Safe later lives: older people and domestic abuse

Author:
SAFELIVES
Publisher:
SafeLives
Publication year:
2016
Pagination:
31
Place of publication:
London

This report focuses on older victims of domestic abuse, a group often overlooked in the literature that tends to focus on younger victims and perpetrators. It estimates that in the last year approximately 120,000 individuals aged 65+ have experienced at least one form of abuse (psychological, physical, sexual or financial). The report outlines the following six key findings: systematic invisibility of older people who are not represented in domestic abuse services and lack of recognition amongst some professionals of the phenomenon; long term abuse and dependency issues, which may add additional pressures to stay with an abusive partner; generational attitudes about abuse may make it hard to identify; increased risk of adult family abuse; services are not effectively targeted at older victims, and do not always meet their needs; and need for more coordination between services. The report argues that social care services need training to understand the dynamics of abuse in a caring relationship; they should target older people with messages that empower them to recognise their situation as abuse, and raise awareness of support available; and that services working with adults and their older parents must be trained to recognise abuse, and have clear referral pathways. (Edited publisher abstract)

Subject terms:
domestic violence, older people, access to services, age discrimination;
Content type:
research
Location(s):
United Kingdom
Link:
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