Number of notifications of elderly protection cases in my country
The number of elder protection cases continues to rise, among which the number of "economic violence (including financial deprivation)" notifications has increased significantly. The Ministry of Health and Welfare analyzes that most of this type of economic violence is accompanied by mental or physical violence and other complex forms. The elderly are often afraid to refuse their children's request for money due to factors such as guilt. Social workers need to negotiate and provide psychological support to guide the elderly to use legal resources such as property protection, guardianship (auxiliary) declaration or application for protection orders to break the violent connection between generations.
According to statistics from the Department of Protection, among the cases reported in the protection of the elderly from 2022 to 2025, the number of cases where the type of violence was "economic violence (including financial deprivation)" increased from 161 to 362, and the proportion of the overall reported cases increased from 0.80% to 1.36%. In the first half of this year, 188 cases were reported, accounting for 1.32%.
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Guo Cairong, director of the Protection Department of the Ministry of Health and Welfare, pointed out that economic violence rarely occurs alone. In cases of violence in which adult children habitually ask for money from their elders, it is often found that the adult children have a low sense of self-worth due to employment setbacks, their own physical and mental functions, etc., and turn to oppress the elders through emotional, verbal and physical violence. The elders are easily afraid to reject their children due to factors such as guilt. If family relationships and interactions are not adjusted in time, more serious violence may result.
Guidance in applying for a protection order through social worker consultation
For this type of economic violence cases, Guo Cairong said that many will provide psychological support through social workers' talks, help the elderly establish financial and psychological boundaries, and guide them to use methods such as property protection, guardianship (auxiliary) declaration or application for protection orders to break the violent connection between generations.
Mental violence is the most common, and family neglect is also common.
As for mental violence, which accounts for the most proportion of domestic violence among the elderly, common forms include verbal, psychological and sexual abuse. The perpetrator may use words and tone to coerce or intimidate the victim in an attempt to control the victim, or may use indifference, contempt, humiliation, false accusations, inappropriate behavior that causes the victim mental pain. Some perpetrators also force the victim to engage in sexual fantasies or special sexual activities, or force the victim to watch sexual activities, pornographic videos or pictures.
Negligence by family members is also very common. Shi Yuzhen, deputy CEO of the Xiaoming Foundation, once served a case where ants crawled on an elder. The family thought that there were sweets in the room that attracted the ants and sprayed them with anticide. In fact, the elder had diabetes, but the family members neglected the case.
The Ministry of Health and Welfare actively promotes 113 consultation and strengthens notifications
Regarding the increase in the number of elder protection notifications year by year, Guo Cairong said that one of the reasons is that the Ministry of Health and Welfare and local governments have actively promoted and promoted 113 consultation services and strengthened the responsibility reporting mechanism in recent years, which has increased the public's sensitivity to elder protection cases.
Taichung City Social Affairs Director Liao Jingzhi also said that once she sent her father who was injured in an accident to the hospital for emergency treatment. The medical staff asked in detail that they were worried about elder abuse. This shows that the concept of elder protection has been established, and a support network has been established through intensive community care centers and long-term care services to prevent elder abuse.
In recent years, the number of elderly protection notification cases has increased year by year, but compared with the potential proportion of victims of violence, a large number of victims are still hidden. The social safety net needs to be strengthened, including communities, hospitals, etc. to assist in notification. Schematic diagram. (File photo, taken by reporter Zheng Shuting)
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