Violence Against Older Women (From Sourcebook on Violence Against Women, P 179-192, 2001, Claire M. Renzetti, Jeffrey L. Edleson, and Raquel K. Bergen, eds. -- See NCJ-201429)

• NCJ Number: 201438
• Author(s): Linda Vinton
• Date Published: 2001
• Length: 14 pages
• Sale Source: Sage Publications, Inc
• Publication Format: Book (Softbound)
• Publication Type: Literature Review; Issue Overview
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

After noting the lack of research on violence against elderly women in intimate relationships, this chapter discusses the limited research available on this subject and describes the programs, and lack thereof, available to elderly women who have been abused.

Abstract

Proportionately, the number of older women in American society is increasing; this trend in itself warrants more research on violence against this population. Little research has used older women as subjects, and there is no consensus on the age of women who should be studied in research on domestic violence. Some domestic violence programs and studies have included women aged 45 and older; and others have used ages 50, 60, or 65 as a marker of late life. Older women who are victimized by their adult children are more likely to come to the attention of investigators and service providers than older women abused by their partners. A report from a forum on older abused women sponsored by the American Association of Retired Persons (1993) brought together the domestic violence, aging services, legal, law enforcement, and research communities. It provided numerous recommendations for community-based services for abused older women. These include ensuring that appropriate, accessible, safe shelters and other services are available to take into account the needs of older women, as well as sensitizing and educating all service providers about sexism, racism, and ageism. Other recommendations pertain to the importance of cross-training, coordination, and coalition-building between the elder abuse and domestic-violence advocates, as well as reaching out to older women by disseminating information about domestic violence through senior centers and home services, health clinics and physicians, civic associations, and public-benefits officers. There is evidence that programs designed for older abused women are increasing. It is important to know whether such services are effective from the perspective of the older victims of abuse. 84 references