There were around 270 reports of mistreatment or abuse surrounding the elderly in care homes in 2024

The fact that there were no reports of elderly people tied up in care homes last year is seen as a sign of progress, according to Demos Antoniou, who heads the Third Age Observatory, the group that safeguards the rights of the elderly.

Instead, there was psychological abuse, yelling, swearing and drugging of elderly people to let them sleep longer so staff have less work to do.

“There have been one or two reports of physical violence too this year,” but they could not be substantiated, he added.

Hideous conditions of personal hygiene, feeding people leftovers in an attempt to save money, and avoiding the use of air condition units in 42C heat, are all part of the reports that surround the care – or lack of – for the elderly.

As the World Health Organisation has put it previously, “a society is measured by how it cares for its elderly citizens.”

With that in mind, the fact that Antoniou is relieved that there have been no reports of people tied up in care homes this year is quite telling, although he highlights this is not the same as ‘it hasn’t happened’ – just that there have been no reports of it.

Because underreporting is as rife as the concerns over abuse, he points out.

The Third Age Observatory which Antoniou heads is an NGO which tries as much as possible to document issues surrounding the elderly, and advocate for better lives and conditions.

Last year, there were around 270 reports of mistreatment or abuse surrounding the elderly. Some 15 of them concerned care homes, up from around 11 last year.

“Particularly with people that have dementia, and when there are no eyewitnesses, or evidence, it’s very difficult to prove abuse has taken place,” he explained.

Bruises can be put down to injury or an accidental fall. Individuals with dementia will struggle more than average to speak out and pinpoint who mistreated them, or even remember what happened. When the abuse is psychological, the evidence is harder to gather.

“We’ve received a lot of reports from visitors who said they went in and heard carers yelling, swearing.”

Over the years there have been reports of hair pulling, slaps and elderly people not having their diapers changed causing serious infections.

“Many times people are too afraid to name which care home the abuse is being carried out in. This reveals a climate of terror, and this is what concerns us,” he added.

Much of the fear stems from real concerns of revenge mistreatment. If carers hear complaints have been filed about them, many fear this may prompt a lashing out against the elderly person.

The fears are not there without reason.  

Yet Antoniou also has a sense of relief because he does remember a time when physical abuse in care homes was far more normalised. In the past few years, a number of care homes have shut down, which he credits the government with.

Though he recognises “we have a long way to go”, one source expressed fear of a ‘system’ that ensures silence.

A silence of people seeing and knowing what happens – but little to nothing coming out of it. Official complaints are rare to come by, the source said.

Antoniou is aware of the climate of fear and urges people to speak out. “Today it’s not your loved one but tomorrow it might be.”

But what of inspections? Though both experts agree there has been an increase, one source close to the matter expressed concern that the inspections may be prearranged, and therefore a ‘pretty picture’ is painted with everyone on their best behaviour.

The deputy welfare ministry did not respond to requests for comment to outline the frequency of inspections or whether they are random. There was also no comment offered on the deputy ministry’s assessment of the current situation.

Loukia Gregoriou, the deputy chairwoman of the care homes association, told the Cyprus Mail “it’s been a long time since we had any reports of violence or verbal abuse.”   

She concedes in the past it was far more prevalent, even as recently as six to seven years ago. But a concerted effort to try and bring more sensitivity into the culture surrounding treatment of the elderly has reaped results, she said.

While things aren’t perfect, there has been improvement, even in how entertainment facilities are offered to the elderly, Greogriou said.

“It’s not just about providing food. They need activities to keep them preoccupied and happy,”

Out of the around 60 facilities in the country, 22 of them are members of the association, she said – which could raise issues about whether she’s just speaking for a small group of care homes.

But Gregoriou stressed that Cyprus is a small country and if there were serious issues surrounding other facilities they would come to know of it.

All the experts underlined the importance of better training though. As things stand, those who work as carers in homes for the elderly do not need any specific training – which Antoniou thinks needs to change urgently.

“There’s a certain way to look after an older person. From the way you bathe them, move them, transport them. It’s not just anything goes.”