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Summarised by Centrist
A recent study by Victoria University of Wellington and Massey University reveals a form of elder abuse known as “cold violence” prevalent in New Zealand’s Chinese community.
A form of emotional abuse, cold violence includes wilful neglect, refusal to engage and nonverbal disdain. While not physical in nature, it has devastating effects on the mental health and independence of older Chinese migrants.
Rooted in cultural expectations of filial piety, such treatment profoundly undermines older people, often leaving them unable to meet basic needs due to language and systemic barriers.
One participant described the experience: “It’s like they see you but act as if they don’t.” Older individuals viewed cold violence as the most damaging form of abuse, equating it to “mental torture.”
Dependency on family members for care exacerbates their vulnerability, as neglect leaves them isolated and unsupported.
Family carers and practitioners often attribute such behaviour to stress and resource limitations. However, older individuals perceive it as deliberate and harmful, exposing a gap in understanding.
“They have tried their best,” one carer rationalised, while practitioners pointed to the pressures of multigenerational caregiving.
