sick old people, isolated, settled in reception establishments or staying at home are easy victims for sects. They represent “defenseless prey”, easy to recruit but also “potential sources of income and capital”, says Miviludes in its report. Among the elderly, the fraction of the elderly population from 80-85 years old appears to be “much more at risk than the others”.
How do sectarian associations manage to have a grip on the elderly? The report cites the example of door-to-door canvassing, discussions to break loneliness, proselytism in establishments for the elderly or even the distribution or sale of pseudo-religious documents. Elders can also be seduced by the promises of pseudo-healers.
In addition to these attempts at manipulation, Miviludes also speaks of cases of abuse inflicted on elderly people living in a sectarian environment. For the body, these risks should increase with the aging of the population.
More control and awareness of the elderly
“The Miviludes recorded, during the year 2011 nearly 2,300 referrals, an increase of 25% compared to 2010”, reports a press release from the Prime Minister. The trend is upward in 2012 with, over the first eight months of the year, an increase of +22% in reports compared to 2011.
Miviludes makes a number of proposals aimed at protecting this more vulnerable population, such as raising awareness among the staff of medico-social establishments of sectarian risk as well as the elderly themselves and their families. Miviludes also calls for a strengthening of the control of volunteers and associations working in the homes of the elderly.
>> To read also: Medicine: the Senate is concerned about sectarian aberrations
