NCJ Number
137027
Journal
Journal of Family Violence Volume: 7 Issue: 1 Dated: (March 1992) Pages: 63-72
Date Published
1992
Length
19 pages
Annotation
This study of 25 battered women's shelters located throughout Florida examines whether older abused women were being served by the State's domestic violence shelters.
Abstract
The researcher sent questionnaires to all members of the Florida Coalition Against Domestic Violence, which is composed of 27 organizations that provide shelter and a range of other services to abused women and their children throughout the State. Twenty-five questionnaires were returned. The questionnaire consisted of 28 close-ended questions that inquired about the county in which the agency was located, the auspice of the organization, and funding sources. Respondents were also asked to indicate the types of services offered and how many persons were served by agency programs in the year prior to the survey, with attention to women aged 60 and over. Respondents were also asked whether women aged 60 and over were represented on their agency and volunteer staffs as well as boards of directors. Although older women were found to be well-represented among shelters' paid and volunteer staff and boards of directors, they were poorly represented among the population served by these shelters. Results also indicate that only two shelters offered special programming for older women despite the fact that Florida is known for its high percentage of elderly residents. Ways in which shelters might become more involved in meeting the needs of older battered women are suggested. 2 tables and 24 references