Elder Abuse and Domestic Violence in Later Life: Innovative New Resources for the Community Lisa Furr, MA and Adrienne Johnson, MS

the issues of domestic violence in later life (DVLL) and elder abuse and their prevalence

the importance of the faith-based community’s response

the history and goals of the Take Back Your Life project

the features of the Take Back Your Life: DVLL Solution Center 

how to utilize the Solution Center and its resources in your community

what is happening nationally around these issues

OBJECTIVES

WHAT IS ELDER ABUSE?

Abuse, Neglect, and/or

Exploitation of an Elder or Vulnerable

Adult

Includes Self-

Neglect

Age 60 and Older

These cases may be handled by Adult Protective Services (APS)

The Interrelationship between Domestic Violence and Elder Abuse

Domestic Violence

Abuse in Later Life

Elder Abuse

Created by National Clearinghouse on Abuse in Later Life, a project of the Wisconsin Coalition against Domestic Violence

Domestic Violence in the Second Half of

Life

A pattern of coercive control

and abuse of an older person

in a trusted, ongoing

relationship

Primarily women, but

includes older men

Basis is “power and control”-

Age 50 and Older

• Women and men aged 50 and over who experience DV are underserved (older women often don’t show up at shelters or DV programs)…so even experts believed that violence dropped off as people age

• To the contrary, Moulton et. al. (2004) reported that physical and verbal abuse is occurring at rates similar to or higher than those for younger women

• 3.7 per 1,000 older women reported becoming new victims of verbal abuse

• 2007 VSDV Alliance reported that 19% of the adults served by DV programs in VA were age 45-64, 1% over 65 (total=20%)

www.dss.virginia.gov/files/about/reports/adults/adult_services_annual/sfy_2012_Annual_Report.pdf

Family Abuse in Later Life P

sychological Abuse P

sychological Abuse

Psychological Abuse Psychological Abuse

Emotional Abuse Emotional Abuse

Em

otion

al Abu

se

Em

otion

al Abu

seThreatens

Targets vulnerabilities and neglects

Financially exploits

Uses privilege

IsolatesUses family

members

Ridicules personal and

cultural values

Denies access to spiritual

traditions/eventsPOWER and

CONTROL

Created by the National Clearinghouse on Abuse in Later

Life (NCALL) www.ncall.us www.wcadv.org

This diagram adapted from the Power and Control/Equality wheels developed by the Domestic Abuse

Intervention Project, Duluth, MN

Who Abuses?Intimate

Partners

Caregivers

Adult Children and other

Family membe

rs

Others in

position of trust

and authorit

y

If a battered woman asks me

whether she should talk to her

faith leader or not, I usually say

“no” –

if she has to ask, then I doubt that

it is safe to go to that person.

I still have faith leaders say to me,

“but no one ever comes to me with this problem.”

CONCLUSION: we don’t have domestic

violence in our faith community.

FURTHER CONCLUSION: I don’t need to be trained to deal with a problem we don’t have.

Rev. Dr. Marie Fortune:Founder and Senior Analyst

Faith-based Community

As People of Faith, we are called to create healthy individuals, relationships, families and communities.

We create a more Healthy World.

• Web Interfaces

• Resource Directory

• Community Outreach

SeniorNavigator Snapshot

www.virginianavigator.org

Take Back Your Life Project

PROJECT LEADERSHIP PARTNERS:

SeniorNavigator and the

Virginia Center on Aging

ADVISORY PARTNERS:

Virginia Sexual and Domestic Violence

Action Alliance and

The James House

FUNDING: Cameron

Foundation and the

Verizon Foundation (2009-2010)

Take Back Your Life Project GOALS

To create a community-

created, informative and

confidential online

“Solution Center”

To raise awareness

about domestic violence in

later lifeTo help faith

and community leaders to

respond to and assist people

in abusive situations

To equip “trusted

community resources” with

information

To expand the resource

statewide!

Take Back Your Life NAME

Support for Someone Experiencing Abuse

Agencies

Community InvolvementFOCUS GROUPS - Six focus groups, including one for service providers

- Held in five locations- Representation from every city and county across the Cameron

region

FOCUS GROUP PARTICIPANTS 28 focus group

participants

“TOP TEN” helped create solution

center

COMMUNITY PARTNER

MEETINGS (3) 38 attendees

representing 25 community

organizations and agencies

FAITH-BASED TRAINING

22 participants

ONGOING TRAINING Incorporated into all

SN trainings

Focus group feedback – “Top Ten”

Shame/stigma associated with DV

Not wanting to leave home and/or community

Lack of information or forum: DVLL

What if I have the courage to ask for help,

but I am denied resources?

Don’t know where to go

Financial barriers

Don’t want to ask for help

Family issues

Child as caregiver

Resources for addressing caregiver

stress

Take Back Your Life (TBYL) Solution Center Demo

http://www.virginianavigator.org/tbyl/

www.seniornavigator.org or www.virginianavigator.org or www.disAbilityNavigator.org

Resources for the Community

Training on TBYL: DVLL

Solution Center

Faith-based organization

training

Brochure distribution

www.seniornav.org/TBYL

Resources for the Community: Logo Link

http://www.virginianavigator.org/vn/DetailSN.aspx?contentId=1022&.f=0

Resources for the Community: Clings

National Level Review

Resources • NCALL - National Coalition On Abuse in Later Life-

Wisconsin State coalition

• www.ncall.us

Resources

• Faith Trust Institute http://www.faithtrustinstitute.org/

Resources • Safe Havens Interfaith Partnership against Domestic Violence

• http://www.interfaithpartners.org

Resources • Virginia Adult Protective Services APS

• To report suspected financial exploitation or other kinds of abuse to the elderly or adults with a disability, call your local DSS or the Virginia Department of Social Services' 24-hour, toll-free Adult Protective Services hotline at: 1(888) 832-3858. http://www.dss.virginia.gov/family/as/aps.cgi

• SeniorNavigator:

• www.seniornav.org/tbyl (Direct Link)

• 1-866-393-0957 Toll-free

• 1-804-525-7728 (Metro Richmond)

• JOIN US:

• List your programs in the database

• Provide feedback on the TBYL: DVLL Solution Center

• Find a Navigator Center near you

• Book a presentation or invite us to your community event!

RECORDED WEBINAR

featuring Dr. Paula Kupstas and Lisa Furr, MA

www.alzpossible.org/wordpress-3.1.4/wordpress/webinars-2/elder-abuse-neglect-and-exploitation/

Webinar recording and slides available at:

MORE ON THE TOPIC OF ELDER ABUSEand TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE/

TRAINING STATEWIDE

Call Lisa G. Furrfurrl@vcu.edu | 804.828.1525

TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE/

TRAINING STATEWIDE

Contact info:

Adrienne Johnson

adrienne@seniornavigator.org

804.525.7735

Lisa G. Furr

furrl@vcu.edu

804.828.1525