Selected Resources
- Interacting with People Who Have Dementia: The TALK Protocol — This resource sheet provides information about the TALK protocol.
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Outreach and Public Awareness Strategies: Reaching Out to Older Victims and Survivors of Abuse — offers tips for being inclusive of older victims and survivors
- Working with Older Survivors of Abuse: A Framework for Advocates — This summary report describes seven guiding principles with minimum guidelines and practical strategies for domestic and sexual violence advocates and programs to consider when working with older survivors.
These resources offer an overview of abuse in later life and abuse dynamics, discuss the importance of providing a survivor-centered response, and assert the critical role collaboration can play in abuse in later life cases.
- Abuse in Later Life Information Sheets
- 1: An Overview of Elder Abuse: A Growing Problem (PDF 2 MB)— An introduction to the issue of elder abuse, including its definition, dynamics, forms, risk factors, and prevalence.
- 2: An Overview of Abuse in Later Life (PDF 1 MB)— A comprehensive discussion of abuse in later life and an explanation of the variables the term takes into consideration.
- 3: Unique Challenges in Abuse in Later Life Cases (PDF 2 MB) — An analysis of various challenges that often arise when working with older survivors.
- 4: Supporting Survivors of Abuse in Later Life (PDF 1 MB)—A series of strategies to consider when working with older survivors.
- 5: Working Together to Effectively Address Abuse in Later Life (PDF 1 MB) — Ideas for identifying, engaging, and building meaningful collaborative partnerships to address abuse in later life in your community.
- Abuse in Later Life: An Overview and Practical Strategies for Supporting Older Victims of Abuse — This article provides an overview of abuse in later life and abuse dynamics, in addition to providing practical strategies for professionals working with older survivors of abuse.
- Abuse in Later Life: Power and Control Dynamics and a Victim-Centered Response (PDF 765 KB) — this article discusses the dynamics of abuse in later life, as well as the importance of providing a victim-centered response and working collaboratively to offer a comprehensive response to these cases.
- Abuse in Later Life Power and Control Wheel (PDF 227 KB)— depicts common abuser tactics which can be used to establish and maintain power and control over an older survivor.
- Abuse in Later Life on the Radar: Funding a Collaborative Approach for the Support of Older Survivors
On June 20, 2023, Martie Washington, Abuse in Later Life Program Coordinator at the National Clearinghouse on Abuse in Later Life (NCALL), Shelly Carlson, Multidisciplinary Teams Projects Manager at the Minnesota Elder Justice Center, and Krista L. Martinez, Chief Deputy Commonwealth’s Attorney at the Office of the Norfolk Virginia Commonwealth’s Attorney joined Janice Green, OVW Senior Program Specialist, for a webinar that offered a foundational understanding of abuse in later life and discussed the OVW Abuse in Later Life Grant Program. We are pleased to offer a recording of this webinar, along with a PDF of the slides, and a related list of resources.
- Elder Abuse Mandatory Reporting 101:
Frequently Asked Questions for People Who Work with Older Adults – Mandatory reporting laws can significantly impact the autonomy, privacy, and decision-making of older adults. While these requirements exist to protect vulnerable individuals from abuse and neglect, they also create complex ethical considerations around client confidentiality and self-determination. This resource addresses these nuances and was created for advocates, social workers, healthcare professionals, legal aid attorneys, and other professionals who work with older adults.
The following resources explore domestic abuse against older adults that is perpetrated by a spouse or intimate partner.
- Domestic Violence Across the Lifespan: Supporting Older Survivors (588KB) − A resource examining the unique dynamics and barriers that older survivors of domestic abuse experience and recommendations for tailored service and systems responses to better support older survivors.
- Sexual Abuse in Later Life: Believing and Supporting Older Survivors (PDF 2MB) — this resource aims to bring much needed attention to the issue of sexual abuse in later life. It will define sexual abuse in later life, describe the unique issues faced by older survivors of sexual abuse, and discuss the barriers older survivors face in accessing safety and healing. In addition, it will examine why sexual abuse in later life falls under the radar and offer some strategies and resources for supporting older survivors.
- Sexual Abuse in Later Life (PDF 89 KB)— this article focuses on the victimization of older adults that occurs in the context of intimate partner violence, incest, and residential care facilities.
- Stalking in Later Life Resource Sheet (PDF 1 MB) — this resource provides information on common stalking tactics, the impacts of stalking on victims, the unique challenges about cases of stalking in later life, and resources for support.
- Stalking and Abuse in Later Life (PDF 845 KB) — a resource sheet developed by the Stalking Prevention and Resource Center (SPARC) with input from NCALL.
- Survivors in the Margins: The Invisibility of Violence Against Older Women (PDF 338 KB)— this article explores how the lack of gender analysis in the elder abuse field exacerbates the invisibility of older survivors when the wider violence against women (VAW) field lacks a lifespan approach to abuse.
- Partnering to Address Faith and Safety: A Guide for Faith Leaders and Domestic and Sexual Violence Service Providers to Assist Older Victims of Abuse toolkit — this toolkit provides ideas for best practices and strategies for domestic and sexual violence service providers and faith leaders to use so that they might build partnerships that support older victims and survivors.
- Bringing Together Faith and Safety for Older Adults — If you are a faith community leader or a member of a faith community, you can play an important role in helping older adults who are experiencing abuse find help. This resource can help you stay alert for signs of abuse and learn how to respond safely and effectively. English | Spanish
Webinar
- Pursuing Respect and Justice for Faith-Engaged Older Victims of Abuse — this webinar explores how faith can be both a barrier and a resource for older victims and how partnerships between service providers and faith leaders can strengthen well-being and support for older victims of abuse. The webinar also discusses resources and available training that could help you enhance the quality of life of older victims in your community who are faith-involved.
These safety planning resources provide examples of safety plans that can help older survivors think about planning for their safety and prepare in advance for the possibility of future violence.
- Personalized Safety Plan (PDF 229 KB) — this resource is designed to help an older survivor increase their safety and prepare in advance for the possibility of future violence.
- Safety Planning Tips (PDF 205 KB)— this resource provides tips for an older survivor to consider when thinking about planning for their safety.
The goal of the self-assessment/CCR assessment tools is to encourage intervening agencies and CCRs to candidly and thoughtfully assess their work and the processes they use. The tools are intended to examine and expand collective thinking and response to elder abuse. They help identify existing practices and introduce new approaches in order to strengthen the overall response. They are meant to facilitate and encourage discussion and raise questions about roles, response, coordination, and common purpose. Questions? Please contact NCALL at ncall@ncall.us.
Response to Elder Abuse: A Self-Assessment Workbook for Victim Service Providers (PDF)