Methodology

The first NCALL National Resource Directory was published in 2005.  Several methods were employed to locate programs tailored for older victims of abuse in later life for publication in this first directory.   NCALL posted surveys on national websites and contacted domestic violence and sexual assault coalitions, as well as agencies NCALL staff knew were already doing specialized services for abuse in later life survivors. Since that time, this directory has been updated every two years and efforts have been made to find new programs. 

For this directory, a broad definition of specialized services was used. 

Specialized services may include:

• A domestic or sexual violence service organization with an elder specialist

• A domestic violence organization with specialized outreach to older persons

• Support groups for older abused women

• Elder shelters and elder transitional housing programs

• APS, aging network, or elder abuse agencies having specialized programming, outreach, or materials on domestic violence and/or sexual assault

Some programs in this directory define abuse in later life and/or their target population differently from NCALL.  Contact the programs directly to learn their eligibility requirements. 

While NCALL’s aim is to create a comprehensive national resource directory of abuse in later programs, some programs may have not have received an announcement to be included in the directory or were omitted if they provided general services for victims.  We invite you to help us keep this directory up-to-date by notifying us of any changes or informing us of other programs that serve older abused women or focus on abuse in later life.  If you would like to request your program be considered for a new listing or to update your current listing, please follow this link.

Projects included in this directory self identified as addressing domestic and/or sexual abuse in later life.  The descriptions are based on interviews with staff.  Over time, contact information and services may have changed.

We hope you find this 2011 National Abuse in Later Life Resource Directory a helpful tool in your search for services for survivors of abuse in later life.