Despite half a century of research on both sexual violence and elder abuse, the intersection between the two remains largely unexplored. Using theoretical lenses of feminist criminology and critical feminist gerontology, this article explores the intersection between age and sexual violence drawing on interviews with 23 practitioners supporting older survivors (aged 60 and over). They reported physical and emotional effects of sexual violence leading to limited lifestyles, disengagement from social networks, and reliance on pathogenic coping strategies.
In the last few years, many countries have introduced laws combating the phenomenon colloquially known as 'revenge porn'. While new laws criminalising this practice represent a positive step forwards, the legislative response has been piecemeal and typically focuses only on the practices of vengeful ex-partners. Drawing on Liz Kelly's (Surviving sexual violence. Polity Press, Cambridge, 1988) pioneering work, we suggest that 'revenge porn' should be understood as just one form of a range of gendered, sexualised forms of abuse which have common characteristics, forming what we are conceptualising as the 'continuum of imagebased sexual abuse'. Further, we argue that image-based sexual abuse is on a continuum with other forms of sexual violence. We suggest that this twin approach may enable a more comprehensive legislative and policy response that, in turn, will better reflect the harms to victim-survivors and lead to more appropriate and effective educative and preventative strategies.
What is Neglect of an Older Adult?
Neglect, whether physical or psychological, is deliberate, intentional behaviour towards an older adult, like withholding basic necessities of life and/or failing to provide emotional support that may result in physical harm and/or psychological anguish. Neglect is attributable to ageism, the abuser's need to exercise power and control, wanting to create a dependency or from a sense of entitlement to the assets of the older person.
Although older adults may be mistreated by strangers, neglect often occurs in the context of a relationship such as one with family members, friends, a spouse, volunteer caregivers, legal guardians, care-facility staff and professionals like physicians/health care providers or lawyers.
What is Physical Abuse of Older Adults?
Physical abuse is any act of violence or rough handling that may or may not result in physical injury but causes physical discomfort or pain and it might include:
- Physical assault - hitting, shoving, slapping, rough handling
- Pushing, pulling, kicking, beating, twisting, shaking
- Pulling hair, biting, pinching, spitting at someone
- Confinement, inappropriate restraint use
- Overmedicating, withholding necessary medications
 What is Financial Abuse of Older Adults?
Any improper conduct, done with or without the informed consent of the older adult, that results in monetary and/or personal gain to the abuser and/or monetary/personal loss to the older adult. It may include:
- Misuse of an older adult's property and/or funds
- Theft, forgery, fraud or scams
- Misuse of a Power of Attorney
- Sharing the older adult's home, without paying a fair share of the expenses
- Unexplained disappearances of personal belongings
- Undue pressure to:
- - Move from, sell, or relinquish his/her home or other personal property
- - Sign legal documents, that they do not fully understand
- - Give money to relatives or caregivers
What is Emotional Abuse of Older Adults?
Emotional Abuse is any action, verbal or non-verbal, that lessens a person's sense of identity, dignity and self-worth.
Emotional abuse includes any attempt to demoralize, dehumanize or intimidate older adults. Perpetrators of psychological abuse against older adults often take advantage of older adult's vulnerability in ways that control or humiliate them. Similar to other forms of abuse, the underlying motivation for emotional abuse is the desire of perpetrators to exert control over other individuals and destroy their sense of self-esteem.
What is Sexual Abuse of Older Adults
Sexual Abuse is "non-consensual sexual contact, of any kind, with an older adult. Sexual contact with any person incapable of giving consent is considered sexual abuse. It includes, but is not limited to, unwanted touching and all types of sexual assault or battery, such asrape, sodomy, coerced nudity, and sexually explicit photographing."
Sexual Harassment is "engaging in a course of vexatious comment or conduct that is known or ought to be known to be unwelcome." (Ontario Human Rights Code)
It's Time to Talk About Sexual Abuse of Older Adults
What is sexual abuse of older adults?
Sexual Abuse is "non-consensual sexual contact of any kind with an older adult. Sexual contact with any person incapable of giving consent is also considered sexual abuse." (Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC), 2012
Sexual abuse is any act by violence or force:
- Unwanted sexual touching or kissing
- Fondling or sexual intercourse without consent
- Unnecessary touching of the genital area that is not part of the care plan
- Making sexual remarks or suggestions
- Forced viewing of pornography
Systemic Barriers for older LGBTQ adults
- Profound invisibility - presumed to be heterosexual
- Face real dangers of neglect, discrimination and discomfort from staff, other residents and families of other residents
- Long-term relationships are devalued - couples in long-term relationships may be separated
- Definitions of "family" are based almost exclusively on biological kin
- Self-advocacy may be delicate & difficult if they are not 'out'
(Rainbow Health Ontario)
This toolkit was designed for agencies supporting older victims who are vulnerable, at-risk or experiencing abuse. Whether the individual is an older woman or man, the Safety Planning Toolkit provides important information about family and partner violence. It also provides suggestions and strategies to help protect older adults in situations of risk or danger and how to maintain their safety and security.