Domestic abuse of older people

Building a National Picture of The Abuse of Older People: Domestic Abuse of Older People.

Do older people suffer from domestic abuse? This Hourglass policy briefing paper explores the key issues, trends, and barriers surrounding the domestic abuse of older people. Within this piece, Hourglass outlines its work on championing amendments for the Domestic Abuse Bill, as well as lays down future policy recommendations for policymakers, legislators, and practitioners.

 

Key Issues:

 

  • Public awareness and professional understanding of domestic abuse of older people needs to be improved. Public information campaigns need to reinforce the reality that domestic abuse can affect people of all ages and the risk doesn’t stop when someone reaches 65.

 

  • Legislation on domestic abuse has to take account of the particular needs and circumstances of older people.

 

  • In helping victims to escape their abusers, we also need to be realistic about older people’s circumstances. We need to ensure specialist support services are available in the community to help victims of all ages.

 

  • Legislation in all parts of the UK must provide the same level of protection for older people - including powers of intervention for the police and local authorities - where a risk of domestic abuse is suspected.

Hourglass policy domestic abuse brief

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