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In 70% cases of elder abuse, victims are being abused by their spouses or sons, a new study finds. The most common form of abuse is emotional, a category including criticism, insults, and threats.

On June 14, Gyeonggi Province published the results of its analysis of the types and perpetrators of abuse in 969 cases reported in 2019 by the four branches of the province’s elder protection agency. The report was timed to be released shortly before World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, which falls on June 15.

Spouses were most likely to be the perpetrators of elder abuse, in 341 (35.2%) of the cases. Other perpetrators, in order, were sons (323), organizations (119), daughters (85), grandchildren (28), and daughters-in-law (27). That order has changed from a study in 2018, two years ago, when sons were the most frequent perpetrators, in 356 cases, followed by spouses in 311 cases, daughters in 93, organizations in 83, and daughters-in-law in 32.

“A change has occurred in the ranking of the perpetrators, but the takeaway is that elder abuse [still] most commonly occurs in the home,” Gyeonggi Province said.

The most common type of abuse was emotional (including criticism, insults, and threats), which accounted for 933 cases (44.9%) of a total of 2,078 (a single report can cite multiple types of abuse). That was followed by physical abuse (causing physical injury, pain, and disability), at 859 cases, and neglect (a provider or guardian refusing to carry out their duties), at 175 cases.

This analysis was based on 2,445 reports received and 18,412 counseling sessions conducted by Gyeonggi Province’s elder protection agency last year. The agency has set up branches at four locations in the province: Seongnam, in 2004; Uijeongbu, in 2006; Bucheon, in 2010; and Suwon, in 2019. Its mission is to identify and prevent elder abuse resulting from the rapid aging of society and inter-family conflict.

“If anyone learns about or suspects elder abuse, they should report the issue to the elder protection agency (1577-1389), the call center of the Ministry of Health and Welfare (129), or the police (112),” Gyeonggi Province said.

By Gi-seong, South Gyeonggi correspondent

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