IPV - Older Adults ● VPI - personnes âgées 39 Middle-aged and older adults and IPV Middle-aged and older adults often have different experiences of violence than their younger counterparts, and they face different barriers to finding help. Older adults might avoid telling friends and family about the violence they are experiencing out of a desire to protect familial relationships. It is also common for families and adult children to struggle with accepting that abuse is happening. Abuse is never easy to talk about and how we react when people talk to us about violence matters. If they do tell someone about IPV, an older adult has to navigate ageism and people are less likely to believe their concerns. When abuse happens in a long-term relationship, they might be met with accusations like “it can’t be that bad, you’ve put up with it for 30 years.” These types of comments are unhelpful and cause more harm. Instead, practice kindness and compassion when someone tells you about the violence they have experienced, listen and ask what they need. Many older adults are concerned about violence and abuse at the hands of strangers, but violence toward older adults is most often committed by a loved one.This includes children and grandchildren, intimate partners and siblings. It’s normal for relationships, especially as we age, to include a care-giving aspect. In some instances, the added stress caused by caregiving can cause or increase violence. People who are being cared for may use violence in an effort to regain control over their lives that they lost due to injury or illness. This does not excuse violence and is unacceptable behaviour.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTM0NTk1OA==