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Respect Aging: Preventing Violence against Older Persons

Learn to recognize, prevent, and intervene in violence against older persons. Understand different types of violence, warning signs, and the impact on society. Gender dynamics, diversity, and ageism will also be discussed.

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Respect Aging: Preventing Violence against Older Persons

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  1. Respect Aging:Preventing Violence against Older Persons 1.RECOGNITION 2. PREVENTION 3. INTERVENTION Violence Prevention Initiative

  2. Why this training? • NL: oldest population in Canada • Age 65 and older: • 2010: 15% of the population • 2025: 27% of the population

  3. Violence = a pattern of behaviour intended to establish and maintain control over family, household members, intimate partners, colleagues, individuals or groups.

  4. Why not call it “elder abuse”? • Abuse is only one part of the continuum of violence • Ageist attitudes • Aboriginal perspective

  5. Violence against older persons… • Intentional, unintentional • All economic, social, cultural groups • Home, community, residential care • Once, occasionally, or long-term

  6. Violence prevention principles • Right to safe, secure, violence-free environment • Root of violence: inequality • Violence is expressed through “isms” • Violence is a choice • Violence is preventable • It’s everyone’s responsibility • Response to violence includes: • Prevention • Education • Services • Enforcement of the law

  7. In this session • Types and warning signs (indicators) • Violence in residential care facilities • Gender dynamics of violence against older persons • Diversity, ageism and violence • Dynamics of family violence • Impact and effects of violence on older persons, families, society

  8. Types of violence • Physical violence • Psychological violence • Emotional violence • Verbal abuse • Sexual violence • Financial abuse • Neglect • Spiritual (or religious) violence • Cultural violence

  9. Other forms of violence in residential care settings • Failure to respect residents’ basic rights • Systemic violence

  10. Possible warning signs • Physical signs • Psychological or emotional signs • Signs of verbal abuse • Signs of sexual violence • Signs of neglect • Signs of financial abuse • Signs of spiritual, religious or cultural violence • Signs of systemic violence (in residential care settings)

  11. Gender and violence Most victims of violence are women. Most perpetrators of violence are men.

  12. Perpetrators… • ~8,500 Canadians 65yrs+ were the victim of a violent crime (2011) • 34% were victimized by family • 1 in 5 were victimized by an acquaintance • 27% were victimized by a stranger • A grown child was 1.5 times higher than a spouse to victimize an older person • More older females victimized by a spouse than older males.

  13. Victims… • Older women: • majority of victims of sexual/physical violence • higher rates of family violence • more likely to be victimized by spouse, ex-spouse or adult child • Older men: • higher rate of reported violent crime • more likely to be victimized by a person outside the family

  14. Older female victims of violence • Murdered  by spouse or son • Emotionally or financially abused • Family homicide doubled • Poverty • Live longer • More chronic disease • Greater risk of injury from violence

  15. Older male victims of violence • ~40% of all older victims of violence (2011) • Murdered  by son • Victimized by an acquaintance or stranger

  16. Gender and ageism • Ageism is a factor in gendered violence against older persons. • Adult sons have power based on gender. • Adult sons have power that comesfrom not being old.

  17. Diversity, ageism and violence

  18. Dimensions of diversity Primary dimensions Secondary dimensions

  19. Dimensions of diversity: visibility Primary dimensions Secondary dimensions

  20. Differences can lead to… • Stereotyping • Prejudice • Discrimination

  21. Stereotyping, prejudice, and discrimination… • Rooted in ignorance and fear • Preserve power and control • Violence and threats • Claims of natural superiority

  22. Stereotype • Generalizations • General, biased ideas about a whole group • Does not recognize differences • Family, peers, media, society • Don’t see the whole person

  23. Prejudice • A negative attitude – based on preconceived notions about members of a certain group • Means to “pre-judge” • Tends to be driven by emotion • Can lead to dehumanization

  24. Discrimination • An action (or lack of action) against individuals or groups • Based on negative values, attitudes or beliefs • Often a result of prejudice and bias • Denial of fair treatment or equal rights

  25. The “isms” Ageism Ableism Classism Heterosexism Racism Sexism

  26. Diversity & older persons in NL • Oldest population in Canada • Age diversity in NL (2011) • 48,855 people 65-74 • 24,695 people 75-84 • 8,560 people 85+ • Each age group has differing needs • More diversity (sex, race, ability, health status) = many different service needs

  27. Ageism • Ageist attitudes towards older people contribute toward their invisibility, marginalization and social exclusion. • They are seen as second-class citizens.

  28. Dimensions of diversity among older persons • Income • Housing • Culture/language • Food preferences • Education, literacy • Marital status • Health status • Age • Ability • Mental status • Sexual orientation • Sex, gender • Aboriginal • Rural, isolated

  29. Family violenceand the perpetrator

  30. Violence against older persons can also be viewed in the context of family violence.

  31. Violence can continue into old age • Acts of power and control exist across the lifespan: • Violence does not suddenly stop at some older age. • Violence does not suddenly begin with the vulnerabilities sometimes associated with older age.

  32. Roots of family violence • Family violence involves an abuse of power and control in a relationship, where one person uses power to control another in a hurtful way.

  33. Perpetrators of family violence • Frequent contact • Intimate partners • Adult male children

  34. Violence by adult children • Most frequent family abusers of older persons in the home • Adult child under 60 • Lives with/nearby • Dependency

  35. Intimate partner violence • Marriage, dating or common-law • Heterosexual or same-sex • Single episode to long-term battering • Mostly by men against women • May get worse with age • May take on new forms

  36. Emotional/mental health • Physical health • Sexual health • Spiritual health • Financial well-being Impacts of violence

  37. Older women • Older immigrants, refugees • Older Aboriginal persons • Older persons living with disabilities Violence impacts different older persons in different ways

  38. Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender older persons • Older persons living with HIV/AIDS • Isolated and rural older persons Violence impacts different older persons in different ways

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