Recognize, react and say STOP !

Description

There is not much information about the phenomenon of violence in the third age, both in the world and in Croatia. As many as 1,138 elderly people in Croatia were victims of domestic violence last year, and as they often do not even report it, the number could be significantly different, especially during a coronavirus pandemic when staying at home and restricting freedom of movement can lead to more frequent violence. Isolation, poverty, inaccessibility of content, illness and weakness make older people in rural areas easy victims of violence and fraud. Young people on the other hand today are influenced by numerous stereotypes and full of prejudices. They often become aggressors themselves without even realizing it. Our community is an example of the great gap between these age groups and subcultures, but also of the great social and material poverty. The goals of our project are: 1. Increasing the quality of life of the elderly in the Vukovar-Srijem County with an emphasis on rural areas 2. Educate the community to the problem of violence against the elderly with the aim of early identification, response, elimination and prevention 3. Encouraging young people to intergenerational solidarity and understanding and development of empathy in the elderly. We intend to achieve the planned, on the one hand, by a detailed analysis and development of a plan for the development of social services for the elderly, and on the other by a strong media campaign oriented towards the target group and the entire community. Special emphasis will be placed on working with young people and the importance of dialogue and confrontation of young people with prejudices that they are often not even aware of and are the cause of violent behavior and deepening of a large enough generation gap.

Summary of project results

1. Unacknowledged and Concealed Elder Abuse: The phenomenon of violence against older individuals encompasses various forms, including psychological abuse, physical abuse, sexual abuse, financial abuse, and neglect. In Croatia, last year, as many as 1,138 older individuals experienced family violence, but this number may be significantly different since many cases go unreported, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, when staying at home and restricted mobility may lead to increased incidents of violence. The United Nations also warns of an increase in this problem during the pandemic, highlighting the vulnerability of older people who depend on the care of family members.

2. Lack of Social and Health Services in Rural Areas, Which Could Exacerbate the First Problem: In small, scattered villages and hamlets with limited public transportation connections, older people, often living alone, are the predominant residents. Many of these older individuals, due to declining functional abilities, can no longer independently care for all their needs, requiring assistance with grocery shopping, meal preparation, household chores, personal hygiene, and more. However, only a small fraction of those who need such help have access to it. Restrictive legal conditions are one reason, and this challenge is addressed through a network of social services provided by non-profit organizations, although it is underdeveloped in Vukovar-Srijem County. 

At the same time, there is a lack of other services for the elderly, such as home care, day centers, information on their rights, including life-long support contracts, prevention of elder abuse, or involvement of older people in the community through cultural activities.

The project achieved the following milestones:

1. Conducted a survey to gather information.
2. Organized a panel discussion involving key stakeholders.
3. Sent three open letters to relevant authorities providing guidelines on how to treat older individuals.
4. Executed public awareness campaigns regarding elder abuse.
5. Engaged 10 volunteers.
6. Raised awareness among young people about intergenerational understanding and the needs of older individuals.
7. Established collaboration with high schools and the possibility of continuing participation in the association''s volunteer program.

Through the implemented activities, collaboration has been established with the local community, the broader public, NGOs, and relevant stakeholders. The project results and guidelines for interacting with older individuals and their specific service needs in the Sisak-Moslavina County were presented to representatives of the local community. The project has also increased the visibility of the association''s work.

1. Improving the quality of life for older individuals in the Vukovar Srijem County, with a focus on rural areas:

   • A research study was conducted to assess the needs of older individuals for social and healthcare services. Based on this research, guidelines were developed, and letters were sent to relevant ministries and stakeholders outlining how to address the needs of older persons.

2. Raising awareness in the community about elder abuse with the aim of early detection, response, elimination, and prevention:

   • Media campaigns, community campaigns, and public events were organized to present the project''s activities.
   • Community services planned for future programs and projects were introduced.
   • The general public was educated about the issue of elder abuse.
   • Regional consistency in projects aimed at reducing and preventing social exclusion in Croatia was ensured, along with expanding these services to areas where they were previously unavailable.

3. Encouraging young people to engage in intergenerational solidarity and understanding, as well as fostering empathy among older individuals:

   • Workshops were conducted in secondary schools to address prejudices and stereotypes, conflict resolution, non-violent conflict resolution, understanding one''s own and others'' needs.
   • Participants in these workshops carried out advocacy campaigns promoted on social media platforms.