Older people in Europe are vulnerable to poor treatment, neglect and abuse, reveals a survey presented by the European Commission on Monday.
Almost half of people across the European Union (EU) consider the phenomenon to be widespread in their country, according to the survey.
The results of the survey were released to coincide a high-level EU conference in Brussels on this issue.
"Each of us faces the possibility of becoming dependent on the help of others when we get older, and currently we cannot be sure that we will be treated with dignity," said EU Social Affairs Commissioner Vladimir Spidla.
"Member states are starting to support the carers and relatives
better through training and guidance. They have started to protect
the elderly by creating support groups and telephone hotlines and are creating transparent and patient-oriented monitoring systems for the quality of long-term care. I welcome this and at the same time much more needs to be done all across Europe."
As Europeans live longer, the share of the EU population aged over 80 is due to increase three- or four-fold to 12 percent by 2050. More and more people will depend on the care of relatives or
professional carers and be vulnerable to neglect or even abuse, said the European Commission.
Source: Xinhua
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