Increase of 19.4% in Elder Abuse Determinations Due to COVID-19 and Awareness Improvements

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Chun-hee] Concerns that the likelihood of elder abuse could increase as more elderly people stay at home due to the spread of COVID-19 have become a reality. Compared to the previous year, reports of abuse increased by 5.6%, and among these, cases confirmed as actual abuse rose by as much as 19.4%. The government analyzed this as a result of the impact of COVID-19 along with steady awareness improvements, which led to a higher rate of detecting and reporting abuse.

The Ministry of Health and Welfare announced on the 15th that it held the '5th Elder Abuse Prevention Day' commemorative event at 11:10 a.m. at Post Tower, Sogong-ro, Jung-gu, Seoul.

The UN and the International Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse (INPEA) designated June 15 every year as 'World Elder Abuse Awareness Day' in 2006 to improve unfair treatment of the elderly and raise awareness about the seriousness of elder abuse. South Korea also designated this day as Elder Abuse Prevention Day to increase awareness and interest in elder abuse.

The commemorative ceremony was broadcast live online with minimal on-site attendance to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in the community. The event included government awards for contributors to the promotion of elder human rights, videos of cases reported due to the interest of mandatory reporters, performances promoting the elder abuse reporting app, and promotion of the Nabisaegim Ontact campaign. Government awards were given to individuals and organizations who contributed to the promotion of elder human rights, including Jeonbuk Elder Protection Specialist Director Jeong Mi-soon, who received the National Medal.

The Ministry of Health and Welfare also released the '2020 Elder Abuse Status Report,' which analyzed reports and counseling cases received last year by 34 elder protection specialist agencies nationwide.

According to the report, the number of elder abuse reports last year was 16,973, a 5.6% increase from 16,071 the previous year. In particular, the number of cases confirmed as abuse was 6,259, an increase of 19.4%.

By type of abuse, emotional abuse was the most common at 42.7%, followed by physical abuse at 40.0%, and neglect at 7.8%. By location, abuse within the home accounted for 88.0%, making up the majority. Abuse in living facilities such as elder care facilities also accounted for 8.3%. Family members were the most common perpetrators of abuse: sons (34.2%), spouses (31.7%), daughters (8.8%), etc. Institutional perpetrators such as facility workers and medical personnel accounted for 13.0%.

Experts view the increase in elder abuse as partly influenced by the COVID-19 situation. Additionally, the strengthening of human rights education for elder welfare facility workers, expansion of mandatory reporter groups for elder abuse, and the reinforcement of elder abuse response systems, along with improved awareness, are also analyzed to have increased the rate at which actual abuse leads to reporting.

Based on these findings, the Ministry of Health and Welfare will strengthen measures to detect elder abuse early and protect victims.

First, the elder abuse reporting app ‘Nabisaegim (Elder Keeper)’ will be distributed starting today to enhance early detection and reporting systems for elder abuse. Nabisaegim allows attachments such as photos and videos, facilitating the securing of direct evidence of abuse. It also features anonymity protection by allowing reports after identity verification without separate membership registration. Additionally, developed as a location-based app, it automatically connects reports to the nearest regional elder protection specialist agency, making reporting easier.

Services such as counseling and education for abusers and the families of victims to prevent recurrence of elder abuse will also be expanded. With the revised Elder Welfare Act coming into effect on the 30th, elder protection specialist agencies will provide counseling, education, and psychological treatment to abusers, and even after abuse cases are closed, they will strengthen follow-up management by checking for recurrence and providing counseling and education to victims, guardians, and families as needed. Furthermore, the number of regional elder protection specialist agencies will be expanded to 37 this year with dedicated personnel assigned, and the 'Living Economy Keeper' dispatch project to prevent financial abuse will be expanded, continuously strengthening prevention infrastructure.

Minister of Health and Welfare Kwon Deok-cheol said at the commemorative ceremony, “We will strengthen the protection system through enhancing the elder abuse reporting system, counseling and education for abusers, follow-up management, and infrastructure expansion to prevent blind spots in elder abuse amid the prolonged COVID-19 situation.” He added, “We will all pay attention to the elderly around us and socially respond to the issue of elder abuse to promote the protection of elder human rights.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.