Scandal of vulnerable
HUNDREDS of thousands of pensioners become victims of domestic abuse every year, a report has revealed.
More than 200,000 older people suffered physical violence, mental cruelty, neglect or theft in 2017.
The number of those attacked or exploited by family members or carers is likely to be far higher because of their reluctance or inability to report the abuse, experts have warned.
Shockingly, there are also no records for victims aged 74-plus held by the National Crime Survey, which means they are excluded from official data,
Age UK has found.
The survey shows about 139,500 women and 74,300 men aged 60 to 74 experienced domestic abuse in England and Wales
Adina Claire of Women’s Aid during 2017.Two in three victims were female and four in five perpetrators were male.
One in four (23 per cent) victims of domestic homicide are over 60. Victims were slightly more likely to be killed by their spouse (46 per cent) than by adult children or grandchildren (44 per cent).
The figures come as the Domestic Abuse Bill is due to receive its second Parliament today.
Age UK is calling for a new definition to include abuse perpetrated by those who are trusted and provide unpaid care, such as friends, neighbours and family members.
The charity also wants to see better training of health workers to spot abuse, such as for staff who are admitting patients to hospital.
Last night, Age UK director Caroline Abrahams said:
“There’s a widespread misconception that domestic abuse only happens to younger people but, sadly, hundreds of thousands of older people are affected too.
“It’s high time that this was fully recognised by the law, policy and practice.
“We want the Domestic Abuse Bill currently going through Parliament to include provisions to bring older domestic abuse survivors in from the cold.
“That means, in particular, recognising the important roles health professionals can play in spotting domestic abuse and supporting survivors to get help.
“It may be that the first time domestic abuse comes to light is when an older person is admitted to hospital, or discharged.”
In the 12 months to April, Age UK’s advice line received 655 enquiries over domestic abuse.
Grace, 81, told how she endured 57 years of physical and sexual abuse and financial and emotional coercive control from her husband.
She said: “When I was 22 I met George. He was handsome and charming. But after having three children, he took up gambling. If he’d lost, reading in he’d treat me to a beating administered to areas that wouldn’t be seen. When the children left home, George allowed me to have a part-time job and a friend at work helped me realise this wasn’t like all marriages, as I’d been told by George.
“His memory has started to fail now. Thankfully, problems with his hip mean he can’t manage the stairs any more so he sleeps downstairs and allows me to sleep upstairs.
“I can rest knowing he can’t get to me and feel safe for the first time in years. And here we are – 57 years of marriage. ‘Congratulations, what an achievement!’ people say. If only they knew.” The Daily Express is backing campaigners who call for abuse of the elderly to be designated a hate crime so tougher sentences can be applied.
Adina Claire, of Women’s Aid, said: “Some older women might not recognise their experience as domestic abuse or may find it difficult to ask for help because they are dependent on their abuser. “We welcome Age UK’s recommendations for the Domestic Abuse Bill, such as collecting data on all ages and embedding policy and practice in health and social care, improving, and saving, lives. “It is vital their needs are considered in this legislation.” Campaigners agree more needs to be done – including improving links between the NHS and police.
Jemima Olchawski, of charity Agenda, said: “Domestic abuse can happen to women at any time in life. Time and again, signs are not picked up by professionals. This can have devastating consequences. We support the collection of abuse data on all ages and for better training.”