Older people’s abuse ‘visible but not seen’ by public services – report

Photo by Christian Langballe on Unsplash

Older people’s domestic abuse often can be missed by key public services and they need to create safe spaces for speaking out, according to new research by Aberystwyth University academics. 

Led by the University’s Centre for Age, Gender and Social Justice, the study draws on in-depth interviews with people aged 60 and over who have experienced abuse from intimate partners or adult family members.

It suggests that older adults are often underrepresented within domestic abuse policy, research and service provision.

The report says that failure means opportunities to seek help are frequently “rare, fragmented and often missed entirely”.

The research says this is the result of a combination of age-related assumptions, services that are not always designed with later life in mind, unclear referral pathways, and awareness campaigns that are mainly focused on younger people.

It also highlights individual barriers that older people face when trying to access support shaped by generational norms around privacy and self-sufficiency, as well as fear of not being believed, and concerns about burdening family members.

The research’s central finding is the importance of “safe spaces” – not only physical environments, but other spaces where older adults feel protected, listened to and believed.

Elize Freeman, Co-Lead of Dewis Choice at Aberystwyth University, said:

“Older victim-survivors have been overlooked for far too long. Our research with older people who have experienced abuse shows that age-appropriate support can significantly improve safety and wellbeing, but only where responses are designed with later life in mind. This requires targeted action at every level – from national policy to frontline practice.

“The Welsh Government’s Violence Against Women, Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence Blueprint represents an important step in strengthening the response to abuse in later life. Building on this, we must ensure that domestic abuse in later life is not seen as the responsibility of specialist services alone. Awareness, professional curiosity and clear referral pathways should be embedded across all the services older people engage with every day, including health and social care, housing and community provision.”

The study emphasises the role of professional curiosity, proactive engagement, and clear communication about confidentiality to help older people to access appropriate help and support.

The report also highlights older people’s priorities for services, including proactive outreach rather than relying on self-referral, and a single trusted point of contact.

That recommended single point of contact would help reduce confusion and repeated disclosures, and offer practical assistance with housing, finances and everyday tasks alongside emotional support.

Older people who have experienced domestic abuse also emphasised the importance of being listened to and supported at their own pace, with approaches that recognise the long-term impact of abuse.

Opportunities for community connection and advocacy were also seen as vital in reducing isolation and rebuilding confidence in later life.

Elize Freeman added:

“The evidence shows that structural failures in service design, policy, and practice— exacerbated by individual fears and generational norms—are the key reasons older adults remain invisible within domestic abuse responses.

“Without proactive engagement and safe, relational spaces created by professional curiosity, many older victim-survivors will continue to suffer in silence. Age-inclusive, trauma-informed approaches are urgently needed, underpinned by practitioners who are explicit in their readiness to listen, ask, and respond.”

The report, ‘Understanding the Experiences of Older Victim-Survivors: A Thematic Analysis’, was produced by the Dewis Choice Initiative at Aberystwyth University’s Department of Law and Criminology.

The research was conducted in collaboration with the Welsh Government Violence Against Women, Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence (VAWDASV) Older People’s Blueprint Workstream, strengthening national efforts to ensure that service responses are age-appropriate and that harms experienced by older people are effectively prevented and addressed.

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