You’ve probably read about it by now.  The 87 year old woman who was shoved to the ground by a twenty something.  Before she lost consciousness and died, she said she had never been hit so hard in her life.  If you’re over eighty, you know that younger people sometimes get frustrated when you move too slow.  But, like it or not, they try to show some patience.  Especially if they’re your kids or someone who knows you well. But in a big city like New York, strangers aren’t as tolerant.  The cruelty shown to Barbara Maier Gustern which resulted in her death  was a blatant case of elder abuse.

As we age, we aren’t as agile as we once were.  Arthritis may slow us down, and require the use of a cane or walker.  Hearing is often impaired, so we may not be aware of someone standing close by—especially if our eyesight is dimming. I’m trying to imagine what happened in this bizarre episode.  Marie was apparently waiting for a cab when she was attacked by 27 year old Lauren Pazienza.  Perhaps Lauren stood behind Marie, and– determined to catch the next cab– simply wanted her out of the way. Or, Marie, not seeing too well, might have gotten confused and  stepped in front of her. It could have aroused the same emotions as road rage.  Let’s call it street rage.

Would the perpetrator have shoved a tall young man who stood in her way?  Of course not.  But the aged are fragile, vulnerable, and therefore often treated rudely.  In our small town, I’m often touched by the kindness of strangers who stop to open doors or help if they see me struggling with a package.  But in a big city, it’s a different story.  People shove each other when getting on buses and subways.  They fight over clothes on a bargain counter. It’s no wonder the elderly are sometimes despised and disdained. Or killed..

The shoving death of Marie Gustern was a blatant case of elder abuse.