Police and Nightingales Medical Trust, an NGO with a long association and experience with elders. Qualified and committed lawyers, social workers, counsellors, dutiful police and service-minded volunteers render a variety of reliable services that could be utilized by elders. Moreover, all services are free and within easy reach. The Helpline is supported by the Department for the Empowerment of Differently Abled and Senior Citizens, Government of Karnataka.

Rest of Karnataka: ELDERLINE 14567

Based on a study conducted to understand and assess the need of the elderly, the existing helplines in the country and also some international helplines for senior citizens, the need for a helpline at a national level was recognized by the National Institute of Social Défense, Government of India. The ElderLine has been created to be a technology-based platform that services both in the urban and rural areas with a strong back end of information aggregation of all the service providers and empathetic people to talk to the senior citizens. Nightingales Medical Trust has been recognized to operate this Helpline in Karnataka. 

Services Provided

1. Helping elders who are abused, ill-treated, harassed, cheated, exploited

2. Offering legal advice

3. Dissemination of information and connecting elders with reliable services providers

4. Helping elders seek remedial measures through Tribunals under the Maintenance Act

5. Tracing of missing elders

6. Helping elders in civic related cases

7. Rescue of abandoned elderly

8. Helping elders get pension and assisting them in the process

9. Medical Guidance for elders

10. Psychological counselling to elders who are lonely and living with fear and regular checks on their wellbeing

11. Improving the quality of life of residents in old age homes through necessary services.

12. Creating a safe and secured environment to protect elders from crimes

13. Information on government schemes and services for the elderly

Get Involved

Help us build a safe community for Senior Citizens. Your presence and support can be invaluable in the work at the Helpline. 

© Nightingales Medical Trust 2023