The sick elderly, isolated, installed in reception establishments or remaining 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 population aged from 80-85 years appears to be “much more at risk than the others”.
How do sectarian associations go about gaining control over the elderly? The report cites the example of door-to-door sales, discussions to end loneliness, proselytizing in nursing homes for the elderly or the distribution or sale of pseudo-religious documents. Elders can also be seduced by the promises of pseudo-healers.
In addition to these manipulation attempts, Miviludes also speaks of cases of mistreatment inflicted on elderly people living in a sectarian environment. For the organization, 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, a + 22% increase in reports compared to 2011.
Miviludes brings a number of proposals aimed at protecting this more vulnerable population, such as sensitizing the staff of medico-social establishments to the sectarian risk as well as the elderly themselves and their families. La Miviludes also asks for a strengthening of the control of volunteers and associations working in the homes of the elderly.
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