Transaction Search Form: please type in any of the fields below.
Date: April 30, 2024 Tue
Time: 3:28 am
Time: 3:28 am
Results for elder abuse (europe)
2 results foundAuthor: Nagele, Barbara Title: Intimate Partner Violence Against Older Women -- Summary Report Summary: Supported by the European Commission in the Daphne III programme and coordinated by German Police University (Deutsche Hochschule der Polizei), researchers at the universities of Białystok (Poland) and Sheffield (UK), the research institutes Cesis - Centro de Estudos para a Intervenção Social (Portugal), Zoom – Gesellschaft für prospektive Entwicklungen e.V. (Germany), the Institut für Konfliktforschung (Austria) and the Hungarian Academy of Sciences simultaneously explored the topic of violence against women 60 and over at the hands of current and former intimate partners in the six countries. Research tools were developed jointly and the methodological approach coordinated internationally. The research programme comprised the following steps: 1 . Compiling and evaluating data from (domestic) violence support services as well as existing statistics (e.g. from the police) to determine the age structure of registered cases of intimate partner violence; reviewing existing research on the issue 2 . Conducting a survey amongst institutions with probable or at least possible knowledge of cases of intimate partner violence against older women 3 . Interviewing experts having knowledge of cases identified by means of the institutional survey 4 . Interviewing older women currently affected by intimate partner violence or having been victims of IPV in the past 5 . Developing recommendations for national and international contexts involving relevant actors with the aim of improving long-term support for older female victims of intimate partner violence. Institutional knowledge was surveyed and evaluated in research steps 1-3 and 5, while female victims themselves were interviewed in step 4. In addition to information on the problem, its dimensions as reflected in institutional statistics, characteristics of female victims of IPV, male perpetrators and the partnership, attention was especially focused on women’s help-seeking behaviour, how the help system dealt with these cases and on needs and options for service improvement. This report sums up the results of the surveys in all six participating countries. In the country reports, country specific information is given relating to the domestic violence support system and the situation of older women. This information helps to explain many differences we observed in our study. We explicitly encourage readers to make use of the national reports in this respect (see www.ipvow.org). In the national reports all relevant instruments can be found. In the foreword some definitional issues are tackled. Following the executive summary in chapter I in Chapter II the study and the questions posed are presented and conceptual and methodological considerations explained. The research team and the individual steps of the survey are described in detail. In chapter III the results of our review of existing research and data are presented. Although only one Scottish study with an exclusive focus on IPV against older women could be identified, a considerable body of research exists on several issues closely connected to the topic of this study. Some of the studies on elder abuse and neglect as well as on violence against and abuse of older women include information on IPV; the same is true for some (prevalence) studies on domestic violence and victimization surveys. Studies clearly show an age related decline in victimization, but point out that relevant numbers are affected and victims face specific problems. This justifies a special consideration of the phenomenon. In most countries, an overall lack of data on IPV against older women can be observed. Data are usually not sufficiently disaggregated by gender, age, relationship between victim and perpetrator, and type of offence. But still some (mostly regional) data from (domestic) violence and crisis intervention services, police and public prosecutors shed some light on the institutional knowledge of cases. They show that the proportion of older women amongst all female clients is generally low, but higher in non-residential services than in shelters and refuges. Case knowledge of law enforcement agencies is overall low. Significant differences between countries can be observed and should be explored. Chapter IV presents the results of the comparative analysis of data of the institutional survey. This survey examines institutional case knowledge and experts’ perceptions of the issue. A fully standardized questionnaire was sent to a broad range of institutions and professions with possible case knowledge including medical and nursing professions, counselling services and psychosocial institutions, clergy, legal professions and institutions of law enforcement. Sample sizes and compositions differ largely between countries. The overall response rate was 28,6%. Two thirds of the 922 responding institutions reported to have had contact with older female victims of IPV in the years 2006 to 2009. Only one third of public health institutions and institutions dealing with care of older people reported about having encountered such victims, but a high rate of (domestic) violence institutions did. In a 3-year period (2006 to 2008), 10.262 victims got into contact with the participating institutions in the six countries. For 2009 – the year in which the survey was conducted – contacts to 6.073 victims were reported. A major part of the victims have suffered multiple types of violence. According to the experts, violence was overwhelmingly frequent, unilateral, long lasting, and it had started before the age of 60. The perpetrator was the cohabiting partner in 81,2% and a former partner - partly co-habiting (especially in Hungary because of shortage in housing) and partly not co-habiting - in 18,8% of the cases. Institutions were informed about the violence most frequently by the police (47,8% of the cases) or by the victim herself (36,2% of the cases). Other institutions – e.g. health service institutions – play a minor role in case referral. More important are other persons close to the victim. More than half of the organisations with case experience provided psycho-social support, legal advice, and crisis intervention for the victims or information for other institutions in the case. The majority of experts perceive older female victims to be especially reluctant to separation and to face peculiar difficulties when trying to leave the abusive relationship. In chapter V, findings of the interviews with older female victims and with experts are provided. As regards victim interviews, most research teams experienced big difficulties accessing interviewees and thus used multiple and different ways to gain access. A total of 195 interviews with specialists and 58 interviews with older female victims of IPV were carried out. According to experts’ and victims’ reports, women and men involved in violent intimate relationships come from all social and educational backgrounds and violence is predominantly performed by cohabiting partners within long-standing relationship. Often reported is a traditional gender role distribution with high degrees of economic dependency of the women. All interviewed women disclosed some form of partner abuse within their relationship though many were reluctant to use terms such as ‘domestic violence’ or ‘partner violence’ and often appeared to minimise the severity and significance of the abuse they had been subjected to. Most of the women experienced violence already in the beginning of their relationship and throughout the complete course of the marriage. Unequal power relations, gender specific roles and patriarchal societal structures are mentioned as causes of IPV against older women. Alcohol consumption/ alcoholism, abuse of medication and jealousy are seen as triggers. Nevertheless, in a couple of cases violence starts or worsens in older age and the following factors may lead to a late onset or aggravation of violence: increasing dependency (care, household matters), matters relating to property, mental disorders such as dementia and substance abuse, retirement of partner (loss of self-esteem and increase in time spent together), alcohol abuse and sexual disturbances. Older women usually experience a combination of several forms of violence like psychological and physical violence as well as (social) control and financial exploitation and dependency, sexual violence as well as (in fewer cases) intentional neglect. In most cases, unidirectional violence by the male partner against the older women is reported. The cases are marked by pronounced shame of the women, social isolation, psychological disorders, low self esteem and reduced options for change. Health problems play a major role in cases of IPV against older women, they increase vulnerability, reduce coping opportunities and options for help seeking. In our study, it became apparent that often also other persons in the social proximity of older women have to be considered as perpetrators such as sons (in high numbers), neighbours, acquaintances, children of new partners, tenants, staff members of care services were mentioned as perpetrators. For many older women victims of IPV, experiences of (male) violence appear to be a biographical constant. Many of them experienced rigid upbringing by their parents and had experiences of violence in their childhood and as young adults. They were brought up to accept traditional gender roles and were taught to perceive marriage as a life-time commitment. There are many reasons for them for not leaving their violent partners, but the wish to change the situation and live free from violence is very strong. The study shows that age on the intersection with gender and generation specific factors plays a role on different levels. Among the after-effects of long-term abuse are severe health and psychological problems as well as low self-esteem and financial dependency in higher age. This may make it more difficult for older women to end the relationship than for younger women who have been in the relationship only for a shorter time. The historical and current societal contexts in the participating countries shape women’s experiences of IPV. Examples for country specific differences are the different importance of religion, of alcohol abuse, specific experiences of dictatorship and war, specific values and gender roles, the current economic situation and country specific urban – rural gaps. For all countries it became clear that in most cases IPV against older women is deeply rooted in inequality and power issues in the relation of men and women. In addition age related vulnerability, marginality and dependency worsen the situation for many women. But it also became apparent that IPV against older women may also be caused in mental illness of the partner. It is highly important to differentiate cases. For experts, working with older women victims of IPV often means facing bigger challenges than working with younger women in a similar situation. Older women victims of IPV, when they seek support, foremost seek information about their rights and someone with whom they can build a trustworthy relationship and share their feelings. Older women less often separate from their violent partners or press charges against them and they less often know about and make use of services. Specialists often see a special demand for support of older women which, according to them, is not yet met appropriately. Nevertheless, older women seek help - with relatives, neighbours, institutions against domestic violence, the police and other law enforcement agencies, doctors, and social services. Older women’s greatest needs if they are exposed to violence by their partners are health, finance and housing-related. Housing stands as one of the main problems older women have to deal with and as one of the strongest limitations to the intervention that support institutions can engage in. Most institutions deplore a lack of resources for being able to give appropriate support to older women as well as in some cases a lack of close cooperation with other institutions. In chapter VI we present recommendations in an overview and refer to the European dimension. Recommendations were derived from national recommendations and discussed at an international expert workshop. Details: Gottingen: Zoom – Gesellschaf t für prospekt ive Entw icklungen e.V.; Munster: Deutsche Hochschule der Polizei, 2010. 116p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed April 4, 2011 at: http://www.ipvow.org/images/stories/ipvow/reports/summary_report_final.pdf Year: 2010 Country: Europe URL: http://www.ipvow.org/images/stories/ipvow/reports/summary_report_final.pdf Shelf Number: 121235 Keywords: Domestic ViolenceElder Abuse (Europe)Elderly VictimsIntimate Partner Violence |
Author: Sethi, Dinesh Title: European Report on Preventing Elder Maltreatment Summary: Elder maltreatment is pervasive in all countries in the WHO European Region, and estimates suggest that at least 4 million people in the Region experience elder maltreatment in any one year. Most countries in the Region have an ageing population, and one third of the population is forecast to be 60 years and older in 2050, putting more people at risk of elder maltreatment. Elder maltreatment has far-reaching consequences for the mental and physical well-being of tens of millions of older people, and if left unchecked will result in their premature death. Estimates suggest that about 2500 older people may lose their lives annually from elder maltreatment. The report highlights the numerous biological, social, cultural, economic and environmental factors that interact to influence the risk and protective factors of being a victim or perpetrator of elder maltreatment. There is some evidence of effectiveness, and examples include psychological programmes for perpetrators and programmes designed to change attitudes towards older people, improve the mental health of caregivers and, in earlier life, to promote nurturing relationships and social skills learning. The evidence base needs to be strengthened, but much can be done by implementing interventions using an evaluative framework. Prevention and social justice for older people can only be achieved by mainstreaming this response into health and social policy. Surveys show that the public and policy-makers are increasingly concerned about the problem, and the policy response needs to be strengthened to meet this demand. Details: Copenhagen: World Health Organization Regional Office for Europe, 2011. 100p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed July 26, 2011 at: http://www.euro.who.int/__data/assets/pdf_file/0010/144676/e95110.pdf Year: 2011 Country: Europe URL: http://www.euro.who.int/__data/assets/pdf_file/0010/144676/e95110.pdf Shelf Number: 122167 Keywords: Elder Abuse (Europe)Elderly Victims |