When older adults live in poverty, without the basic necessities of life and family support, their risk of abuse, neglect and exploitation increases.
In some developing countries, older widows are abandoned, and their property is seized. In other places, older widows are accused of witchcraft if there is an unexplained death or crop failure in the community.
There is a lack of education on the aging process and diseases, for example, if a person has Alzheimer’s, they may be thought to be possessed by a demon.
Younger generations are fleeing the country for better opportunities, leaving the elderly behind in deteriorating rural homesteads.
Who is caring for this vulnerable age group?