Domestic Violence in

Older Adults
GROUP JOKE
JORDANA SOUZA, ORLANDRIA PRICE, KEASIA HICKS, ERIN EVANS

Demographic

Description of Problem
Often times Domestic Violence isn't report in late adulthood.
Although there are some report majority of the violent issue
adults deal with in late adulthood is elder abuse.
What is elder abuse?
Elder abuse is any knowing, intended, or careless act that causes
harm or serious risk of harm to an older person physically,
mentally, emotionally, or financially.

Types of Abuse
The term is quite broad and encompasses many different types of mistreatment:

Physical abuse - Use of force to threaten or physically injure a vulnerable elder.

Emotional abuse - Verbal attacks, threats, rejection, isolation, or belittling acts that cause or could cause mental
anguish, pain, or distress to an elder.

Sexual abuse - Sexual contact that is forced, tricked, threatened, or otherwise coerced upon another person,
including anyone who is unable to grant consent.

Exploitation - Theft, fraud, misuse or neglect of authority, and use of undue influence as a lever to gain control
over an older persons money or property.

Neglect - A caregivers failure or refusal to provide for a vulnerable elders safety, physical, or emotional needs.

Abandonment - Desertion of a frail or vulnerable elder by anyone with a duty of care.

Self-neglect - An inability to understand the consequences of ones own actions or inaction, which leads to, or may
lead to, harm or endangerment.

Biological Factors
Biological Factors with General Aging

Lose muscle bone mass and bone weight,

Lower metabolic rate

Lower reaction time

Decreased sexual activity and

Experience functional declines in all organs.

(Kolling et. al., 2014, p. 103)

Biological Factors with Domestic Violence with Elders (continuum from previous years)

Dementia (Stewart, et. al., 2013, p. 5).

Brain Dysfunctions (Stewart, et. al., 2013, p. 5).

Major bone problems (broken bones)

Arthritis

Hearing Loss

(McGarry, 2010, p. 35)

Psychological
Factors
Better know as
emotional abuse
that present in 2
different types:
Verbal vs. Physical

The physical include: Not maintaining the

health of the elder person, hitting, punching,
slapping, tripping, giving them little to no
food or water, not taking to the doctor etc...
The verbal include: yelling and threatening,
humiliate and ridicule.
Psychological include: Ignoring the elder
person, isolate them from other family and
friends, Terrorize and be menacing towards
the elder person.
( AOA.gov, 2001)

Cultural Factors & Family Issues

Cultural Reasons, Personal Values & Beliefs

Active Neglect

Financial Abuse

Social Factors

Family Relationships

Dysfunctional family relationships

Record of violent interactions in the family

Hostility towards the older adults presence

Previous abuse in the young and middle adulthood

Social isolation/deprivation

Lack of a support system

Economic and social pressure

(Von Heydrich, et. al., 2012, p.73)

Ethical Considerations & Issues

Identification and Treatment of Adult Abuse Act (1980)

Elder Justice Act (2009)

Social Security Act

Theoretical Framework

Human Ecological Theory

The individual is developing and

interacting with multiple environments
simultaneously. The caregiver is
experiencing stress of the burden of
caring for the elder person and mental
health problems. Most likely the
caregiver is dependent on the elder
person. Mostly the caregiver is a family
member and does not have the access
to the proper resources to help in caring
for the elder family member.
(Schiamrg, 1999 pg. 79103)

Family Systems Theory

Each family is unique, due to the infinite

variations in personal characteristics and
cultural and ideological styles;
The family is an interactional system
whose component parts have constantly
shifting boundaries and varying degrees
of resistance to change;

Families must fulfill a variety of functions

for each member, both collectively and
individually, if each member is to grow
and develop; and

Families pass through developmental and

nondevelopmental changes that produce
varying amounts of stress affecting all
members.

Comparative Analysis
Young vs. Older Adults
Young adults report more
physical and sexual abuse
Victims are more likely to be
minorities
Most domestic violence
programs were designed for
younger women
Abuse is more likely fueled by
substance abuse or mental
illness

Older adults report more emotional and

financial abuse
Victims for
both groups
are more
likely to be
females, and
their abuser
a family
member.

Victims more likely to be white

Receive fewer services

Have fewer contacts to get help
Limited information on Domestic
Violence in the Older Adult population
Domestic violence experience is more
likely to be silenced or ignored

Practice Recommendations
Elder Abuse prevention strategies
Who has them: The Division of Aging, CDC, The Division of Human Services, The
Department of Aging, Area Agencies on Aging and Aging Protective Services.
In April of 2011 the DHS and DAS created together a training format to combat
elder abuse. ACT= Adult Crime Tactics with 800 specialist across Georgia.
DAS and AAA came up with together guidelines and standards called the Georgia
Elder Abuse Prevention Program. It contains information that should be used as a
guideline for how local elder care agencies. A universal code on how a facility
should operate.
(CDC.gov,2015)
(Aging.ghs.ga.gov,2014)

Interviews

Erin J. Evans interviewed Mrs. Cathy Sidwell social work assist. for
Grady Memorial Hospital

Jordana Souza interviewed Ms. Marcia Oliveira, a caregiver

Orlandria Price interviewed Ms. Amanda Planchard, Director of Victim

Assistance at Fulton County Solicitor General's Office

KeAsia Hicks interviewed Ms. Cat Young, LTCO Coordinator at River

Valley Ombudsman Program

June 15th

Elder abuse is an under-recognized,

undetected and underreported
problemwith devastating andlifethreatening consequences.Report ALL
suspected abuse, neglect and
exploitation TODAY.Be the voice for
those who are suffering silently!
1-866-55-AGING

REFERENCES

Please visit our website for references

http://domesticviolencejoke.weebly.com/