Brazilian municipal health secretariats hold forum on elder abuse

On Friday, 12 May, the Secretaria Municipal de Saúde and the Policlínica Municipal da Pessoa Idosa organised the 4th Municipal Forum on Violence Against the Elderly at the Usina Cultural da Energisa. Around 300 participants aged 60 and over – including seniors, families, social‑assistance centres, and nursing, psychology and physiotherapy students – discussed physical, financial, moral, emotional, medication‑related, patrimonial, psychological and verbal abuse.

Director Maria José de Andrade highlighted the focus on “invisible violence”, such as psychological abuse and family neglect, urging seniors to recognise and report these forms. Priest‑psychologist Paulo Cordeiro presented a lecture on psychological violence and self‑protection. The Policlínica, a specialised health unit for people over 60, offers a range of medical specialties and multiprofessional services, operating weekdays from 7 to 11 a.m. and 1 to 5 p.m. at Praça Caldas Brandão, Tambiá, João Pessoa.