Study shows elderly domestic abuse is a big issue.

January 17, 2013 at 11:07 am | Posted in Domestic Violence, Elderly people, Law | Leave a comment

At i-docServe, we process orders for people from all walks of life and that includes all age ranges. However, domestic violence against elderly victims is something that is perhaps less acknowledged than that against younger generations. This is something that authorities in Somerset are aiming to change, with particular focus upon increasing the visibility of domestic abuse in the over 50s.

This report from the BBC describes personal cases which show that older victims are possibly more likely to tolerate domestic abuse because they have been conditioned to do so. The charity North Somerset Against Domestic Violence have released the statistic that at least one case of domestic abuse in the over 50s is seen a week. This rather shocking data has prompted further charities, such as Chapter One, to look into whether the services offered are fit to this purpose.

The study carried out by Chapter One showed that older people are particularly less likely to report violence, as domestic abuse has not been viewed as a crime for very long. One victim stated that “my age group has no financial independence and they’ve invested time and had a family – they’ve got to walk away from everything and that’s what traps them”. The study further discussed the possible reasons for domestic abuse at an older age, with the mental and physical changes associated with aging itself presenting as factors which put pressure on relationships.

In Somerset, those elderly victims that need to leave the family home are being offered self-contained ground-floor flats, as it is acknowledged that they need their own space. Members of staff check in on them regularly and offer help.

Is domestic abuse in the elderly something that authorities throughout the country should look into? 

Police tackle domestic violence over Christmas

December 11, 2012 at 4:01 pm | Posted in Children, Christmas, Domestic Violence, Law, Young People | 2 Comments
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As the festive season approaches, police across the country are launching campaigns aimed towards tackling domestic violence. In previous years it has become clear that domestic abuse is a significant problem over Christmas, with violent incidents in the home rising by approximately 20% at this time of year according to Hampshire Constabulary.

Agencies give prolonged family time, increased debt and high levels of alcohol consumption as possible reasons for such a high increase. Charities such as ‘Refuge’ acknowledge that Christmas can be a particularly difficult time of year for those experiencing domestic violence. The many campaigns being launched over the festive period aim to raise awareness about domestic violence, aswell as encouraging victims to seek help.

Cllr Greenall, in this article for West Lancashire Police, said “Christmas can be particularly stressful for people living with violent partners because the family are together for an extended period, or the alcohol is flowing, which can intensify abuse. Often they will not leave over the festive season because they don’t want to ruin Christmas. As a result, the New Year is always a busy time as victims seek help. Therefore, we want our campaign to raise awareness and show victims that there is support out there if they need it”.

There has also been a significant focus upon the effects of domestic violence on children throughout these Christmas campaigns. An example of this is the ‘Letter to Santa’ campaign developed by the Violence Reduction Unit and the Children 1st charity. Chief Inspector Graham Goulden, who heads the campaign, acknowledged that Christmas is a peak period for domestic abuse incidents. This means that children in violent homes often witness abuse or become victims themselves. Children should look forward to Christmas every year but it is easy to forget that for some children, it is a time of fear.

 

 

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