Special Collection: Preventing and Responding to Domestic & Sexual Violence in Later Life
Table of Contents:
Introduction | Back to top
This special collection brings together selected materials related to preventing and responding to elder abuse, specifically domestic and sexual violence. In doing so, it draws from the work of the National Clearinghouse on Abuse in Later Life (NCALL), National Sexual Violence Resource Center (NSVRC), National Center on Elder Abuse (NCEA) and other organizations. By focusing specifically on domestic and sexual violence (DV/SV) in later life, this special collection highlights the complexities of older people's DV/SV experiences and emphasizes collaborative and multi-pronged approaches to addressing DV/SV in later life. Accordingly, the materials included in this special collection have been organized by their relevance to key stakeholders.
Although particular effort was made to include materials related to addressing elder abuse in diverse groups of older people, very few materials in this special collection focus on elder abuse or DV/SV among older people from culturally diverse backgrounds. This limitation is due to significant gaps in current literature.
This special collection was developed by the Minnesota Center Against Violence and Abuse (MINCAVA) in collaboration with the National Sexual Violence Resource Center (NSVRC) and the National Resource Center on Domestic Violence (NRCDV), and in close consultation with the National Clearinghouse on Abuse in Later Life (NCALL).
Defining Elder Abuse | Back to top
The Centers for Disease Control currently defines elder maltreatment as “any abuse and neglect of persons age 60 and older by a caregiver or another person in a relationship involving an expectation of trust” (CDC, 2010).
| Forms of Elder Maltreatment* |
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Physical Abuse occurs when an elder is injured (e.g., scratched, bitten, slapped, pushed, hit, burned, etc.), assaulted or threatened with a weapon (e.g., knife, gun, or other object), or inappropriately restrained. NOTE: According to the National Committee for the Prevention of Elder Abuse, "self-neglect" refers to situations in which there is no perpetrator and neglect is the result of the older person refusing care (NCPEA, 2008).Abandonment is the willful desertion of an elderly person by caregiver or other responsible person. Financial Abuse or Exploitation is the unauthorized or improper use of the resources of an elder for monetary or personal benefit, profit, or gain. Examples include forgery, misuse or theft of money or possessions; use of coercion or deception to surrender finances or property; or improper use of guardianship or power of attorney. * Defined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC, 2010) |
Elder Abuse: Including domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault & stalking | Back to top
This section presents resources and research articles that offer an overview of elder abuse, including domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking. The section on cultural considerations lists some selected materials representing diverse perspectives on elder abuse.
Overview and dynamics
The materials included in this section present information about elder abuse, with a specific focus on domestic and sexual violence in later life.
- Abuse in Later Life: Name it! Claim it! |
PDF (11 p.)
by Bonnie Brandl and Jane A. Raymond (2005)
This document highlights the importance of coordination between adult protective services and domestic violence advocates. Definitions of elder abuse, domestic violence, and abuse in later life are included.
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- Abuse in Later Life Wheel |
by National Clearinghouse on Abuse in Later Life (2011)
This power and control wheel describes different types of abuses that occur in later life and tactics used by abusers to exercise power and control over their victims. This wheel was developed in consultation with survivors of later life
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- Domestic Violence: Older Women Can be Victims Too |
by National Center on Elder Abuse (2005)
This fact sheet presents information about domestic violence in later life, including prevalence, signs of abuse, why women may be staying in abusive relationships, what every one should know, and how others can help.
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- Elder Abuse: A Women’s Issue |
by Older Women’s League (2009)
This report brings together experts and organizations that work to combat the problem of elder abuse, sharing its many dimensions and complexities, how it affects women in a disproportionate manner, and seeking effective solutions.
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- Frequently Asked Questions on Abuse in Later Life |
HTML
by National Clearinghouse on Abuse in Later Life (2011)
This page answers frequently asked questions about abuse in later life. It describes the types of abuse, causes of abuse, and actions to take if a person experiences abuse or if person suspects abuse on other people. A link to citations for each response is included.
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- Sexual Violence in Later Life: Fact Sheet |
TXT (2 p.)
by National Sexual Violence Resource Center (2010)
This two page document offers information concerning sexual abuse in later life, including barriers to response and prevention, victims and perpetrators.
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- Sexual Abuse in Later Life |
by Bonnie Brandl and Holly Ramsey Klawsnik (July/August 2009)
To raise awareness and provide guidance to professionals, this article addresses sexual assault in later life and specifically focuses on victimization of elders that occurs in the context of intimate partner violence, incest, and care facilities.
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Research
Since elder abuse is an emerging issue, there are few publicly available studies on prevalence, incidence, risk factors, and effective programming. This section highlights some research focusing on various aspects of elder abuse, including domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault and stalking in later life.
- Detecting, Addressing and Preventing Elder Abuse in Residential Care Facilities |
by Catherine Hawes and Anne-Marie Kimbell, National Criminal Justice Reference Service (January 2010)
This study focused on detection, investigation, and resolution of elder abuse and neglect complaints in what are known as residential care facilities (RCFs).
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- Domestic Violence Against Older Women: Final Technical Report |
by Burton D. Dunlop, Richard L. Beaulaurier, Laura R. Seff, Fred L. Newman, Neena Malik, Melissa Fuster, The Center on Aging of Florida International University (April 2005)
This qualitative study report examines domestic violence in older women, presenting older women’s definition of domestic violence, their views about causes, reporting, interventions, and consequences for perpetrators, and barriers to help seeking.
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- The MetLife Study of Elder Financial Abuse: Crimes of Occasion, Desperation, and Predation Against America's Elders |
by MetLife Mature Market Institute (June 2011)
This study is a follow-up of MetLife's 2009 "Broken Trust: Elders, Family, and Finances" and examines the prevalence and impact of elder financial abuse in America today. It demonstrates how these crimes continue to decimate incomes, impact the health and well-being of its victims, and fracture families, yet it still is underreported, under-recognized, and under-prosecuted.
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- National Elder Mistreatment Study |
by Ron Acierno, Melba Hernandez-Tejada, Wendy Muzzy, and Kenneth Steve, National Criminal Justice Reference Service (March 2009)
Findings of this nationally representative study showed that more than one in ten respondents experienced some type of abuse or potential neglect in the past year.
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- A Statewide Profile of Abuse of Older Women and the Criminal Justice Response |
by Andrew Klein, Terri Tobin, Amy Salomon, and Janice Dubois, Advocates for Human Potential, Inc. (April 2008)
This statewide study in Rhode Island of domestic violence in older women and the response of state authorities found a relatively larger proportion of intimate partner abuse than previously found in adult protective service surveys.
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- Broken Trust: Elders, Family & Finances |
by MetLife Mature Market Institute and the National Committee for the Prevention of Elder Abuse (NCPEA) (March 2009)
This is a report of a collaborative study of elder financial abuse. The study examines the prevalence as well as characteristics of victims and perpetrators of financial elder abuse and offers suggestions for identifying and addressing this problem.
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- Crimes Against Persons Age 65 or Older, 1993-2002, Special Report |
by Patsy Klaus, Bureau of Justice Statistics (January 2005)
This report presents information about criminal victimizations and incidents of persons age 65 and older from nationally representative household service.
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- Sexual Violence in Later Life: Research Brief |
by National Sexual Violence Resource Center (2010)
This brief reviews research on risk and protective factors related to sexual violence in later life.
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Cultural Considerations
The experience of elder abuse, the risk and protective factors, and the power and control dynamics may vary across and within cultures, as well as by individuals. This section offers resources that focus on understanding elder abuse in different cultural groups.
Gen Silent is the critically-acclaimed documentary from filmmaker Stu Maddux that asks six LGBT seniors if they will hide their friends, their spouses—their entire lives in order to survive in the care system. Their surprising decisions are captured through intimate access to their day-to-day lives over the course of a year.
- Elder Abuse Fact Sheets |
by Casa de Esperanza (2012)
Elder abuse affects seniors across all socio-economic groups, cultures, and races. Latin@ communities are no exception. Abuse is more than just physical harm. Fact sheets address the topics of family and friends, older adults, and senior centers.
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- Abuses Endured by a Woman During Her Life Cycle |
by Asian & Pacific Islander Institute on Domestic Violence (2000)
This document is an illustration describing the violence that may happen throughout the lives of Asian and Pacific Islander women during the life stages of infancy, childhood, adolescence, young adulthood, adulthood and later life.
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- Elder Abuse in Communities of Color |
by Women of Color Network, National Resource Center on Domestic Violence (NRCDV) (2008)
This "Facts & Stats Collection" paper describes specific issues and distinguishing dynamics that confront older women of color, highlighting types of abuse and warning signs. Resources for additional information are provided.
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- Introduction to Cultural Competency |
by Asian Pacific Islander Institute
This webpage highlights the importance of cultural sensitivity when working with older persons and describes the barriers faced by older Asian persons in seeking help for abuse, working with law enforcement, and seeking court protections.
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- Outing Age 2010: Public Policy Issues Affecting Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) Elders |
by Jamie M. Grant, National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Policy Institute
Offers information about the state of LGBT older persons, their strengths and vulnerabilities, barriers faced when accessing services, including services for domestic violence, and progress in public policies that aim to serve LGBT older persons.
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- Preventing and Responding to Abuse of Elders in Indian Country |
by National Indian Council on Aging for the National Center on Elder Abuse (June 2004)
This document provides an overview of the problem of elder abuse among the Native American population. Challenges to providing services and current initiatives are also discussed.
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- A Review of the Literature: Elder Abuse in Indian County - Research, Policy, and Practice |
by National Indian Council on Aging (June 2004)
This document describes the nature and extent of elder abuse in Indian country, what is being done about it, and identifies promising approaches and practices for addressing the problem.
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- The Role of Culture in Elder Abuse |
by National Committee for the Prevention of Elder Abuse (March 2003)
This webpage offers guiding questions to consider when working with older persons from diverse ethnic and cultural communities.
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- Using Your Tribal Values To Develop Elder Protection Code: A Step-by-Step Guide for Communities |
by Tribal Law Journal (August 2008)
The purpose of this workbook is to protect elders from abuse in their communities. This workbook proposes that each community develop a process to address the particular elder protection needs within that community.
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Preventing and responding to domestic & sexual violence in later life | Back to top
Multi-stakeholder involvement is crucial in preventing elder abuse and in addressing unique needs of survivors. The documents included in this section offer information on elder abuse, including domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault and stalking prevention and response by stakeholders.
Older persons, family members, friends, caregivers, and bystanders
Older persons, their families, friends, caregivers and bystanders who are in their immediate environment have an advantage of identifying abuse at an early stage or preventing abuse before it starts. This section presents information on preventing, identifying, and reporting of abuse by older persons, family members and friends, and bystanders.
- Caregiver Challenges |
by Wisconsin Department of Health and Family Services, Division of Long Term Care (2007)
These four (4) booklets, produced in collaboration with the National Clearinghouse on Abuse in Later Life, provide information to caregivers who may have questions about elder abuse, neglect or exploitation. A power and control wheel for abuse of people with developmental disabilities by a caregiver is included.
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- The Essentials: Preventing Elder Abuse |
by MetLife Mature Market Institute (2011)
This document presents information about the different types of elder abuse, about reporting abuse, and identifying risk factors. It also provides information on how to obtain assistance if you or someone you care about has become a victim of elder abuse.
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- What if I suspect Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation? |
by Administration on Aging This webpage provides guidance about where to report abuse or suspicion of abuse, what information is required when reporting abuse, and how different agencies and organizations respond to reports of elder abuse.
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Domestic & sexual violence advocates
Service providers must understand and address the special needs of older persons who experience DV/SV. The materials in this section provide information about unique aspects of elder abuse, specifically DV/SV in later life and offer suggestions for serving older DV/SV survivors.
- Tips on Working with Victims of Abuse in Later Life |
by Wisconsin Aging & Disabilities Program and National Clearinghouse on Abuse in Later Life (2011)
This document offers suggestions on the type of questions to ask, signs to watch for or listen to, and ways to intervene in abuse in later life.
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- Sexual Violence in Later Life: Bulletin |
by National Sexual Violence Resource Center (2010)
This four page document outlines specific information on the broad range of offenses perpetrated against people age 60 and beyond, and discusses how advocates can respond to the special needs of older sexual violence victims.
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- Sexual Violence in Later Life: A Technical Assistance Guide for Advocates |
by National Sexual Violence Resource Center (2010)
This guide thoroughly investigates the complexity of the topic and includes information on signs and symptoms, special issues facing older victims, and primary prevention techniques.
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- Elder Sexual Assault: Technical Assistance Manual for Pennsylvania’s Sexual Violence Centers |
by Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rape (2005)
The goal of this manual is to allow sexual violence advocates/counselors to become adept in dealing with elder clients. Advocates can use this guide to learn the basics of effectively working with elder clients or utilize it in a crisis situation.
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- Golden Voices: Support Groups for Older Abused Women |
by Deb Spangler and Bonnie Brandl, National Clearinghouse on Abuse in Later Life (2011)
This manual is designed to help professionals start a support group for older survivors of domestic abuse.
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- Mandatory Reporting of Elder Abuse: Implications for Domestic Violence Advocates |
by Bonnie Brandl, National Clearinghouse on Abuse in Later Life (Revised 2011)
This document offers information about the relationship between elder abuse and domestic violence in later life, state statutes and requirements, and complexities associated with mandatory reporting of elder abuse. Additional resources on the topic of mandatory reporting for elder abuse, including a 6 Part Series of Information Sheets are provided by NCALL.
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- Respecting Elders, Protecting Elders: Untangling the Mystery of What Sexual Assault Advocates Need to Know About the Mandatory Reporting of Elder Abuse |
by Jessica E. Mindlin and Bonnie Brandl (Spring 2011)
The purpose of this article is to strengthen advocates' and coalitions' capacity to analyze their reporting and confidentiality obligations, and to help them located the information they need to analyze how to provide safe and victim-centered advocacy.
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- It's Our Responsibility (Where were you 30 years ago? Where are you today?) |
by Bonnie Brandl and Deborah L. Horan, National Clearinghouse on Abuse in Later Life (2003)
Noting that domestic violence programs tend to focus on self-help models that are not appropriate for older domestic violence survivors, this document offers suggestions for age appropriate programs.
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Health care professionals
Because health care professionals interact with many older persons daily, they have an important role in screening for abuse and taking necessary actions. Documents included in this section offer guidance on recognizing and responding to abuse, neglect, and exploitation in later life.
- Domestic Violence in Later Life: An Overview for Healthcare Providers |
by Bonnie Brandl and Deborah L. Horan, The Haworth Press, Inc. (2002)
This document discusses the critical role of healthcare providers in preventing later life abuse through universal screening, documentation of abuse, and referrals to domestic violence advocates.
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- Elder Abuse in United States |
by Catherine C. McNamee with Mary B. Murphy, National Institute of Justice (November 2006)
This article notes the difficulty in recognizing elder abuse in health care settings, provides information about several studies on identifying bruising and other markers of abuse by health care practitioners.
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- Elder Patients at Risk of Abuse |
by National Indian Council on Aging and the University of New Mexico Geriatric Education (June 2008)
This fact sheet notes elder abuse in Indian Country, emphasizes prevention by health care professionals, presents links to elder abuse assessment instrument, and offers guidance on understanding abuse in the contexts of the culture of older persons.
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- The Importance of Reporting Mistreatment of the Elderly |
by Lisa M. Gibbs and Laura Mosqueda, American Family Physician (March 2007)
This article emphasizes the important role of family physicians in identifying and addressing elder mistreatment, and highlights the need for more research to identify signs of mistreatment to increase awareness and reporting of elder mistreatment.
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Aging Network and Adult Protective Services
Aging network professionals and adult protective services workers may encounter domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking in later life. Listed below are some selected materials on these topics.
- Elder Sexual Assault: Technical Assistance Manual for Older Adult Protective Services |
by Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rape (2007)
This is a manual for aging services workers that helps to ensure an appropriate response to an older victim of sexual abuse.
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- Late Life Domestic Violence: What the Aging Network Needs to Know |
by National Association of State Units on Aging (February 2006)
This document emphasizes community collaboration and the role of aging network in responding to domestic and sexual abuse in later life. It presents information about domestic and sexual abuse as well as the types of programs and services available.
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- Power and Control: Understanding Domestic Abuse in Later Life |
by Bonnie Brandl, Abuse and Neglect of Older People (Summer 2000)
Emphasizing a well-grounded understanding of abuse for effective intervention, this document provides information about the power and control dynamics of domestic abuse in later life.
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Justice Professionals
ustice professionals, including law enforcement, prosecutors, judges, court personnel, and civil attorneys, may encounter cases of elder abuse. Listed in this section are selected resources related to legal issues in elder abuse cases, including enhancing victim safety and holding offenders accountable.
- ABA Standards of Practice for Lawyers Representing Victims of Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault, and Stalking in Civil Protection Order Cases |
by American Bar Association (2007)
This document offers guidelines as a reference tool for legal service providers representing victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking in civil protection cases. The standards of practice cover a range of abuses, including elder abuse.
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- Effective Court Practice for Abused Elders |
by Diane Nunn, Charlene Depner, Lee Morhar, Yolanda Leung, Amy Nunez and Deana Piazza, Judicial Council of California & the Center for Families, Children and the Courts (February 2008)
This report is the product of two-year research. The study examined elder abuse cases and specialized response to elder abuse by courts. Included in this report are innovative and promising practices in addressing elder abuse and elder needs.
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- Elder Abuse Emerges from the Shadows of Public Consciousness |
by Philip Bulman, National Institute of Justice (2010)
This article describes two studies that use scientific criteria to distinguish accidental bruising from abusive bruising. The article discusses barriers to responding to abuse and emphasizes collaboration between prosecutors and victim advocates.
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- A Multi-Site Assessment of Court-Focused Elder Abuse Initiatives |
by Lori A. Stiegel and Pamela B. Teaster (2011)
This 2011 American Bar Association Study demonstrates that court-focused elder abuse initiatives enhance access to justice for victims and offer benefits to courts and other agencies.
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- Policy Positions on the Prosecution of Elder Abuse, Neglect, and Financial Exploitation |
by National District Attorneys Association (March 2003)
This is a policy position on elder abuse that emphasizes multidisciplinary approach for successful prosecution of elder abuse.
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- Practical Issues: Preparing and Prosecuting Elder Sexual Assault Cases |
by Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rape & Pennsylvania Department of Aging
This booklet explores obstacles to prosecution of elder sexual abuse cases and offers practical solutions for professionals involved in these cases.
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- Prosecuting Elder Abuse Cases |
by Sarah B. Berson, National Institute of Justice (2010)
This article describes the challenges in prosecuting for elder abuse, laws that specifically protect elders, and offers suggestion for improving the handling of elder abuse cases. A collaborative and multidisciplinary approach is emphasized.
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Faith Communities
Many older people who experience abuse, neglect, or exploitation do not contact adult protective services, DV/SV services, or the justice system. Some older people may talk to leaders in their faith community before or instead of contacting any other professionals. This section lists several resources on elder abuse awareness in faith communities.
- Raising Awareness of Abuse of Older Adults: An Issue for Faith Communities |
by Elizabeth Podnieks and Susan Wilson (2004)
This paper describes a pilot government-funded project to raise awareness of elder abuse in faith communities.
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- What Every Faith Congregation Needs to Know about Elder Abuse |
by National Center on Elder Abuse (September 2005)
This document provides information about the dynamics of elder abuse to clergy and other members of religious congregations and about reporting as well as preventing elder abuse.
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Long-Term or Residential Care Facilities
Many older people who experience abuse, neglect, and exploitation live in care facilities. Studies on abuse in such facilities can be found in the Research section of this special collection. One resource for long-term or residential care service providers is listed below.
- Adult Victims of Crime and Abuse in Residential Care Facilities |
by National Organization for Victim Assistance (NOVA)
This webpage offers information about the different types of abuses that may be occurring in residential care facilities and offers guidance for reporting abuse.
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Collaboration/Coordinated Community Response
This section emphasizes collaboration between advocacy service providers, adult protective service providers, and other community organizations.
Ageless Alliance: United Against Elder Abuse
The Ageless Alliance is a grass-roots movement that brings organizations, communities and individuals together to take action-oriented steps in preventing and responding to elder abuse.
- Barriers to and Promising Practices for Collaboration between Adult Protective Services and Domestic Violence Service Providers |
by Joanne Marlatt Otto and Kathleen Quinn, National Center on Elder Abuse (May 2007)
The paper describes the roles of the Adult Protective Services and domestic violence services and discusses barriers to collaboration between the two service systems. It then presents promising practices of collaborative initiatives.
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- Community Collaboration: A Recommendation for APS |
DOC (17 p.)
by Joanne Marlatt Otto and Kathleen Quinn, National Adult Protective Services Association (May 2007)
This paper offers practical tools that adult protective service providers can use to collaborate with other community organizations and be able to offer a greater variety of supportive and effective services.
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- Elder Abuse Fatality Review Teams: A Replication Manual |
by Lori A. Stiegel, American Bar Association (2005)
This manual emphasizes the need for a multidisciplinary Elder Abuse Fatality Review Team (EA-FRT), discusses various issues and challenges that EA-FRT may face, and presents suggestions for addressing these challenges.
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- Domestic Violence in Later Life: A Guide to the Aging Network for Domestic Violence and Victim Service Programs |
by National Association of State Units on Aging (March 2006)
This document presents information about the national aging network and offers guidelines for collaboration between aging and domestic violence networks to address the problem of abuse in later life.
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- Multidisciplinary Elder Abuse Prevention Teams, A New Generation |
by Lisa Nerenberg, National Center on Elder Abuse (September 2003)
This manual describes objectives and benefits of multidisciplinary teams. It describes specialized teams and their benefits, and drawbacks. Trends, challenges, a checklist for starting or revitalizing teams, and best practice resources are included.
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- Response to Elder Abuse: Self Assessment Workbooks |
by Candance Heisler for The National Clearinghouse on Abuse in Later Life (NCALL) (Revised June 2011)
This set of self-assessment tools was developrd to assist communities in evaluating practices within and across key intervening agencies and in building a coordinated response to elder abuse. The tools include a series of workbooks for five key interveners: (1) domestic violence and sexual assault victim services, (2) adult protective services, (3) law enforcement, (4) prosecution, and (5) courts—and one that addresses coordinated community response (CCR).
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- Wisconsin Elder Adults/Adults-at-Risk Interdisciplinary Team Manual |
by Jane Raymond, Steve Steinbacher, Amy Nigbor, Natalie Bonnes, Ramona Williams, and Bonnie Weyers, Wisconsin Department of Health (October 2009)
This manual describes information for organizing, operating and maintaining an Interdisciplinary Team.
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Training Materials | Back to top
This section has a selected list of training materials focusing on elder abuse, including domestic violence and sexual abuse in later life.
- Building a Coalition to Address Domestic Abuse in Later Life: Planning and Training Guide | PDF (198 p.)
by Ada Albright, Bonnie Brandl, Julie Rozwadowski, Mary K. Wall, National Clearing House on Abuse in Later Life and AARP Foundation (Revised 2004)
This training curriculum offers suggestions on facilitating community groups, particularly helping community members form a group, or to strengthen existing groups and organize forums for community members to talk about abuse in later life.
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- Elder Abuse Training Curriculum on Serving Victims of Elder Abuse in the Asian Pacific Islander Community for Law Enforcement, Prosecutors, and Court Personnel | HTML (1 p.)
by Asian and Pacific Islander Institute
This training curriculum is aimed at increasing understanding of elder abuse in the Asian and Pacific Islander community. It includes information about types of elder abuse, safety concerns, and barriers faced by older persons when seeking help.
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- Elder Sexual Abuse Law Enforcement Training Curriculum | HTML (1 p.)
by Florida Council Against Sexual Violence
This curriculum covers topics such as recognizing, responding to, and investigating elder sexual assault. The training is interactive, and case studies based on real crimes are used to give the officers practice in applying the information they learn.
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- Interactive Training Exercises on Abuse in Later Life | PDF (145 p.)
by Bonnie Brandl and Deb Spangler, National Clearinghouse on Abuse in Later Life (2004)
This manual offers interactive exercises on understanding and responding to abuse in later life.
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- Safe at any age: A curriculum designed to educate elders in Pennsylvania communities about sexual violence | PDF (50 p.)
by Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rape’s Elder Sexual Abuse Prevention Committee (2006)
This curriculum is designed to educate elders in Pennsylvania communities about sexual violence. The primary audience of this curriculum is persons over the age of 60 who live in a community and do not require full time health care.
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- Addressing Elder Sexual Abuse: Developing a community response | HTML (13 p.)
by Karla Vierthaler, Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rape and the Pennsylvania Department of Aging (2004)
This six module-training curriculum promotes community partnerships in preventing and intervening in cases of elder sexual abuse.
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- Practical Issues: Preparing and Prosecuting Elder Sexual Assault Cases | PDF (22 p.)
by Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rape & Pennsylvania Department of Aging
This booklet explores obstacles to prosecution of elder sexual abuse cases and offers practical solutions for professionals involved in these cases.
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- Elder Sexual Assault: Technical Assistance Manual for Pennsylvania’s Sexual Violence Centers | PDF (16 p.)
by Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rape (2005)
The goal of this manual is to allow sexual violence advocates/counselors to become adept in dealing with elder clients. Advocates can use this guide to learn the basics of effectively working with elder clients or utilize it in a crisis situation.
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- Elder Sexual Assault: Technical Assistance Manual for Older Adult Protective Services | PDF (36 p.)
by Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rape (2007)
This is a manual for aging services workers that helps to ensure an appropriate response to an older victim of sexual abuse.
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Laws & Public Policy | Back to top
The documents in this section provide some information about laws and public policies related to elder abuse.
- The Laws in Your State | HTML (1 p.)
by Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network (December 2009)
This database provides state-by-state information about mandatory reporting, confidentiality laws, HIV/AIDS testing of sexual offenders, and criminal statutes of limitations for sexual offense.
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- Information about Laws related to Elder Abuse | PDF (5 p.)
by Lori Stiegel and Ellen Klem, American Bar Association Commission on Law and Aging (2007)
This document provides information about federal and state statutes related to elder abuse. It presents information current at the end of December 2006.
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National Organizations Addressing Abuse in Later Life | Back to top
The following list includes some national organizations only, arranged alphabetically.American Bar Association Commission on Law and Aging
The mission of the ABA Commission on Law and Aging is to strengthen and secure the legal rights, dignity, autonomy, quality of life, and quality of care of elders. It carries out this mission through research, policy development, technical assistance, advocacy, education, and training. The Commission consists of a 15-member interdisciplinary body of experts in aging and law, including lawyers, judges, health and social services professionals, academics, and advocates.Center of Excellence on Elder Abuse and Neglect – University of California, Irvine
The Center of Excellence on Elder Abuse and Neglect is at the UCI School of Medicine, Program in Geriatrics. Locally, the Center of Excellence provides medical, forensic, and victim services to abused and neglected seniors and serves as a "living laboratory" of innovative approaches. Statewide, the Center of Excellence serves as a central source of technical assistance, best practice information, multidisciplinary training, useful research, and relevant policy issues in California.Clearinghouse on Abuse and Neglect of the Elderly
The Clearinghouse on Abuse and Neglect of the Elderly, located at the Universityof Delaware, is the nation's largest archive of published research, training resources, government documents, and other sources on elder abuse.The Eldercare Locator
The Eldercare Locator, public service of the Administration on Aging, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, is a nationwide service that connects older Americans and their caregivers with information on senior services.MARICOPA Elder Abuse Prevention Alliance
MARICOPA Elder Abuse Prevention Alliance (MEAPA) promotes public awareness, education, and community outreach for the prevention of Elder Abuse and Late-Life Domestic Violence.National Adult Protective Services Association
The mission of the National Adult Protective Services Association (NAPSA) is to improve the quality and availability of protective services for disabled adults and elderly persons who are abused, neglected or exploited and are unable to protect their own interests.National Association of States United for Aging and Disabilities
The National Association of States United for Aging and Disabilities (NASUAD) was founded in 1964 under the name National Association of State Units on Aging (NASUA). In 2010, the organization changed its name to NASUAD in an effort to formally recognize the work that the state agencies were undertaking in the field of disability policy and advocacy. Today, NASUAD represents the nation's 56 officially designated state and territorial agencies on aging and disabilities and supports visionary state leadership, the advancement of state systems innovation and the articulation of a national policies that support home and community based services for older adults and individuals with disabilities.National Center on Elder Abuse
National Center on Elder Abuse (NCEA) serves as a national resource center dedicated to the prevention of elder mistreatment.National Clearinghouse on Abuse in Later Life
National Clearinghouse on Abuse in Later Life's (NCALL) mission is to eliminate abuse in later life by challenging beliefs, policies, practices and systems that allow abuse to occur and continue and to improve safety, services and support to victims through advocacy and education.National Committee For the Prevention of Elder Abuse
The National Committee for the Prevention of Elder Abuse (NCPEA) is an association of researchers, practitioners, educators, and advocates dedicated to protecting the safety, security, and dignity of America's most vulnerable citizens.National Consumer Voice for Quality Long-Term Care
The National Consumer Voice for Quality Long-Term Care (formerly NCCNHR) was formed in 1975 as the National Citizen's Coalition for Nursing Home Reform because of public concern about substandard care in nursing homes.National Long-Term Care Ombudsman Resource Center
The National Long-Term Care Ombudsman Resource Center provides support, technical assistance and training to the 53 State Long-Term Care Ombudsman Programs and their statewide networks of almost 600 regional (local) programs.
Bibliographies: Available Journal Articles on Abuse in Later Life | Back to top
These bibliographies contain journal articles available online for purchase or through subscription
- Sexual Violence in Later Life: Annotated Bibliography | PDF (8 p.) TXT (8 p.)
by National Sexual Violence Resource Center (2010)
This document provides analysis on 33 articles from academia and the sexual violence prevention field regarding multiple aspects of sexual violence in later life.
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- Sexual Violence in Later Life: Resource List | PDF (2 p.) TXT (2 p.)
by National Sexual Violence Resource Center (2010)
This two-page document offers information on curricula and manuals, online training, special journal editions, videos and websites.
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- Domestic Violence in Later Life Annotated Bibliography | PDF (5 p.) HTML
by Sheetal Rana, VAWnet, the National Online Resource Center on Violence Against Women (July 2010)
This bibliography includes selected journal articles from year 2000 onward and focuses specifically on domestic violence against older women.
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