Now it is up to the Federal Council: Parliament wants more prevention against violence against seniors

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“I lived in constant fear at home,” says elderly Alice Büttiker* in Blick. Her husband Heinz* not only became aggressive towards her, but also beat her. The reason he suddenly became violent after retirement was a disease: frontotemporal dementia. It changes the personality, makes those affected irritable and uninhibited. What touched her most was the way he called her, says Büttiker. For example, he called her a “lazy bastard.”

Her husband has now passed away. But Büttiker is not the only one who has experienced violence in old age. The National Competence Center for Age Without Violence handled approximately 360 cases last year. The federal government assumes that 300,000 to 500,000 elderly people in Switzerland become victims of abuse every year. The incidents are often due to excessive demands or overburdening of family members or healthcare staff.

Impulse program to increase awareness

Parliament now wants to take more action against this: it calls on the federal government to develop a program against violence against the elderly. The necessary incentive program should focus on awareness, but also on education and accessible care options to ease the burden on surviving relatives.

On Tuesday, the Council of States referred a motion by former centrist national councilor Ida Glanzmann (LU) to the Federal Council by 21 votes to 19 and two abstentions. The responsible committee recommended the motion for acceptance with a casting vote by chairman Mathilde Crevoisier Crelier (SP/JU). The federal government is responsible, Crevoisier Crelier said in the council.

Violence, abuse and neglect in old age are a taboo, says Maja Graf (Greens/BL). Overwhelm and overload of professionals and caring family members are often the reason. The incentive program becomes even more important as the population ages and there is a shortage of nurses.

Minority spokesperson Jakob Stark (SVP/TG) referred to the subsidiary responsibility of the federal government: “The cantons are leading the way.” A number of private organizations are active in the field of violence in old age. The topic should also be included in programs against domestic violence and all people affected by violence should be taken into account.

Cantons also have to pay

The federal government and the cantons had already carried out preparatory work for the incentive program, but subsequently interrupted the work. According to supporters, annual costs were estimated at between 500,000 and one million francs.

The government subsequently did not continue the work because the cantons did not want to contribute to the costs, according to Minister of Social Affairs Elisabeth Baume-Schneider. The Council also demanded that the cantons contribute to the costs of such programs. (SDA/lha)

*Names changed

Source:Blick