Posted on: 30 November 2023
On the sixth day of the White Ribbon Campaign, our Older Person’s Services has pledged to prioritise the prevention of domestic abuse in the way they deliver care.
Research in this area (which in itself is limited) demonstrates that older people’s experiences of domestic abuse are markedly different from those in younger age groups and these differences have not been adequately acknowledged.
Very few people over 65 access specialist support – from services such as IDVA – or their cases are brought to MARAC.
As a result, very few older people access DA services and professionals often conclude that DA does not exist amongst older people.
Many injuries and potential symptoms of abuse are rationalised as ‘age-related concerns’ and there is often limited professional curiosity to explore further. Older people themselves – particularly women – are more likely to not recognise the abuse they are experiencing – it has often been going on for decades and is acknowledged as ‘part of the relationship’. For one quarter of over 65s this abuse has been going on for over 25 years.
Much campaigning around Domestic Abuse features a younger demographic so again older people find it difficult to recognise themselves within this. Services are also not set up to support the specific needs of older people e.g. refuges do not cater to the needs of the older population.
To demonstrate the commitment to better responding to Domestic Abuse, Harrow Older person’s Mental Health services are holding a facilitated conversation around their experiences of Domestic Abuse and how they can better respond. This took place at Harrow Older Person’s Services at Bentley House in Harrow today (30 November).
