Violência contra a pessoa idosa: desafios em tempos da pandemia da covid-19

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted various segments of society and has had significant repercussions on the quality of life for vulnerable groups, such as the elderly. This pandemic has contributed to situations of violence, as preventive measures can be determining factors with a high potential for exacerbating various human rights violations. Elder abuse, in all its complexity and multifactorial nature, constitutes a significant public health issue, posing a major challenge for various sectors of society. Despite being a common topic in society, the discussion around this phenomenon still lacks visibility in academic circles. However, it deserves special attention given the vulnerability and resulting harm to public health and the quality of life of the elderly population.This research aims to present the forms of violence against the elderly in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. It is a documentary, qualitative, and exploratory analysis (Carlos Gil; Soriano) of the available literature. The text includes 13 articles indexed in Scielo and Google Scholar, and data were also collected from DATASUS. The literature indicates a significant increase in cases of violence against the elderly during the COVID-19 pandemic. This increase is attributed to the stress experienced by family members or caregivers due to isolation, and even from the elderly themselves who did not follow the recommendations of their family members or caregivers. Findings pointed out that elder abuse is a public health problem, causing a burden on public finances. It presents itself in structural, institutional, and interpersonal forms, occurring in everyday relationships and manifesting in various types, including physical, sexual, psychological, economic, abandonment, neglect, or self-neglect. It is evident that, in addition to social distancing, social protection policies are essential during this crisis. However, this requires immediate public and private actions to mitigate the economic and social effects of the pandemic, prioritizing the right to life over economic interests.