Many were shocked to read that a nursing aide at St Vincent de Paul residence for the elderly had been accused of abuse after allegedly slapping a 92-year-old in the face.

He has been suspended and now faces charges in court. But abuse against elderly people is not that uncommon, and it s not something that is restricted to Malta. In fact, the incidences around Europe, in particular, are quite high.

Here in Malta, it transpires that between 2010 and 2014, more than 1,000 reports of abuse against the elderly were filed, some of which originated in homes for the elderly. While such cases of abuse are inexcusable, we must not tar everyone with the same brush, Many nurses and nursing aides go above and beyond the call of duty in caring for those who are advanced in age. We must also bear in mind that some resident patients, particularly those with dementia can be very challenging to deal with. Again, this does not excuse any form of abuse, but sometimes, especially when emotions are running high at seeing a loved one deteriorate, things are not seen clearly.

The government said that it is adopting a zero tolerance policy towards abuse of the elderly, and rightly so. But abuse can take many forms. It can come in the form of neglect, one of the more common forms. It can also come in the form of financial abuse in terms of people being cheated out of their money by acquaintances, friends or even loved ones. And lastly. It can come in the physical form.

The elderly in our society have contributed a lot to make Malta what it is today. These are the same people that grew up hungry as the bombs rained down in Valletta and the three cities. These are the same people who rebuilt Malta from the ashes of World War II. These are the same people who had to live through disease and hardship when Malta was nowhere near as advanced as it is today. The elderly should be respected and given the dignity they deserve in their final years. When they are too old to care for themselves, and they must be put into residences where they can be given their medication and be supervised and get the care that they need.

Things have improved dramatically in terms of quality of life in homes for the elderly over the past years. But there are always improvements to be made. Staff must be scrutinised and vetted to prevent any incidences of abuse. But there will always be the odd one that slips through the net. In such cases, the best thing that can be done is what took place on Sunday, in terms of swift prosecution and suspension from their role until the courts establish the truth.