Who You Calling Old? Measuring “Elderly” and What It Means for Homicide Research

Abstract

Although Americans are less likely to experience violent crime as they age, research interest in elderly victims of violence is growing. An initial question that has been overlooked concerns how best to measure “elderly.” In the homicide literature, the most common definition is a single category of age 65 and older. With U.S. adults living longer, healthier, and more active lives, use of a single category may no longer adequately capture this heterogeneous population. The present study explores how a multiple-category definition of elderly might inform the study of homicide by identifying patterns that could promote more tailored explanations.

National Religious Affiliation and Integrated Model of Homicide and Suicide

“…Also, viewing the age group size of older than 65 years as a homogeneous group may be too simplistic. In her study of U.S. adults, Addington (2013, p. 138) asserted that the homicide victimization of “young old” (65-74 years) is different from “oldest old” (85 years and older). The victims from the oldest old are more likely to be females and killed by family members than the young old.…”

Female geronticide: the case of Israel

“…An allied difficulty is deciding who qualifies as an 'elderly woman' (cf. Addington, 2012). There is no set age for seniority, and the definition of the 'elderly' can vary from one society to another and within different sub-sections of the same society.…”

“…An article entitled 'Who you calling Old? Measuring "Elderly" and what it means for Homicide Research' (Addington, 2012) shows that the over 65 population is treated heterogeneously in the United States. Whereas homicide studies usually count 65 and over as 'elderly', Addington suggests a multiple-category definition of elderly in homicide research, which identifies similarities and differences among elderly and non-elderly populations.…”

Envisioning Criminology

“…This revelation surprisedand frustrated-me. It also resulted in the paper I actually wrote on measuring elderly and the way in which different measures of elderly affect the fi ndings obtained (Addington, 2013a ).…”