Emotional Stress of HIV/Aids Hits Elderly




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Emotional Stress of HIV/AIDS Hits Elderly

By Philda Essop, Cape Argus

South Africa

July 12, 2006

Emotional stress suffered by the elderly as a result of younger people dying of HIV/Aids is an added burden for them and probably their biggest health risk factor.

This was how deputy minister of social development Jean Benjamin described the effect of the HIV/Aids pandemic on South Africa's older people. She was speaking at the Golden Games conference at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology yesterday, where the Older Person's Bill was introduced.

Benjamin said the HIV/Aids pandemic had changed the role of the older generation, and required them to be care providers. It also caused psychological trauma.

"The grief and fear of the future stresses them and damages them emotionally. This added burden is probably the greatest risk factor in jeopardising their own health status," she said.

Social Services MEC Koleka Mqulwana also identified HIV/Aids as one of the challenges facing the elderly in the Western Cape: "Young people are passing on and you are taking care of the grandchildren."

Questioned later, Mqulwana said there were no statistics to show the extent of the problem.

About 800 senior citizens from across the province attended the event where the bill, adopted by the National Assembly in March, was introduced.

The bill makes provision for the protection and promotion of the rights of older people and for community services, which promote the independence and empowerment of the elderly.

The bill allows the police to remove an abuser as well as the removal of a victim from an abusive situation. It sets fines and imprisonment terms for elderly abuse. Anyone who suspects an older person is being abused is now legally compelled to report it.

Benjamin called on the elderly to stay active in their communities: "Retirement does not stop one from being creative and making a contribution. We need to promote healthy ageing."