Table of Contents

About This Course

1. Introduction to Elder Abuse
2. The Basics of Elder Abuse
3. Substance Use and Other Risk Factors
4. Screening and Assessment
5. Intervention and Treatment
6. Preventing Elder Abuse

Supplements
Case Studies
References
Resources

Out of the Shadows
Uncovering Substance Use and Elder Abuse

Considerations Before Starting An Older Support Group

Victims of abuse later in life are not uniform. They come from all racial, ethnic, economic, and religious backgrounds. Some victims are healthy and active; others are frail and dependent on a caregiver. Older women may live independently, or in facilities such as assisted living or nursing homes. Several considerations include (Brandl et al., 2003):

Who: The Target Population

These considerations include determining the age and gender of the victims and their relationship to the abuser. Most older adult support groups serve women only aged 50 and up in a trusting, ongoing relationship with their abuser.

Although most groups are open to women of any racial, ethnic, religious, or economic background, some are culturally specific when language barriers become an issue. Two examples of culturally specific support groups include a sewing circle group for older abused Hmong women in Milwaukee, and Table Talk, a group for older African American women in St. Louis.

The long-term nature of the relationship between victim and abuser causes a lot of stress and anxiety on older abused women. If the abuser is an adult child, the woman may feel additional shame of having failed her role of wife and mother. Many mothers resist interventions that may result in their child being arrested, living on the streets, or being put in a mental institution.

Where To Hold the Group

Women need to feel comfortable in the group setting or they will not continue to attend. Communities find various locations for support groups including domestic abuse agencies, senior centers, aging service locations, health care settings (e.g., hospital), faith-based agencies, or libraries.

When To Hold the Group

Determining a good time of day or evening to hold the group can be a real challenge for many groups. Some older adults have more clarity in the mornings, others in the afternoons.

Victims who work, volunteer, or take care of grandchildren may prefer the evening. To compensate, some programs hold more than one group-one in the morning, and one in the evening.

Content of the Group

Some groups are time limited. Others are ongoing.

Topics often covered include dynamics of abuse, anger, depression, physical health, women's sexuality, dating, parenting adult children, self-advocacy sills, setting personal boundaries, spirituality, legal issues, safety planning, and financial options.

Some groups use crafts (e.g., sewing, quilting) while others include interactive exercises.

Source: Adapted from Brandl, B., Hebert, M., Rozwadowski, J., & Spangler, D. (2003). Feeling safe, feeling strong: Support groups for older abused women. Violence Against Women, 9(12), 1490-1503.