Domestic Violence in Your Loved One's Home

Abuse in later life has a devastating impact on victims and can result in the loss of independence, security, life savings, health, dignity, and can be deadly. Research indicates that older adult victims of abuse have shorter lifespans than their peers who do not experience violence. Abuse in later life can cause both physical and psychological harm. Psychological harm associated with abuse in later life include depression, stress, helplessness, alienation, guilt, shame, fear, and anxiety.

Perpetrators are people with whom the victim has an expectation of trust, particularly spouses, intimate partners, adult children, grandchildren, other family members, and non-related caregivers. Perpetrators typically, but not exclusively, abuse older adults in their places of residence. The following lists are just a few examples of the most prevalent types of abuse:

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Emotional & Verbal Abuse:

• Embarrassment and humiliation
• Controlling behavior (restricting access to telephone, transportation, and other resources)
• Damaging or destroying property
• Social isolation
• Disregarding or trivializing needs
• Dismissing other's feelings, thoughts, experiences
• Name-calling
• Yelling, screaming
• Threatening comments

Physical Abuse Indicators:

• Broken bones
• Fractures, sprains, and/or dislocations
• Burns from cigarettes, hot water, or appliances
• Abrasions on arms, legs, or torso resembling rope or restraints
• Bruises, including bilateral and “wrap around” bruises. ​Unexplained injuries or explanations that do not “fit”
• History of similar injuries and numerous or suspicious hospital visits
• Delay between onset of injury and seeking medical attention
• Neglect of bedridden adults’ injuries

Financial Abuse:

• Fraud
• Forced property transfers
• Misuse or theft of money/possessions
• Use of deception to coerce or convince a victim to surrender finances or property 

Sexual Abuse:

• Any non-consensual sexual contact
  
• Forced viewing of pornography
  
• Forced listening of sexual accounts - Intentional touching of the genitalia, anus, groin, breast, mouth, inner thigh, or buttocks

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If you or someone you know needs help, call The National Domestic Violence Hotline 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) Or, online go to DomesticShelters.org 

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The content of this blog is taken directly from the PDF titled Domestic Abuse in Later Life by the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence. Click on the PDF link to see the full article with research sources.