Elder abuse and Islamic Guidance

 America’s growing elderly population
 What is elder abuse
 Size of the problem
 Those who abuse
 Abuse in nursing homes
 Impact of elder abuse
 Guidance from Quran
 Guidance from Hadith
 Rights of elders in Islam
 What can we do to stop elder abuse

 In the United States, the 2010 Census recorded the greatest
number and proportion of people age 65 and older in all of
decennial census history
 Last count is 40.3 million, or 13% of the total population.
 This “Boomer Generation” effect will continue for decades.1
 By 2050, people age 65 and older are expected to comprise
20% of the total U.S. population.
 The fastest growing segment of American’s population
consists of those 85 and up.
 In 2010, there were 5.8 million people aged 85 or older.
 By 2050, it is projected that there will be 19 million people
aged 85 or older.

 Elder mistreatment (i.e. abuse and neglect) is defined
 Intentional actions
 That cause harm or
 Create a serious risk of harm (whether or not harm is
intended)
 To a vulnerable elder
 By a caregiver or other person who stands in a trust
relationship to the elder.
 This includes failure by a caregiver to satisfy the elder’s basic
needs or to protect the elder from harm.

 It is not known for certain how many people are suffering
from elder abuse and neglect
 Female elders are abused at a higher rate than males and that
the older one is, the more likely one is to be abused.
 •The most recent major studies on incidence reported that
7.6%–10% of study participants experienced abuse in the
prior year.
 The study that found an incidence of 1 in 10 adults
experiencing abuse did not include financial abuse.
 •Available data from state Adult Protective Services (APS)
agencies show an increasing trend in the reporting of elder
abuse.

 •Despite the accessibility of APS in all 50 states as well as
mandatory reporting laws for elder abuse in most states, an
overwhelming number of cases of abuse, neglect, and
exploitation go undetected and untreated each year.
 •One study estimated that only 1 in 14 cases of elder abuse
ever comes to the attention of authorities.
 The New York State Elder Abuse Prevalence Study found that
for every case known to programs and agencies, 24 were
unknown.
 •Major financial exploitation was self-reported at a rate of 41
per 1,000 surveyed, which was higher than self-reported rates
of emotional, physical, and sexual abuse or neglect.

 In the only national study that attempted to define the scope
of elder abuse, the vast majority of abusers were family
members (approximately 90%)
 Most often they are adult children, spouses, partners,
and others.
 Family members who abuse drugs or alcohol,
 Family members with mental/emotional illness
 Those who feel burdened by their caregiving
responsibilities abuse at higher rates than those who do not

 Approximately 14 million U.S. adults aged 65 and over and 19
million U.S adults aged 18 to 64 have a disability
 •Institutionalized adult women with disabilities reported a
33% prevalence of having ever experienced interpersonal
violence (IPV) versus 21% for institutionalized adult women
without disabilities.14
 •When considering lifetime abuse by any perpetrator, a
sample of 200 adult women with disabilities indicated that
67% had experienced physical abuse and 53% had
experienced sexual abuse.15

 •In a study of 342 adult men, 55% of men experienced
physical abuse by any person after becoming disabled.
 Nearly 12% of these men stated they experienced physical
abuse by a personal assistance service provider over their
lifetime.16
 •In a comprehensive review of literature published from
2000–2010, lifetime prevalence of any type of IPV against
adult women with disabilities was found to be 26–90%.
 Lifetime prevalence of IPV against adult men with disabilities
was found to be 28.7–86.7%.
 It was concluded that, over the course of their lives, IPV
occurs at disproportionate and elevated rates among men
and women with disabilities

 Research indicates that people with dementia are at greater
risk of elder abuse than those without.
 Approximately 5.1 million American elders over 65 have some
kind of dementia.
 Close to half of all people over 85, the fastest growing
segment of our population, have Alzheimer’s disease or
another kind of dementia.
 By 2025, most states are expected to see an increase in
Alzheimer prevalence.
 One 2009 study revealed that close to 50% of people with
dementia experience some kind of abuse.
 A 2010 study found that 47% of participants with dementia
had been mistreated by their caregivers

 3.2 million Americans resided in nursing homes during
2008
 In 2000, one study interviewing 2,000 nursing home
residents reported that 44% said they had been abused
and 95% said they had been neglected or seen another
resident neglected.
 A May, 2008 study conducted by the U.S. General
Accountability Office revealed that state surveys understate
problems in licensed facilities
 70% of state surveys miss at least one deficiency and 15% of
surveys miss actual harm and immediate jeopardy of a
nursing home resident.

 Abused elders had a 300% higher risk of death when
compared to those who had not been abused.
 Victims of elder abuse have had significantly higher levels of
psychological distress and lower perceived self-efficacy
than older adults who have not been victimized.
 Abused elders have additional health care problems than
other older adults, including increased bone or joint
problems, digestive problems, depression or anxiety, chronic
pain, high blood pressure, and heart problems

 In 1982, the first initiative to care for the elderly was declared
as the United Nations declared the ninth decade of the 20th
century "the decade of the elderly."
 In 1983, the World Health Organization adopted the slogan
"Add Life to Years."
 In addition, the UN conference held in Madrid in 2002
adopted a plan of action to solve the problems of the elderly
in various countries around the world.
 The outcome of these conferences, however, was just sweet
promises and plans without any actual application.

 Your Lord has commanded that you worship none but Him,
and that you be kind to your parents. If one or both of them
reach old age with you, do not say to them a word of
disrespect, or scold them, but say a generous word to them.
And act humbly to them in mercy, and say, ‘My Lord, have
mercy on them, since they cared for me when I was small.”
(17: 23-24)

 “And we enjoined upon mankind concerning parents: his
mother carried him in weakness upon weakness, and his
weaning is two years. Therefore show gratitude to Allah and
to your parents” (Qur'an 31:14).

Prophet Yahiya(John the Baptist) was
dutiful towards his parents
“
“O Yahya! Hold fast the Scripture. And We gave him wisdom
while yet a child. And (made him) sympathetic to men as a
mercy (or a grant) from Us, and pure from sins and he was
righteous. And dutiful towards his parents, and he was neither
an arrogant nor disobedient (to God or to his parents).”
(Maryam, 19:12-14)

Words of Prophet Isa (Jesus)
 “Verily! I am a slave of God. He has given me the Scripture
and made me a Prophet; and He has made me blessed
wherever I be, and has enjoined on me prayer, and alms, as
long as I live, and dutiful to my mother, and made me not
arrogant, miserable.” (Maryam, 19:30-32)

 The Prophet (SAW) said, "He is not of us who does not have
mercy on young children, nor honor the elderly“ (Tirmidhi)
 Narrated Abu Musa al-Ashari: The Prophet said: Glorifying
Allah involves showing honor to a grey-haired Muslim and to
one who can expound the Quran, but not to one who acts
extravagantly regarding it, or turns away from it, and
showing honor to a just ruler (Sunan Abu Dawud).

 Narrated Abu Huraira: Prophet (SAW) said: Let him be
humbled into dust; let him be humbled into dust. It was said:
Allah's Messenger, who is he? He said: He who sees either of
his parents during their old age or he sees both of them, but
he does not enter Paradise. (Sahih Muslim)
 Anas ibn Malik (RA) narrated that the Prophet (SAW)) said,
"If a young man honors an elderly on account of his age,
Allah appoints someone to honor him in his old age."
(Tirmidhi)

 Abu Musa Al-Ashari (RA) narrated that the Prophet (peace
and blessings be upon him) said, "It is out of reverence to
Allah to respect the white-headed (aged) Muslim."
(Abu Dawud)
 Abu Huraira (RA) narrated that the Prophet (SAW) said,
"The young should (initiate) salutation to the old, the
passerby should (initiate) salutation to the sitting one, and
the small group of persons should (initiate) salutation to the
large group of persons." (Al-Bukhari)

 It was narrated that the Prophet (peace and blessings be
upon him) said, "Jibreel ordered me to give priority to the
elderly." (Al-Fawa'id, Abu Bakr Ash-Shafi’i; authenticated by
Al-Albani)
 The Prophet also ordered Muslims to "start with the elderly"
when serving a drink or the like (Abu Ya`la; authenticated by
Al-Albani).
 Malik ibn Al-Huwayrith (RA) narrated that the Prophet said,
"When the time for prayer is due, one of you should
announce Adhan and the oldest among you should lead the
prayer." (Al-Bukhari)

 According to Prophetic guidance, the elder are worthier to
start conversation. Once, Huwayyisah and Muhayyisah, the
sons of Masud Ibn Kab, and `Abdur-Rahman ibn Sahl came
to the Prophet to discuss a certain matter with him. `Abdur-
Rahman, who was the youngest of them all, started talking.
Thus, the Prophet said, "Let the eldest (among you) speak
first" (Al-Bukhari).

 In a hadith of Prophet Muhammad, a man came to the
Prophet asking, ‘Who among the people is the most worthy
of my good companionship?
 The Prophet said, your mother. The man said, ‘Then who?’
The Prophet said, then your mother. The man further asked,
‘Then who?’ The Prophet said, then your mother.
 The man asked again, ‘Then who?’ The Prophet replied, then
your father. (Saheeh Al-Bukhari, Saheeh Muslim

 Islam exempts the elderly who cannot bear fasting the month
of Ramadan from observing this obligation, but requires
them to feed a poor person for each day that they miss.
 Elderly who cannot pray standing up are allowed to pray
sitting down; if they cannot pray sitting down, they are
allowed to pray lying on a side
 A woman from the tribe of Khath`am came to the Prophet
(SAW) and said, "O Allah's Prophet! The obligation of Hajj
has become due on my father while he is old and weak, and
he cannot sit firm on the mount; may I perform Hajj on his
behalf?" The Prophet (SAW) replied, "Yes, (you may)"
(Muslim).

 Abu Bakr brought his father, Abu Quhafah, to the
Prophet to embrace Islam.
 When the Prophet saw him, he said to Abu Bakr, "Why
didn't you leave the old man at his house and I would've
gone to him there?"
 Abu Bakr said, "You are more deserving of him coming
to you than he is of you going to him."
 The Prophet seated Abu Quhafah in front of him and
honored him.
 Then he passed his hand on Abu Quhafah's chest and
asked him to embrace Islam and Abu Quhafah did.
 The Prophet, noticing that Abu Quhafah's hair was
white, directed that his hair be dyed.(Ibn Kathir)

 Abdullah Ibn Omar, a leading scholar from among Prophet
Muhammad’s companions once saw a man carrying his
mother on his back and going around the Holy House in
Mecca.
 He did not complain or show any signs of annoyance; rather
he kept repeating a line of poetry comparing himself to a
camel.
 He looked at Abdullah Ibn Omar and asked him whether by
so doing he discharged his debt to his mother.
 Ibn Omar said, “No. You have not even paid back one twinge
of the pain she felt when giving birth to you”.

 May take different forms, like:
1. Helping them in their day-to-day chores
2. Speaking to them with a greater degree of politeness
3. Ignoring their harshness
4. Following their advice
5. Looking after their socio-economic needs
6. Saving them from physical hardship

 Traditionally, the Muslim family structure is extended rather
than nuclear.
 Extended family members may or may not occupy and
inhabit a common residential unit.
 In all circumstances, however, family ties remain intact and
family duties must be followed by all.
 A Muslim family primarily includes the self, the spouse and
the immediate ascendants and descendants—the position of
none of these constituents being inferior to any other

 Within the intergenerational roles prescribed by Islam, the
elderly hold a place of honor.
 The “security, protection, and comfort” of the elderly are
“guaranteed by the behavioral norms and obligations” placed
on younger members of the family.

 1: Honoring them- Prophet (SAW) said, “…he is not from us
he who does not honor our elders”. This right is achieved by
having esteem and respect for elderly in our heart and
understanding their rank in the society.
 2-Giving them the greetings of peace first: Prophet said
“The young should greet the old”. Also pay attention to his
condition. Whereas if his hearing is still intact then greet
him as you would normally, but if his hearing has weakened
due to his old-age then greet him appropriately

 Gratitude towards Allah and towards parents has been urged in the Holy
Qur’an side by side. It says:
And We have enjoined on man (to be good) to his parents: in travail upon
travail did his mother bear him and in years twain was his weaning: (hear
the command) "Show gratitude to Me and to thy parents: to Me is (thy
final) Goal. (31:14)
 Maltreatment of parents has on the other hand been deplored severely.
(Al-Ahqaf, Verses 17-18)
 The Holy Prophet (SAW) cautions: “The Almighty Allah may pardon all
sins He pleases except disobedience to parents; and He hastens
(punishment) in this life before death for one who commits it.”

 When speaking with an elder be sure to call him by
courteous names like “Oh Uncle” for instance out of respect
for his age.
 Abu Umamah ibn Sahl (RA) said,”We left and came upon
Anas ibn Maalik (RA) and found him praying the forenoon
prayer. I asked him: “Oh dear Uncle! Which prayer have you
offered?” He said: “The forenoon prayer and this is the time
of the prayer of Allah's Messenger (SAW), which we used to
pray with him.

 The elder is to be given precedence in
 Speech,
 Gatherings,
 Eating,
 Admittance, etc.
These are all from their rights.

 Divine command to take good care of parents comes in the
form of a ruling from God, following
immediately after the command to worship God alone
 Children has duty towards elder parents in need of tender
care, after having spent most of its vitality in bringing up
their young

 Once a man of the tribe Banu Salemah came to the Holy
Prophet (SAW) and asked him if there were any rights of
parents after their demise.
 “Yes,” the Prophet replied and advised him to
1. Pray for them seeking forgiveness for them,
2. To fulfill their instructions after their death,
3. To keep affinity with those who aren’t connected except
through parents
4. To respect their friends.

 It is narrated by Ibn Majah on the attribution of Jaber Ibn
‘Abdullah that: A man came to the Messenger of Allah and
said: “My father is taking all my wealth.”
 He said: “You and your wealth belong to your father. Your
children are among the best of your earnings, so eat from
your wealth.”

 The Prophet (SAW) equated one’s parents with his
grandparents, aunts, and elder brothers, thereby giving
them the benefit of those Quranic verses relating to the well-
being of parents.
 The provision of financial and emotional support for the
elderly is one reason why Islam extends close familial
relationships beyond the nuclear family.
 In this context, maintenance includes day-to-day needs, such
as the provision of food, clothing, residence, and personal
assistance, as well as

 Prophet Muhammad (SAW) said,” No one amongst you
believes (truly) until he likes for his brother or for his
neighbor that which he loves for himself.”
 The Prophet Muhammad (SAW) taught that the best of
neighbors is the one who is best to his neighbor
 Neighbors are of three categories:
(1) A relative Muslim neighbor, which category of neighbor
has three rights over you: the right of kin, the right of
neighbors, and the right of Islam;
(2) A Muslim neighbor, who holds the right of neighbors and
the right of Islam; and
(3) A non-Muslim neighbor, who holds the right of
neighbors

 All the family obligations towards the elderly, such as
maintenance and succession are enforceable by the state
where Islamic law is operative
 Where an aged person has no relative—near or distant—to
take care of him or her, the machinery of the community or
the state must move to help
 Zakāh refers to “obligatory charity,” that is calculated “based
upon a percentage of annual surplus wealth.
 Waqf is the permanent dedication of property for
religious, pious, or charitable purposes. The concept of Waqf
encourages private contributions to the public good

 A Muslim must respect and give all other rights and duties to
non-Muslim parents, regardless of their faith
 Treat them with kindness and mercy out of respect for their
sacrifices and unconditional love.
 However, just as with Muslim parents, if a non-Muslim
parent orders something that goes against the faith, the
Muslim is not to obey.
 “But if they strive to make you join other gods in worship
with Me, of which you have no knowledge, obey them not.
Yet accompany them in this life with gentleness” (31:15)

 Learn the various forms and signs of elder abuse and
neglect
 Learn how to stay safe from abuse and provide this info to
others.
 Contact your elected officials about elder abuse related
bills
 Visit an older adult and ask how he or she is doing.
 Tell an elder or another person about the fight against
abuse. Encourage them to stand up to elder abuse!

 Educate your community about elder abuse and about
the value and dignity of older adults.
 Visit a senior center or community event and hand out
information
 Provide a break for a caregiver.
 Join an elder abuse prevention coalition.
 Ask your imam to give a talk about elder abuse at a
service or to put a message about elder abuse in the weekly
bulletin.
 Sign or create a petition on the internet (e.g.
www.change.org) to elected officials to apply more resources
and funding to end elder abuse

 Volunteer to be a friendly visitor for a nursing home resident or
for a homebound senior in your neighborhood.
 Send a letter to your local paper, radio or TV station
suggesting that they cover issues and events honoring elders and
people with disabilities and promoting their value and dignity.
 Post a Facebook status or Tweet about the need to end elder
abuse
 Dedicate your bike-a-thon/marathon/other event to elder
mistreatment awareness and prevention.
 Talk about the need to end elder mistreatment on your personal
website or blog and link to Ageless Alliance.
 Include "I stand for dignity, I will not stand for elder abuse!"
and/or the Ageless Alliance logo on your email signature

 Include a message about elder dignity and the need for abuse
prevention on your organization website.
 Train staff about signs of elder abuse and neglect, and how to
report suspected mistreatment to the local APS agency,
Long-Term Care Ombudsman or law enforcement.
 Also visit www.centeronelderabuse.org and
www.ncea.aoa.gov for more professional resources.
 Healthcare clinicians can pledge to ask all patients about
possible family violence in their lives.

 Homecare agencies and residential care facilities can create
strategies to support staff members, consumers and family
members in abuse recognition, response and prevention.
 Financial institutions can train banking/credit union
professionals on how to detect elder financial abuse.
 Print handouts, placemats or reusable grocery bags with
information about elder abuse prevention, and
distribute them throughout the community.

Elder abuse and Islamic Guidance

Elder abuse and Islamic Guidance

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Elder abuse and Islamic Guidance