Wait! What? Elder abuse

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At what age can we stop worrying about being a victim of abuse?

Most of us don’t want to think about it, but reality doesn’t let us forget it, we’re getting older. More frightening than just getting older, we don’t want to think about abuse in our later years.

Unfortunately it happens to our elder population-all too often! Older people can be subjected to all kinds of abuse; verbal, emotional, financial, physical and even sexual abuse.

We usually don’t consider older people to be potential or actual targets of physical and sexual abuse and, as a result, they have been under identified and underserved as victims. There are places to turn to for support either as a victim, or someone caring for the victim. Resources are listed below.

Identification of sexual violence against people in later life is hindered by mistaken beliefs that older adults are not sexual beings or sexually desirable and that rape is a crime of passion. Advanced age does not protect one from sexual assault, but rather increases the risk in many ways. Health problems and disabilities increase vulnerability and reduce help seeking.

Sexual abuse (at any age) is non-consenting sexual contact of any kind, including unwanted touching; sexual assault or batters, such as rape, sodomy, and forced nudity; sexually explicit photographing; and sexual contact with any person incapable of giving consent. When an older person is assaulted they tend to sustain more serious physical and psychological injuries than a younger victim would.

Most of the perpetrators in elder abuse have special access to the victims as family members, intimate partners, fellow residents or care providers. Victims often fear further harm if they make a report.

Victims are also reluctant to report if the offender is a family member. Often when they do report it is misinterpreted as part of dementia. Because of these reasons mentioned, physical and sexual violence against people in later life is highly under reported.

The ability to access and utilize intervention services can be adversely affected, but older people are not less intelligent or incapable of informed decision making. As the saying goes “Respect your elders”! That means don’t abuse them, listen and believe them, and assist them.

• SAFE VOICES, Sharon Lewis, Elder Abuse Coordinator, 795-6736 x11 (confidential voice mail)
• REACH, Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Services 24hr Support 1-800-871-7741
• Legal Services for the Elderly 1-800-750-5353
• SeniorsPlus (Androscoggin, Franklin and Oxford Counties 1-800-427-1241
• National Sexual Violence Resource Center (www.nsvrc.org) 1-877-739-3895