LETTER | The recent abuse case in an aged care facility in Kedah has shone a spotlight on the treatment of older people in our society, with an ensuing reflection about how and where older Malaysians age, how they live their advanced years, and how they die.

Viral videos of the incident were heartbreaking and disturbing to watch. It is a relief to hear that the operator and staff have been detained.

It is time for society to reflect on what this means as we are heading toward an aged nation. Is this another incident we will soon forget yet again? This is not the first time such abuse has been highlighted in the media.

Research published in 2020 stated that about 9 percent of older persons in Malaysia experienced elder abuse in the past 12 months - more common than we wish to admit.

How many more incidents are happening daily and left unreported or even recognised? Is it adequate to merely detain the operator or to close down the home?

Underlying issues

Elder abuse is not merely a public health issue but one that involves human rights, justice, the law, the economy, and quite simply, who we are as human beings.

What elevates elder abuse merits special attention, particularly from governments and policymakers.

If we are to progress in eliminating this problem, the community needs to look at it directly and take action to change behaviours and attitudes across the full spectrum of fields affected by elder abuse.

If no action is taken, one in six of us is going to be affected by elder abuse when we reach 60.

I implore us to reflect on the late Mahatma Gandhi’s reminder: “The true measure of any society can be found in how it treats its most vulnerable members.”

The writer is a gerontologist, dementia advocate and activist.

The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of Malaysiakini.