Sexual Violence Doesn’t End with Aging

by Leah Waltrip, TSS Group Member

Sexual violence against older adults is under-reported, under-researched, and widely misunderstood. Here is what the evidence tells us.

Research consistently shows that reports of rape and sexual assault decline with age — but this does not mean victimization stops. Many major surveys have excluded adults over 60 entirely. The result is a serious gap in our understanding of who is at risk, and a community of survivors left without adequate support (Bows, 2018).

Yet, the research that is available shows that from <.5% to 17% of older adults report sexual violence in the previous year (Bows, 2018). The wide range reflects that studies use different methods, terminology (sexual assault versus elder abuse), age cutoffs, and definitions. Community surveys tend to uncover lower rates; surveys examining sexual violence across all age ranges document higher rates. The vast majority of cases are never reported to authorities at all — meaning true rates are likely much higher than any single study captures (Bows, 2018; Office for National Statistics, 2016).

What Should You Know about Sexual Assault of Older Adults?

Most assaults occur within the victim’s home or within the residential/care facility where they reside (Bows, 2018; Roberto & Teaster, 2005; Jeary, 2005; Ramsey-Klawsnik et al., 2008).

The most common perpetrators are men whom the survivor already knew (e.g., partners, family members, caretakers, and other facility residents) (Baker et al., 2009; Roberto & Teaster, 2005; Naughton et al., 2010; O’Keefe et al., 2007; Soares et al., 2010).

Several factors increase risk of sexual victimization of older adults:

• Similar to younger women, older women are victimized more than men (Bows, 2018; Ball & Fowler, 2008, Bows & Westmarland, 2017; Luoma et al., 2011; Jeary, 2005; Naughton et al., 2010).
• People from lower income and lower educational backgrounds (Bows, 2018; Brozowski & Hall, 2010; Cannell et al., 2014; Naughton et al., 2010; Soares et al., 2010).
• People living with a physical disability, dementia, or cognitive impairment  (Bows, 2018; Ramsey-Klawsnik et al., 2008; Pinto et al., 2014).
• People living in a care home (Bows, 2018; Roberto & Teaster, 2005; Burgess et al., 2008).

What Are the Impacts on Survivors?

• Common physical impacts for older survivors can include: genital trauma, worsening of existing health conditions, and STI’s (Burgess et al., 2008; Burgess, 2006; Bows, 2018). 
• Psychological impacts can include: depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, PTSD, fear of leaving the home or fear of returning to the location of the assault, and sleep disturbances (Bows et al., 2018; Burgess, 2006; Jeary, 2005).

Key Take-aways

• Older people can be and are sexually victimized.
• The needs of older survivors may be distinct from younger survivors, though more research is needed to understand how these needs differ.
• STI screening is vital in older adults, particularly following a sexual assault. 
• Those living within a care home or residential may be at a greater risk, particularly if they are living with a physical or cognitive disability. 

So, What Can You Do?

Many older survivors face unique barriers to disclosure — stigma, cognitive impairment, dependence on a perpetrator for care, and a lack of services designed with them in mind are just a few of these barriers. Simply being believed and taken seriously is a critical first step.

That means, you can make a difference by listening and offering practical support to older adults who disclose. Mandated reporters may also be required to report sexual assault of an older adult, depending on your state’s laws.

References

1. ​Ball, H. N., & Fowler, D. (2008). Sexual offending against older femalevictims: An empirical study of the prevalence and characteristics of recordedoffences in a semi-rural English county. The Journal of Forensic Psychiatryand Psychology, 19, 14–32. ​
2. Bows, H. (2018). Sexual Violence Against Older People: A review of theempirical literature. Trauma, Violence, and Abuse, 19(5), 567-583. ​
3. Bows, H., & Westmarland, N. (2017). Rape of older people in the UnitedKingdom: Challenging the ‘real rape’ stereotype. British Journal ofCriminology, 57, 1–17.​
4. Brozowski, K., & Hall, D. R. (2010). Aging and risk: Physical and sexualabuse of elders in Canada. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 25, 1183–1199.​
5. Burgess, A. W. (2006). Elderly victims of sexual abuse and their offender.Washington: National Institute of Justice. Retrieved fromhttps://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/grants/216550.pdf​
6. Burgess, A., Ramsey-Klawsnik, H., & Gregorian, S. (2008). Comparing routesof reporting in elder sexual abuse cases. Journal of Elder Abuse and Neglect,20, 336–352.​
7. Cannell, M. B., Manini, T., Spence-Almaguer, E., Maldonado-Molina, M., &Andresen, E. M. (2014). US population estimates and correlates of sexualabuse of community-dwelling older adults. Journal of Elder Abuse andNeglect, 26, 398–413.​
8. Jeary, K. (2005). Sexual abuse and sexual offending against elderly people: Afocus on perpetrators and victims. Journal of Forensic Psychiatry andPsychology, 16, 328–343.​
9. Luoma, M.-L., Koivusilta, M., Lang, G., Enzenhofer, E., De Donder, L., Verte ́,D., . . . Penhale, B. (2011). Prevalence study of abuse and violence against older women. Results of a multi-cultural survey in Austria, Belgium, Finland, Lithuania, and Portugal (European Report of the AVOW Project). Helsinki, Finland: National Institute for Health and Welfare (THL).​
10. ​Naughton, C., Drennan, J., Treacy, M. P., Lafferty, A., Lyons, I., Phelan, A. . .. Delaney, L. (2010). Abuse and neglect of older people in Ireland. Report onthe National Study of Elder Abuse and Neglect. Belfield, Dublin: NationalCentre for the Protection of Older People.​
11. O’Keefe, M., Hills, A., Doyle, M., McCreadie, C., Scholes, S., Constantine, R.. .. Erens, B. (2007). UK study of abuse and neglect of older people: Prevalence survey report. London, England: National Centre for Social Research.​
12. Pinto, A. N., Rodrigues, F., Dinis-Oliveira, R. J., & Magalha ̃es, T.(2014). Sexual offenses against elderly people: Forensic evaluation and judicial outcome. Journal of Elder Abuse & Neglect, 26, 189–204.​
13. Ramsey-Klawsnik, H., Teaster, P. B., Mendiondo, M. S., Marcum, J. L., & Abner, E. L. (2008). Sexual predators who target elders: Findings from thefirst national study of sexual abuse in care facilities. Journal of Elder Abuse and Neglect, 20, 353–376.​
14. Roberto, K. A., & Teaster, P. B. (2005). Sexual abuse of vulnerable and old women: A comparative analysis of circumstances and outcomes. Violence Against Women, 11, 473–504.​
15. Soares, J., Barros, H., Torres-Gonzales, F., Ioannidi-Kapolou, E., Lamura,G.,Lindert, J., . . . Stankunas, M. (2010). Abuse and health among elderly in Europe. Gavle, Sweden: University of Ga ̈vle. ​