Victor Luca,
Whakatāne District Grey Power Association

It seems so obvious that we should respect our elders, if for no other reason than we will all be old one day.

I was always taught to respect my elders. However, it would seem that this is not a universally held value at the individual or societal level.

When I talk about elders I am talking about people in the last third of their lives.

Health NZ’s (Te Whatu Ora) web site states that ‘elder abuse is when an older person experiences harm or distress.

Harm can happen in different ways, such as physical (hitting or lashing out) or emotional (psychological) abuse.

It can also include financial abuse, sexual abuse, cultural abuse and neglect’. It is clearly quite a complicated area.

In this modern world, old age has become something quite new. Only 100 years ago the average life expectancy ended at what is today the retirement age.

It is now inevitable in the normal course of a lifetime that the world becomes increasingly complicated and our cognitive abilities decline.

Some older folk might get left behind by this increasingly complex world and that is precisely when we need kindness from the younger people around us be they family, friends or strangers. Some may find themselves alone in old age.

I have generally been quite oblivious to the issue of elder abuse as I am sure many of us are. I just took it as a given that the young would treat their elders well.

Apparently, this is not always the case.

So, it will be a good opportunity for folk to come along to listen to Kassie Ellis, who will be our guest speaker on Wednesday, November 18.

Kassie is an elder abuse responder from Manaaki Ora Trust (www.manaakiora.org.nz) and she will share with us what elder abuse is about and what they do.

The start time will be 10am and the venue will be the Knox Presbyterian Church Hall on Domain Road as per usual. All are welcome. Refreshments follow the meeting.