What do practitioners need to know about us?

So what about you as a professional. We asked survivors the question “What do practitioners need to know about older women as survivors of domestic violence and abuse?"

These are the areas they suggested:

Click on each to access a more detailed explanation and links to further reading. As you read through each statement and the accompanying resources consider the following question: “What does this mean for me as a practitioner?”

For example, you might consider how ‘only now getting to know my grandchildren’ may impact on an older woman’s support networks or result in social isolation in later life. The resources listed here are not exhaustive but provide a starting point for further reading and exploration.

The resources listed here are not exhaustive but provide a starting point for further reading and exploration. It is important however for all professionals to consider DVA when undertaking assessment in practice.

"Only now getting to know
my grandchildren."

"Helpline numbers on the back of toilet doors are OK, but what about older women?"

"Anything wrong it's always down to your depression rather than the cause."

"Suffered in silence. We don't talk about it easily"

"Feeling ashamed to admit that I was suffering domestic abuse."

"Being able to trust a person, someone to listen and understand. It takes time to trust."

"It's 3 years since I left the relationship but after 20 years there's still progress to make."

"To listen and to believe you. To be understood."

"We don't want
to be judged."

"Only now getting to know my grandchildren"

The impact of domestic violence and abuse is far reaching and can continue to exert a significant impact on families even after the abuse has ceased. For older women this might mean that family support and structures are fragmented or absent. Ultimately, may lead to further social isolation in later life. The following publication, which directly considers social isolation, sets the particular situation of older women within the wider global context of domestic violence and abuse.

The United Nations (2013) Neglect, Abuse and Violence against Older Women: Division for Social Policy and DevelopmentDepartment of Economic and Social Affairs, United Nations.

"Lipsticks with helpline numbers"

For older survivors of abuse many of the resources may not seem to be appropriate for them. For example, in a study by McGarry et al (2014) it was identified that specialist abuse services posters and leaflets often depicted pictures of young women or families and as such older people were unaware that that they could access support services as older women.

McGarry J, Simpson C and Hinsliff-Smith K, (2014). An exploration of service responses to domestic abuse among older people: findings from one region of the UK Journal of Adult Protection. 16(4)

http://www.emeraldinsight.com/journal/jap

"Anything wrong it is always down to your depression..."

A study by Lazenblatt et al (2010) has highlighted the potential impact for older women across all facets of health and wellbeing. The key findings of the study are listed below:

Key findings:

Social expectations and a lack of specialist services for older victims means that older women are less likely to seek help with violence and abuse
Older women lose significant aspects of their 'wellbeing' over the lifetime of abuse
Psychological abuse has the strongest impact on their physical and mental health such as long-term depression and anxiety, and the likelihood of becoming a heavy drinker and experiencing alcohol dependence
Isolation, loneliness, fear and loss of relationships such as those with children, family and friends has serious detrimental effects over the lifespan
Older women are more likely to resort to misusing alcohol and prescription drugs in order to cope, with significant consequences for their mental and physical health
Depression through the life-course may play some role in increasing the chance of becoming a victim of interpersonal violence, and may even make it even harder for them to leave an abusive relationship.
Older women have limited positive coping abilities as they are not receiving adequate support from the protective services, or their GPs and the Criminal Justice System.

"Suffered in silence. We don't talk about it easily."

We have provided a link below to a study which was undertaken in Scotland. It is entitled For 39 Years I got on with it which captures the sense of hiddenness that surrounded domestic violence and abuse within the particular context of older women.
This study provides an in-depth account of older women's experiences of domestic violence and abuse and poses a number of pivotal questions for readers.

Including;

Who are older women? What if anything distinguishes their experiences and circumstances from those of younger women?

Scott, M., McKie, l., Morton, S., Seddon, E., Wasoff, F. (2004) Older Women and Domestic Violence in Scotland. Health Scotland.

"Feeling ashamed to admit that I was suffering domestic abuse"

It is important for practitioners to recognise that many older women have experienced domestic violence and abuse for a large part of their lives and as Lazenblatt and colleagues highlight:

'Abuse of older women is not generally age based, rather it is often 'domestic violence grown old - a continuation of violence started earlier in life'

Lazenbatt, A., Devaney, J., Gildea A. (2010) Older women's lifelong experience of domestic violence in Northern Ireland. Changing Ageing Partnerships (CAP)

"Being able to trust the person who we are talking to, someone who will listen and understand. It takes time to trust."

The telling of personal stories can be powerful and empowering and in Mears (2003) paper entitled Survival is not Enough she describes both the empowering nature of story telling for older women but also illuminates a number of more hidden facets of survivorship for older women for example, trust and being believed – this is really important as Mears highlights, for women who have 'been silenced and unable to talk of the violence throughout their lives' (p1483):

Reference: Mears, J. (2003) Survival is Not Enough: Violence Against Older Women in Australia. Violence Against Women 9(12), 1478-1489

"It's been three years since I left the relationship but after 20 years there's still a lot of progress to make."

There is a growing body of evidence surrounding the longer term impact of domestic violence and abuse for older women and Stöckl et al paper considers both the impact of historical abuse but also importantly, the issues surrounding current experiences of abuse for older women.

Stöckl, H., Watts, C., Penhale, B. (2012) Intimate Partner Violence Against Older Women in Germany: Prevalence and Associated Factors Journal of Interpersonal Violence. 27(13) 2545-2564

"To listen and to believe you. To be understood."

Reference: Mears, J. (2003) Survival is Not Enough: Violence Against Older Women in Australia. Violence Against Women 9(12), 1478-1489

"We don't want to be judged"

Many reports and accounts that older women have shared within the literature relate to their own experiences of agencies and professionals. In many instances older women may feel that they are not listened to or that they are judged as in some way responsible for their situation:

[However] many of the women had disclosed the abuse to health care professionals such as their GP, at some point in the relationship. Rarely had this led to them being offered any support for the violence and in some cases women described situations where only their partners had been offered appropriate sup- port and they had been encouraged to be more supportive of their partner (pg. 99)

Penhale, B. and Porrit, J.(2010) Intimate Partner Violence Against Women. National Report United Kingdom. University of Sheffield

"I am concerned about failing – I don't want to have to repeat the placement"

It is understandable that students fear failing their clinical placement. If you are finding the placement difficult, the clinical and academic staff will work closely with you to set an improvement action plan. Don't let the stress of anticipated failing sabotage your thinking. Take each challenge at a time and listen to understand constructive criticism…..rather than hearing it as personal criticism

"I am still developing my communication skills. What about if I'm not able to communicate well with my patients and colleagues"

Most people are in the same boat! The early placements provide an ideal opportunity for you to practise and hone your basic communication skills. During later placements you will be able to adapt your skills to more complex situations. Remember we all communicate differently in each new situation. Remain honest, pleasant and professional.

"I realise that 4 weeks full-time assessment is VERY intense but exciting"

Absolutely! It is realistic to assume that your clinical placement experience will be demanding, but you will also be exposed to lots of exciting opportunities. Using critical reflection before, during and after your placement can help you map and deepen your progress.