Use of Domestic Violence Services Across Race and Ethnicity by Women Aged 55 and Older

Abstract

This study focuses on 2,702 White, African American, and Hispanic female victims of domestic violence aged 55 and older who sought services from domestic violence programs. The experiences of these elders in terms of the type of abuse, the relationship to the abuser, the referral source, and service needs are described. Findings indicate that older women in the domestic violence service system have different experiences than persons in the adult protective service system. They are more frequently victims of intimate partner violence and have corresponding service needs that vary by race and ethnicity. The implications for older victims of domestic violence are discussed.

Domestic Violence or Elder Abuse? Why it Matters for Older Women

“…For instance, medical personnel are more likely to refer older women to APS rather than DV programs, possibly due to more familiarity with APS programs. Grossman and Lundy (2003) also find that the depiction of abuse among older women derived from DV program data is different from that which comes from the APS data, which has serious implications for intervention:…”

“…Although women of color may be underrepresented in studies of assessment, there are significant differences that can be found between referrals to domestic violence programs and adult protective services. Grossman and Lundy (2003) detailed some of these differences:…”

Intimate Partner Violence in Late Life

“…Another research team surveyed DV program coordinators across British Columbia and the Yukon to determine service gaps and programming needs of victims of DV, aged 50 and older (Hightower, Smith, Ward-Hall, & Hightower, 2000). Grossman and Lundy (2003) used statewide data from Illinois to compare the experiences and needs of White, African American, and Hispanic female victims of abuse (aged 55+) who sought services from DV programs. In one of the largest studies identified in the empirical literature, Dimah and Dimah (2003) analyzed data from the Illinois Elder Abuse and Neglect Program to identify differences in family violence experiences of rural (n = 7,178) versus urban (n = 7,614) women.…”

“…Secondary analyses of agency reports, case files, and case studies were other methodological approaches found in the literature (e.g., Chrichton et al, 1999;Grossman & Lundy, 2003;T. S. Koenig et al, 2006;Osgood & Manetta, 2002).…”

Experiences and Perceptions of Intimate Partner Violence Among Older Chinese Immigrants

“…In a sample of 1,245 functionally independent post-menopausal women aged 50-79, Mouton 2 JOURNAL OF ELDER ABUSE & NEGLECT et al (2004) indicate that 5.25% of their respondents reported physical abuse in the past year. While the above-mentioned studies contribute to the knowledge base of partner abuse among older couples, few studies have examined abuse among older ethnic minority and immigrant couples (Grossman & Lundy, 2003). Available research does indicate that older African American and Hispanic couples report a higher incidence of partner violence than non-Hispanic White couples (Field & Caetano, 2005;Jasinski & Dietz, 2003).…”