Money eases tensions between the elderly and the young

Pader | The tension between senior citizens and their children, and possibly grandchildren, can only be resolved if the former are given the opportunity to engage in their own income-generating activities. 

Senior citizens worldwide are vulnerable to abuse. According to a report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the rate of nonfatal attacks against men: 60 and older increased by 75.4 per cent between 2002 and 2016.

According to the same report, violence against women of that age increased by 35.4 percent between 2007 and 2016. Indeed, elder abuse is a worldwide phenomenon.

In Uganda, the 1995 Constitution recognizes elders as “vulnerable” and requires special interventions to address their vulnerability. There were 1,433,305 Older Persons (Ops) in Uganda as of the 2014 National Population and Housing Census.

The story of a boy who recently beat up his grandmother in Omoro district during the turbulent Coronavirus outbreak is heartbreaking. On the one hand, a pandemic and its consequences endanger lives, while “future leaders” clear out whatever the virus left behind.

I think the violence we are seeing on our senior citizens is not the problem but rather symptom of the problems. It is a breakdown in the functioning of non-formal and cultural institutions, particularly family structures.

Why do the young and ageing clash?

In the case of this boy beating his grandmother, key issues of belonging, identity, parentage, and discipline emerge. Family stakeholders must return to cultural basics. We who are here must stop watching our children scatter all over and gather them in one place to receive appropriate instruction.

In Uganda, and perhaps most African societies just as Nankwanga and Neema (Nankwanga & Neema, 2019) put it, grandparents, who are in need of help are givers of help. But how do these grandchildren get the right teachings from already burdened, tired, old, and poor grannies?

Let’s get our children together for better teachings. If we must rely on our grandparents to care for some of our children, we should do so through household-based approaches.

The government is doing something

In my opinion, the government of Uganda is doing a wonderful job of helping senior citizens enjoy their old age. The Expanding Social Protection Program (ESP) that delivers unconditional monthly cash to the old (over the age of 80), though still largely externally funded has, as of 2019 supported 80 districts, with plans of covering all the 135 districts by 2021.

The ESP is one government program you can visibly witness the success stories of. Go speak with the program’s beneficiaries, and you will be amazed at what that small sum of money has accomplished thus far!

What do we make of the ESP?

As a result, I can confidently state that cash is the best gift for anyone because the recipient uses it in the way that best suits them. When financially guided, money does wonders irrespective of amounts.

If you have been keen, all the marriage fundraising I’ve had the opportunity to make decisions on, I have always pushed for cash gifts and I’ll continue to do so.

How can we get away with elder abuse?

It’s simple. Do not beat them; instead, assign them a simple and enjoyable income-generating activity. No matter how much they have, they always make the most of it as they attract the grandchildren around them.

I am reminded of an occasion when I ran into my father in the midst of a large group of young people who were all gathered around him. Some were eating, while others were drinking, following some household chores. Asked, “Why the entire party?” He says, “It is possible when you give somebody something,” which is an Acholi proverb that goes, “Nginingini kibito ki dwol.”

Let’s check our readiness

The question now is: Are our elderly citizens receiving the “Dwol” from others in their community or from the government? There is no doubt that our economy is monetized, and young people are more likely to act less violently toward elders who also ‘support’ them financially or impose fewer burdens on them.

The writer, Odong Wycliff is a Disability Inclusion & Child Protection Practitioner.

Email: wycliff09@gmail.com.