NCJ Number
114760
Date Published
Unknown
Length
16 pages
Annotation
This report discusses violence against the elderly and emphasizes familial violence against and abuse of the elderly.
Abstract
The elderly are more likely to be victims of burglaries, larceny, and vandalism than are younger people. The elderly are also victimized by their fear of crime; they fear the physical, psychological, and financial injuries of crime. Older women comprise 75 percent of all purse snatch victims. When the elderly become victims of crime their needs can be met by various levels of service such as emergency response, victim stabilization, and resource mobilization. If the perpetrator of the violence against the elderly person is arrested and prosecuted, other types of service are necessary: orientation and preparation for the criminal justice process, support services for victims and witnesses if they must make a court appearance, and pre-sentencing and post-sentencing services. Often the elderly are not victims of crime but of physical, psychological, or financial abuse from their families and those with whom they live. While it is difficult to estimate the scope of elderly abuse, some believe that as many as 10 percent of all elderly are abused by family or caretakers. Prevention strategies must be developed, including enhancing the resources of the elderly and educating the public; legislation should be passed establishing mandatory reporting, civil remedies, and injunctive relief for victims of elderly abuse; and social services must be made responsive to the needs of the abused elderly.