Creating Services

Older victims can benefit from many of the services traditionally offered by domestic violence and sexual assault programs such as individual and peer counseling; support groups; emergency and transitional housing; economic and legal advocacy; and medical accompaniment.  Often these services may need to be tailored to address the needs of older victims.  Consider hiring older staff and volunteers to work with older victims and evaluate your program.  Involve older individuals on the Board and Board committees to evaluate and make recommendations about agency policy and practices. 

This section includes materials on evaluating programming; developing outreach strategies; and creating services such as support groups for older abused women.

SELECTED RESOURCES

It's Our Responsibility
An article encouraging domestic violence service providers to provide services to older victims.

Analyzing Domestic Violence Programs' Response to Older Victims

Outreach Strategies for Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Advocates

Golden Voices: Support Groups for Older Abused Women
2003, Revised 2011. (88 pages, 848 K PDF)  Support groups for older women who have been abused can break isolation and enhance social supports. Golden Voices is a manual developed based on interviews with older womens' support group facilitators from across the country. 

In Their Own Words
This DVD and training guide have sections on emergency housing, support groups and advocacy.