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Date: April 30, 2024 Tue
Time: 2:48 am
Time: 2:48 am
Results for elder abuse (u.k.)
2 results foundAuthor: Penhale, Bridget Title: Intimate Partner Violence Against Older Women. National Report - United Kingdom Summary: Intimate partner violence against older women (IPVoW) is a serious issue, which has received increasing attention over the past decade. However, the majority of this research has been conducted in the United States and there is a paucity of research investigating IPVoW in Europe. Research has largely neglected to investigate the issue of double marginality (age and gender) and the intersections between these forms of marginalization: research on elder abuse has focused on age and largely neglected considerations of gender, whilst research from within the sphere of domestic violence has not fully considered aspects relating to age. Therefore, the main aim of this national study was to investigate the extent and nature of the problem of partner violence against older women in the UK. The study formed part of a larger international research project which investigated the problem of IPVoW in six European countries which included: Austria; Germany; Hungary; Poland; and Portugal, as well as the UK, with the German Police University (DHPol) in Muenster German coordinating the international research project. All of the partner organizations contributed to the design of the research and employed the same methodological approaches to investigate the problem of IPVoW in their respective national contexts. The current research project had a multi-method and multi-perspective approach and consisted of five distinct research phases: 1. A review of existing literature was conducted to develop knowledge of the prevalence and incidence of intimate partner violence against older women. 2. An institutional survey was conducted to investigate key organizations’ experiences of providing support to older female victims of IPV. 3. Interviews with older female victims of IPV were carried out to explore older women’s experiences of partner violence and their help seeking behaviour. 4. Interviews with staff, that had experience of supporting older women and/or survivors of IPV, were also conducted to investigate their experiences and perspectives on this issue. 5. A national network of experts was convened, with representatives from national organizations (e.g. from the field of violence against women, law enforcement agencies and policy-makers). These networks supported data collection and contributed to the recommendations for further research/data collection, service development and policy. Chapter 2 of this national report appraises international research on IPVoW and provides a summary of research and policy relevant to this issue at the international level. Chapter 3 discusses the social and cultural issues relating to IPVoW and highlights key developments, which have occurred over recent decades that have been influential in how this problem is conceptualised and managed within UK society. Although the issue of elder abuse was first recognized in the UK in the mid 1970s, it was not until some 15 years later that the issue was fully iden- tified as a social problem in need of attention. The first policy guidance on the issue was produced in England in 1993 although this was somewhat limited in scope. Subsequent guidance was produced in England and Wales in 2000 and related to all adult service users who might be vulnerable to differing forms of abuse rather than specifically older people. The policy guidance in both nations is currently under review. Over the past decade the discrete nations of the UK have developed somewhat different approaches to the issue of abuse of vulnerable adults. Generally, the issue of IPVoW has not been considered separately to that of other adult service users of community and social care services, but is conceptualized as an element of the abuse of vulnerable adults (known as adults at risk in Scotland). Domestic violence has mostly been considered in relation to younger adult women and is dealt with differently to the issue of adult abuse. There has been rather limited attention to the issue of IPVoW within domestic violence services and provision until recent years. Chapter 4 presents the findings from the review of existing UK data. A series of information sources were reviewed including police and crime statistics and information provided by a range of support services. The data available on IPVoW was critically evaluated and suggestions regarding how some of the limitations of data collection methods could be overcome were presented. The review of existing data revealed that there is currently a shortage of accurate data relating to the prevalence, extent and nature of intimate partner violence against older women in the UK. The research also highlighted key areas, which warrant further investigation. It was suggested that in order to gain an understanding of the prevalence of IPVoW, methods which investigate the prevalence, as well as incidence, of partner violence against older women should be employed, routine collection of demographic information of service users by support services (older adult services, domestic violence agencies and adult safeguarding/protection teams) is required and women aged over 59 years should be included within the self completion module of British Crime Survey on domestic abuse. It is also proposed that future research needs to explore the perspectives and experiences of those older female victims of partner violence who have not engaged with support services. Chapter 5 describes the findings from the national institutional survey. Informa- tion obtained from the institutional survey revealed information on the extent to which older women have been engaging with support services for older people and/or services for victims of domestic violence in the past 4 years. Thus the survey was a first step in exploring the extent of case knowledge about IPVoW within relevant agencies; coupled with the interviews held with professionals about their knowledge and understanding of such situations and experiences of working in this field, a greater depth of information and understanding about the issue and about service responses to older women who experience IPVoW has been obtained. The survey also collected information on the types of support provided to older female victims of partner violence by the different agencies. The survey was sent out in the autumn of 2009, and unfortunately, only obtained a low response rate (19%). Some of the reasons for this low rate are discussed in the chapter, together with other limitations of this element of the study. Just under half of the respondents (46%) were from local authority Social Services and over one third (35%) were from domestic violence agencies. Of the responding agencies, 85% reported that they had knowledge of cases of IPV and older women in the relevant time period (2006-2009). Most of the respondents provided information about cases of IPVoW that their organization had been involved with between 2006 and 2008, some were also able to provide information pertaining to 2009. Almost three-quarters of responding agencies (73%) provided information covering the entire period of 2006-2009. Apart from one national organization, which reported relatively high numbers of cases known to them, most agencies reported modest numbers of cases that had been known to them, with a range between 0 and 331 cases of women over 60 years who had experienced IPV during 2006-2008 and a range between 0 and 121 such cases relating to the first nine months of 2009. The majority of cases known to agencies during this period concerned women in the age range of 60-74 years. Whilst 96% of responding agencies reported that they had knowledge of cases relating to older women aged between 60 and 74 years during the time period, only 82% of agencies indicated such knowledge about cases relating to older women who were older than 75 years. Chapters 6 and 7 describe findings from the series of interviews, which were conducted with 10 women who had experienced IPV and 35 professionals who had provided support to older women/survivors of domestic abuse. Victims’ and professionals’ experiences and perspectives relating to partner violence against older women were explored. One of the main findings from these series of interviews was that partner violence does not appear to decrease or stop as women enter into ‘older age’. Interestingly, however, in some cases the type of violence women were subjected to did change. Situations were described where perpetrators who were no longer capable of physical violence (e.g. due to physical frailty) resorted to using alternative methods of abuse (e.g. increased psychological abuse). Women felt that it was fear that had often caused them the greatest difficulties when it came to leaving their violent relationship, considering leaving the situation or accessing help for the violence they had experienced. Fear of other people’s reactions, fear that the violence would get worse if they tried to leave/sought help and fear they would not be able to support themselves financially were all significant barriers to leaving and even help seeking in more general terms. The findings seemed to suggest that a proportion of older women may be at an increased vulnerability because of the dependence on their partners for financial security and/or their health care needs (and that in some situations a double dependency may occur, which may further heighten risk). Both the staff and women interviewed felt that there was limited information available to older female victims of IPV regarding the help and support which is available to older women who have experienced partner violence. One of the main recommendations which emerged from the interviews with the female victims of IPV and the support service professionals, was that organizations (domestic violence and older adult services) need to raise older women’s awareness about the services and support they can offer for older female victims of intimate partner violence. This requires the adjustment of terminology used in publicity / campaigns so that it is more widely understood by this group of women (e.g. avoidance of terms such as ‘domestic violence’). Materials need to be developed in the languages that are used in local communities so that these campaigns are both inclusive and effective. It was also proposed that staff from services, which have regular contact with older women (e.g. health services, domiciliary care providers, housing services) should have training in the recognition, identification and management of intimate partner violence in older people. Another key recommendation was that there needs to be increased collaboration between specialist domestic violence agencies and organizations that provide support for older people/vulnerable adults, including relevant local authority teams, so that the sharing of experiences and knowledge transfer can be established, to the benefit of all (including most centrally older women who experience IPVoW. It was argued, by women and staff alike, that the provision of a variety of mobile interventions (e.g. floating support, support groups, ‘buddying’ schemes) and improved emergency accommodation, which is appropriate and accessible for older women, is also essential. An additional recommendation was that older women need to be able to access financial support if they choose to leave a violent relationship. It was suggested that financial support needs to be available for older women who are dependent on their abusive partners for financial security, and that this should include access to emergency financial support in cases of urgent need. In cases where women are not eligible for community care grants or housing benefits (because of savings or pensions) these women should be eligible for alternative sources of financial support, this may be particularly important in cases where women do not have access to their financial assets. Chapter 8 details how a national network of interested individuals and organizations was convened over the course of the two-year research study. A detailed account of how the national network contributed to the current research project and helped develop the final series of recommendations is outlined. Finally, chapter 9 discusses the findings from all of the different phases of the research study and presents the comprehensive list of recommendations relating to future research, policy and practice. Whilst it is recognised that some of the recommendations are specific to older female victims of IPV it is proposed that a number of these recommendations would benefit all victims of domestic violence and/or vulnerable older women. It is suggested that the recommendations made within this national report need to be given due attention by all those who are involved with this issue at policy, research or service levels so that older women are not left to suffer from partner violence in silence and that their voices may be heard. Details: Sheffield, UK: School of Nursing and Midwifery, University of Sheffield, 2010. 243p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed April 4, 2011 at: http://www.ipvow.org/images/stories/ipvow/reports/IPVoW_UK_englisch_final.pdf Year: 2010 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://www.ipvow.org/images/stories/ipvow/reports/IPVoW_UK_englisch_final.pdf Shelf Number: 121243 Keywords: Domestic ViolenceElder Abuse (U.K.)Elderly VictimsIntimate Partner ViolenceVictim Services |
Author: Chandaria, Karishma Title: Short changed: Protecting people with dementia from financial abuse Summary: The ways in which we can manage our money is rapidly changing, and this can pose serious challenges for people living with dementia. People with dementia and their families may need support to manage their money and stay safe from financial abuse. Alzheimer's Society undertook the largest ever survey carried out on this subject, and analysed responses from 104 carers and 47 people with dementia - as well as focus groups and interviews with professionals - to find out more about this issue. The report reveals that 15% of people living with dementia - an estimated 112,500 people - have been victims of financial abuse such as cold calling, scam mail or mis-selling. 62% of carers reported that the person they care for had been approached by cold callers or doorstep sales people, and 70% reported that telephone callers routinely targeted the person they care for. Not only have people lost money, but they and their families have also been suffering stress, exhaustion and frustration as a result. The report also highlights the challenges people with dementia can face when managing their money. 76% of people reported having trouble managing their money, with a range of issues highlighted such as the challenges of bank's security procedures, and a lack of dementia awareness in banks and other financial services organisations. The report calls for improved community support services for people with dementia to help them manage their money. Details: London: Alzheimer's Society, 2011. 60p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed February 3, 2012 at http://alzheimers.org.uk/site/scripts/download.php?fileID=1296 Year: 2011 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://alzheimers.org.uk/site/scripts/download.php?fileID=1296 Shelf Number: 123955 Keywords: Elder Abuse (U.K.)Financial Crimes |