1. ABUSE IN LATER LIFE
July 19, 2012

2. OVW Abuse in Later Life Grant
Program
 Enhanced Training and Services to End
Violence Against and Abuse of Women Later
in Life Program
 Training
 CCR & Systems Change
 Services
 http://www.ovw.usdoj.gov/ovwgrantprograms.htm
#7

3. Abuse in Later Life as a Subset of Elder
Abuse, Domestic Violence, and Sexual
1.3
Assault
Elder
Abuse
Sexual Domestic
Assault Violence
OVW, NCALL (2012)

4. Abuse in Later Life
 Age: 50+
 Gender: Female and male
 Relationship: Ongoing with
expectation of trust
 Forms: Physical, emotional and
sexual abuse, neglect and financial
exploitation

5. Intimate Partner Violence
 Significant segment of elder abuse is
intimate partner violence
 Long-term relationship
 New relationship
 Late onset

6. Other relationships
 Adult son, daughter, grandchild
 Caregivers &Care receiver as abuser

7. Sexual Abuse in Later Life
 Victims: any age and range of ability
 Offenders: spouse/partner, adult sons,
grandchildren, caregivers, family members
and others. (least common: strangers)
 In private dwellings or facility settings

8. Sexual Abuse
 Hands on
 Hands off
 Harmful genital practices

9. 2.9 OVW, NCALL (2012)

10. Generational Issues
 Retain strong beliefs about privacy and self-
reliance
 Have traditional commitments to spouse,
family, home, male/female roles
 Believe domestic/sexual abuse service
programs only for women with children
 Historical trauma

11. Unique Barriers for Older
Survivors
 Ageism  $Economic issues
 Reaction of family  Adult child as
members perpetrator
 Health and disability  Spiritual and religious
issues beliefs
 Lack of system  Lack of affordable and
response suitable housing

12. Barriers in DV/SA Services
 No training on aging and the special needs of
older people
 First contact requirements
 IPV only services
 Off site visits
 Length of stay
 Medical needs

13. Advocacy Issues
 Legal issues
 POA’s, guardianships, health care directives
 Systems advocacy
 APS/Mandatory reporting, aging network,
senior housing
 Family
 Educate on protection orders, survivor issues

14. Considerations in Outreach
 Language
 Images
 Location
 Build relationships

15. Collaboration
2.15
 The act of working together;
united labor

16. Benefits of Collaboration
 Victim safety
 More resources for victims
 New ideas about how to approach a case
 Shared ownership and responsibility for case
outcomes
 Less “finger pointing”

17. Some Challenges
 Information sharing, confidentiality,
mandatory reporting
 Lack of resources
 Lack of understanding of what other
agencies can and cannot do
 Turf & Ego

18. Who Might be Involved
2.18
Advocates Aging
Faith
Network
Leaders
Health
Adult
Professionals
Protective Friends
Agencies
Ombudsman Family
Private Law Firm

19. Questions?

20. Contact Information
Ann Turner
Elder Victim Services & Advocacy Coordinator
NCALL
715-483-2521
annt@wcadv.org
www.ncall.us
Clip art throughout this PowerPoint by
Isis International
http://www.isiswomen.org/