Every June 15 marks World Day of Awareness of Abuse and Maltreatment in Old Age, a date that calls on society, States and communities of faith to reflect and act in the face of a painful and often invisible reality. Raising awareness about the abuse of older people in Latin America and the Caribbean is a shared responsibility to strengthen the commitment against ageism, recognizing and protecting the dignity and respect of older people.

A silent violation of human rights

To understand the magnitude of this problem, it is important to understand what is meant by abuse of the elderly. According to the World Health Organization (WHO),“the abuse of an older person consists of an act or several repeated acts that cause harm or suffering, or also the failure to take appropriate measures to prevent further harm, when there is a relationship of trust with said person. This type of violence constitutes a violation of human rights and can manifest itself in the form of physical, sexual, psychological or emotional abuse; abuse for economic or material reasons; neglect; and serious impairment of dignity and respect. href="https://cdn.who.int/media/images/default-source/infographics/elder-abuse/abuse-of-older-people--a-hidden-problem---un-decade-of-healthy-ageing.png?sfvrsn=b79b61b9_1">global and regional statistics set off alarm bells: “Every year, one in six people 60 years or older suffers some type of abuse.” Likewise, experts warn that “elder abuse is expected to increase, given the rapid aging of the population aged 60 or over”. This trend is particularly pressing in our region, where “the number of older people in Latin America and the Caribbean is estimated to double in 2030 and will represent 16.7% of the population”, according to estimates from the ECLAC.

Types of abuse

From a gerontological perspective, 6 different types of abuse against older people have been defined that society must learn to identify and report:

1. Physical abuse: Non-accidental act that causes bodily harm or physical deterioration.
2. Psychological abuse: Verbal or non-verbal acts that generate distress, devaluation or suffering.
3. Sexual abuse: Any non-consensual sexual contact.
4. Abandonment: Neglect or omission in providing certain care or abandonment of a person who depends on another for whom there is some legal or moral obligation. It is one of the most extreme forms of abuse and can be intentional or unintentional.
5. Financial exploitation: Illegal use of the funds, property or resources of the elderly person.
6. Structural abuse: It manifests itself in the lack of adequate social and health policies, the non-existence, poor exercise and non-compliance with laws; the presence of social, community and cultural norms that devalue the image of the elderly person and that result in their prejudice and are socially expressed as discrimination, marginality and social exclusion.

The pastoral response: Protagonists and pillars of society

Faced with this scenario, the Seniors Team of Cáritas Latin America and the Caribbean proposes a profound change of mentality. “We recognize that Older People are protagonists of rights and fundamental pillars of society, of our communities, of our Church and our families.”.

Through its pastoral team, Cáritas expresses a firm rejection of stigmatization: “We fight invisibilization, 'old age' and 'ageism'. We recognize that in the face of the challenge of living in 'Throwaway Culture'...active listening, presence and constant accompaniment are effective tools to avoid the social isolation of older people.” From the experience in the territory, it is emphasized: “We fight social isolation because it is the scenario where abuse most often occurs.”.

Towards the care revolution

Aligned with the social teaching of the Church, the team of Seniors of Cáritas Latin America and the Caribbean takes up the call of Pope Leo XIV in the message for the V World Day of Grandparents and the Elderly (July 27, 2025), “to be the protagonist of the “revolution” of gratitude and care, and this must be done by frequently visiting the elderly, creating for them and with them networks of support and prayer, interweaving relationships that can give hope and dignity to those who feel forgotten.”.