A bruise on the Hand of the Elderly woman testifies to the Assault by her husband. Not for the first Time he has hurt you. But also the pensioner is the victim, as the family court of Baden AG. He felt helpless, he says at the hearing. And sad. His own wife recognize him after all the years of marriage.

debt is the dementia. The disease makes the partner often aggressive, for example, if you want to in the middle of the night out of the house. With words you can’t calm down. It comes to fisticuffs. He was overwhelmed with the care, says the husband.

as more and more Swiss take care of their families. The new representative of the “health survey in 2017” by the Federal government. In the case of this 35 percent reported having a person with a health Problem supports. By the Concerned used, drove the car they bought and cooked, or administrative tasks completed. Five years ago, it was only 23 percent.

Almost half happened in the home

Benefits of persons over 75. One in five said the environment had supported him. This corresponds to 123’000 people. “Due to the aging of the company could double in number by 2030, almost,” says Andreas Bircher from the community of interest (IG) family members, care. This was founded last September by well-known organizations such as the Red cross. “To give all carers a voice.”

The policy had taken in the past, although a lot of the work-life balance. “But not for people who take care of seniors,” says Bircher. “Although these, too, are in need of urgent relief.” Otherwise, serious consequences. In the case of the Independent appeal body for the age (UBA) of the last year, 426 cases from the German part of Switzerland, such as previously unpublished Figures show. That is There should be a clear record in over ten years.

family members, health professionals or concerned older people themselves can turn to when there is a conflict in the place. Mostly they did this in 2018 due to financial disputes. Behind mental stress, injuries followed the basic rights and physical Assault.

Almost half of all the conflicts took place at home. “Abuse is often a manifestation of excessive demands on the carers,” says UBA, Executive Director Ruth Mettler Seriously. “Not everyone is cut out to care for others, and must take on this role anyway. Often completely unprepared.” Work the time, just those that have children themselves lacking working. “A reaction may be, the neglect,” says Mettler Seriously. “But also insults and tangible violence, the elderly rebuke.”

support to get overwhelmed relatives. “Especially the seniors, not the care of the Partner.” Today, a Generation in the retirement age, which was promised at the time of marriage was to be to the death there for each other. “What, for many, means that you allow no help from the outside.”

Several deadly dramas of pensioners last year were couples in public. In Oftringen about a 82 shot-Year-old, his partner and himself. The investigations were set according to Fiona Strebel of the Aargau Prosecutor’s office in the meantime. “In the apartment of the married couple, a suicide note was found, stating that they had decided, because of the incurable disease of the wife and its foreseeable imminent death, to take life.”

family loyalty, shame and fear in front of the home

Also, the victims remain silent in conflict often. Mirjam von Felten, Director of the Aargauer specialist Agency against domestic violence: “you have to rely on the care of the Relatives and do not dare to say something against this.” The family loyalty plays a large role, but also shame and fear. To lose “before that, if you report members. And to land in front of it, then in the home.”

Now, the Spitex. Often their employees are the Only ones who have insight into the lives of seniors living at home. “We have to be trained as a pilot project, all employees in the district of Brugg,” says Felten. “You have been taught how to recognize violence, even in subtle forms. And how you can respond to that.”

in the Future, their carers should be relieved. The Federal government presented in the summer of a bill. This allows employees up to three days of paid vacation, to be able to in the event of accident or illness, “relatives and persons close to” take care of you. The consultation process is completed, in the first half of 2019, the Federal government wants to submit to the Parliament a message.

Andreas Bircher from the IG members care criticized: “often it comes to chronic diseases, the family must be over months or years. Since it is sufficient if you only get three days free.” In addition, the measure is limited to workers. “But also pensioners, who take care of their Partner, are in need of support,” says Bircher.

UBA: phone 0848 00 13 13; info@uba.ch

(Sunday newspaper)

Created: 03.03.2019, 07:14 PM