Communities and Culture Committee

Scrutiny Inquiry : Domestic Abuse

Response from Help the Aged in Wales

May 2008

In relation to the Committee Review, Help the Aged in Wales wishes to raise the issue of elder abuse as having a clear link to domestic abuse and to highlight the importance of not allowing the varying definitions of, and approaches to, the two issues to lead to a lack of response and service provision for older victims .

Elder Abuse is defined as action that causes harm to an older person in any relationship where there is an expectation of trust. There are five main types of abuse: physical, psychological, financial, sexual and neglect. Elder abuse can occur in any setting including in an individual’s own home.

There is a clear link between elder abuse and domestic abuse and we are concerned that the enquiry ensures that it considers elder abuse when looking at the delivery of the strategy for tackling domestic abuse and the provision of support and services to victims.

The Strategy for Older People in Wales, Phase 2 states that with respect to elder abuse the Adult Protection Advisory Group will identify the causes of abuse of older people, the extent of the problem, the most effective mechanisms for tackling it and how best to support those affected. It states that the first step in 2008 will be to consider the scope and depth of the existing policy framework to determine the need for further action.

The Welsh National Strategy for tackling domestic abuse has a wide definition of the issue, 'the use of physical and / or emotional abuse or violence, including undermining of self confidence, sexual violence or the threat of violence, by a person who is or has been in a close relationship’. It recognises that domestic abuse cuts across age, race and religion.

Nevertheless, we are concerned that currently elder abuse as a facet of domestic abuse is not mentioned in the Strategy for Tackling Domestic Abuse and whilst we are aware that the Welsh Assembly Government are addressing the issue through the Strategy for Older People we believe that the cross-referencing of the issue is vital, particularly given the emphasis on mainstreaming both the issues and the funding from the Strategy for Older People in Wales.

Sometimes there is confusion between domestic violence in later life and elder abuse (domestic violence may be hidden by elder abuse) which leads to gaps in service provision. Women’s Aid comment on the ambiguous space that older women experience between the social issues of domestic violence and elder abuse and thus the potential for victims to 'fall between the cracks …of the systems’.

500,000 older people are belived to be abused at any one time in the UK. Partners (51%) and other family members (49%) are most commonly reported as perpetrators of mistreatment. Relatively less mistreatment is carried out by care workers (13%) or friends (5%). In a recent survey three-quarters of those asked said that the effect of the mistreatment experienced was either serious (43%) or very serious (33%). This is therefore a signficicant problem for a number of older people. (UK Study of Abuse and Neglect of Older People: Qualitative Findings. August 2007)

Abuse that takes place in a persons home is the least visible, it is less likely to be detected and it may be difficult for the older person or those that witness it to report it.

Help the Aged research into public awareness and attitudes on elder abuse has shown that many people have little understanding of what elder abuse is or what to do if they or someone they know is affected by it. Many show low unpromopted awareness with only 2 per cent of people recognising it as an important issue.

Help the Aged is keen to ensure that the Welsh Assembly Government recognises that elder abuse in some circumstances may constitute a continuation of an abusive relationship that has existed for a large proportion of that person’s life.

A report for Help the Aged in 2004 found that there was a noticeable lack of literature, research and guidelines on the issue of domestic violence in those aged over 60. Nevertheless, that same research found that many Women’s Aid organisations were doing innovative work with this group. However, it was still important to challenge any assumption that domestic violence is not an issue for older women and to stimulate debate that will encourage the development of more accessible services for older survivors of domestic abuse.

The research found that older women are less likely to report their abuse than other age groups. The cultural differences in society prior to the 1970s combined with the fact that domestic violence was not considered a crime led to many women 'suffering in silence’. It also demonstrated that whilst take-up rates for services amonst older women are generally low, where specialist domestic violence projects have been established for older women, demand outstrips supply.

Problems relating to disabilities, mobility or transport difficulties also mean that older women may have specific needs in relation to support services.

Help the Aged in Wales would emphasise the need for adult protection committees to work together with those organisations that are addressing issues of domestic abuse and to ensure that professionals are trained to recognise the overlap between domestic violence and elder abuse.

¹Women’s Aid, Older Women and Domestic Violence. An Overview, 2007
²Help the Aged, Older women and domestic violence, A report for Help the Aged/hact, Imogen Blood, 2004.