Abuse of older people
ABUSE OF OLDER PEOPLE
Domestic abuse can affect people of all ages, however older people can often feel outside the narrative and might struggle to access services.
But the reality is that they’re very much part of it, with 1 in 5 of older people experiencing abuse.
The media can sometimes depict organisational abuse towards an older person, which certainly goes on, but an older person is more likely to be abused by someone known to them: a partner, an adult child, a grandchild, a friend or a neighbour.
According to research by Hourglass charity: 83% of the reported abuse happens in the older person’s own home, 7% in care homes, and 5% in hospital.
According to Hourglass, older people can feel reluctant to report the abuse if it’s from a close family member such as a child or grandchild, as they may feel it reflects poorly on them as parents/grandparents.
Although abuse can happen at any age, older adults can be particularly vulnerable as they may have a disability, mental health condition or illness that abusers can exploit.
Hourglass, which is the only specialist charity in the UK, providing help to older people has a helpful list to consider the particularities to elder abuse.
ACCORDING TO HOURGLASS, ABUSE OF OLDER PEOPLE CAN HAVE THESE FEATURES
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In older victim-survivors, family members rather than intimate partners are most often the perpetrators of domestic abuse.
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Older women may fear losing relationships with adult children, family, and friends if they don’t stay with the perpetrator.
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Older people may experience a deterioration in their physical health and cognitive health and can be more dependent on their abuser, making it hard for them to seek help.
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Some older victim-survivors might a provide a caring role for their abuser which can make it difficult to leave the abusive relationship.
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Media and political campaigns against domestic abuse often don’t reflect the abuse of older people and this can make it harder for older people to report abuse and seek help.
a few more thoughts
Older people can experience many types of abuse including coercive control, physical abuse, emotional abuse, sexual abuse and economic abuse.
Older people can be vulnerable to rogue traders, people building debt in their name, theft, robbery, being pressured into changing their will or power of attorney and many other forms.
Specialist charities such as Hourglass can provide much needed support to older people or any person who might be concerned that an older person is being abused.
