Type:	Journal Article
Title:	Responding to the needs of older women experiencing domestic violence
Other Titles:	Violence against women
Authors:	Montiminy, Lyse Straka, Silvia M
Keywords:	Older people;Service provision;Interagency work
Year:	2006
Publisher:	Sage Publications
Citation:	12 (3), March 2006
Notes:	This Canadian paper suggests that most literature is focused on domestic violence as primarily a problem of women in their teens to thirties. The authors discuss the existence of domestic violence in old age and identify it as a growing problem due to an ageing population. The lack of knowledge about the problem of domestic violence against older women and how to respond to these women’s needs is explored. This paper reviews the literature on two forms of family violence: elder abuse and domestic violence, and discusses the differences between abused older women and abused younger women. Two different intervention networks are referred to that assist older women experiencing domestic violence: (a) a women’s shelter network in the community, which uses a feminist domestic violence approach; and (b) ageing resources (including adult protection services or APS) in the health and social services network, which use an elder abuse approach. The major problem for each network is identified: the feminist domestic violence approach is grounded in gender perspective but does not account for age; and ageing resources are grounded in an ageing perspective that does not account for gender. Described are how each of these paradigms (domestic violence and elder abuse) explains the form of family violence with which it is concerned, as well as its dominant approaches to intervention with emphasis on how that paradigm would explain and respond to domestic violence in older women. The strengths and limitations of both paradigms are discussed. Domestic violence resources are considered poorly suited to understand and meet the age-specific needs of older women inasmuch as they neglected to reach out, and adapt their resources, to older women. The elder abuse response is considered to focus primarily on physical health needs and ignored gender and domestic violence issues. This paper highlights the importance of responding to the needs of older women experiencing domestic violence and of identifying what is needed before this can be achieved. A collaborative response is recommended which addresses the age and gender dimension of oppression and vulnerability experienced by older women.
URI:	https://anrows.intersearch.com.au/anrowsjspui/handle/1/16680
ISSN:	1077-8012
Appears in Collections:	Journal Articles

Items in ANROWS library are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved, unless otherwise indicated.