Type:	Report
Title:	Older women's experience of violence : report on the older women and safety project
Authors:	Elder, Jean
Keywords:	Older people
Year:	2000
Publisher:	CASA House, The Royal Women's Hospital
Notes:	A sample of 106 Victorian women over 50 was consulted via focus group, telephone and direct interview about their experiences of violence. 22 service providers also took part in the project. Older women reported abuse ranging from verbal threats to physical and sexual violence, both as an adult and as a child. The report highlights that older women rarely told anyone about the violence and abuse and when they finally sought support, it was never easy. Women felt trapped by economic dependence, having the responsibility of young children and a lack of appropriate support services. Older women faced the combination of ageism and sexism, and the view that the family unit was a caring environment that should not be interfered with. The need for specialist support and counselling was emphasised by many of the women. Despite some positive reports, intervention by some practitioners, police and general practitioners in particular, placed the woman in a dangerous, often isolating position. Recommendations included the need to provide training to service providers about older women and violence, the need for guidelines for general practitioners, and the development of information and networks (including peer support groups) which can reach out to older women at a much earlier stage in their lives.
URI:	https://anrows.intersearch.com.au/anrowsjspui/handle/1/19506
Physical description:	41 p.
Appears in Collections:	Reports

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