Almost one in eight Czech elderly people has been attacked physically or threatened with violence from their family members and friends, according to a poll conducted by the University of South Bohemia and released to CTK today.

Over one fifth of people over 60 say they know a case of an elderly person being maltreated. 

Though the poll was carried out among 1,300 respondents over 60 from the South Bohemian Region, its results can the applied to the whole country in general. 

The Czech association Zivot (Life) 90 wants to highlight the maltreatment of elderly people on the occasion of this year's World Day Against Violence committed on elderly people on June 15. 

The association says that up to 400,000 elderly people may be tortured, abused or neglected in the 10-million Czech Republic, while some 270,000 people over 60 may become a target of violence. 

According to polls from other countries, elderly people are most frequently maltreated by their own children, partners or other relatives. 

Among the respondents of the South Bohemian poll were 750 elderly people who live alone, 250 people who are regularly visited by a nurse at home, and 300 people living in old people's homes and other social or health care facilities. 

One-fifth of those living independently have been called names, offended or faced other psychological tormenting. Six percent of those using services of a nurse at home have met with vulgar behaviour of nurses. 

Almost one in ten people living in old people's homes have experienced rough or disrespectful treatment from the personnel. 

Some 14 percent of elderly people living alone say that their relatives demand money from them, the poll says, calling this behaviour "economic violence." 

Even in old people's homes, the personnel sometimes require money from the clients or their families for services though the stay and care in the institution are fully covered. 

The poll shows that some elderly people do not realise at all that they have become the victim of violence or they feel ashamed and do not want to reveal that their family members beat them or abuse them in another way. 

The maltreated old people often feel useless and they view themselves as "a burden" for their families. 

More Information on World Elder Rights Issues