Elderly abuse and neglect cases rise 25% in Paraguay; most incidents occur at home

Paraguay's Ministry of Public Health has issued a stark warning regarding the escalating mistreatment of its elderly and disabled population. In the lead-up to Grandparents' Day, official data reveals a sustained 25% increase in denunciations for violations of the duty of care over the past three years, from 2023 to 2025.

The figures, processed by the Prosecutor's Office Planning Directorate, show a rise from 620 cases in 2023 to 775 in 2025. While authorities acknowledge that this increase may reflect greater public awareness and a willingness to report such issues, the statistics paint a grim picture of ongoing abandonment and neglect within families.

The analysis for 2025 indicates that 82% of victims are adults over 80, with a slight majority being male (55%). Notably, cases involving individuals aged 80 to 89 have surged dramatically, representing 33% of all affected individuals in 2025, up from just 9% in 2023. This sharp rise underscores the heightened risk of neglect and abandonment as individuals experience a greater loss of physical or mental autonomy.

This "silent crime" predominantly occurs within the home, with 96% of incidents reported within the victim's residence. The perpetrators are most often the victims' own children, accounting for 83% of alleged offenders. The psychological and social factors contributing to this situation include the elderly's dependence, physical, emotional, or economic, which often prevents them from seeking help or filing complaints themselves. In 94% of cases, direct abandonment was identified, involving the omission of basic needs such as food, hygiene, medical care, and shelter. The primary consequences observed include economic dispossession and physical deterioration.