Every person deserves to age with safety, dignity, respect, and care.

In the summer of 2024, the National Clearinghouse on Abuse in Later Life (NCALL), an initiative of End Domestic Abuse Wisconsin, created this webpage. It’s full of information and linked resources, all aiming to create a foundational understanding of abuse in later life. We hope you find it useful! We also invite you to dig even deeper into the issue by checking out the For Domestic and Sexual Violence Advocates and Programs webpage on NCALL’s website as well as the NCALL Publications Library and Video Library. Questions are always welcome, too! Email the NCALL team at ncall@ncall.us. 

Domestic violence transcends age  

We all have the right to age with safety and dignity, yet age does not safeguard against domestic violence. Unfortunately, abuse in later life occurs more often than people realize, and studies have consistently shown that domestic violence makes up a large share of these cases (United Nations, 2013).  

Domestic violence programs have an important role to play in responding to the needs of older victims, who are often underserved in traditional service models. NCALL offers victim service providers and other professionals information and resources to address the unique aspects of abuse in later life so older adults can age with the safety, dignity, and justice they deserve. 

First things first. What exactly is abuse in later life? 

Elder Abuse – A growing yet overlooked problem 

Although definitions of elder abuse vary, the term generally refers to any physical, sexual, or psychological abuse, neglect, abandonment, or financial exploitation of an older person either within a relationship where there is an expectation of trust and/or when an older person is targeted based on age or disability (U.S. DOJ, The Elder Justice Roadmap, 2014). “Older” is generally considered 60+, 65+ or 70+ depending on state statutes or funding streams, such as the Older Americans Act. Elder abuse is a hidden yet growing problem—one that becoming more urgent as the U.S. population of older adults is rapidly increasing. By 2030, all baby boomers will be age 65 or older (U.S. Census Bureau, 2019) and by 2060, there will be about 94.7 million older adults, more than twice as many in 2010.  

Abuse in Later Life – A subset of elder abuse 

Abuse in later life describes the intersection of domestic violence, sexual abuse, and elder abuse. NCALL defines abuse in later life as the willful abuse, neglect, or financial exploitation of an older adult who is age 50+ that is perpetrated by someone in an ongoing, trust-based relationship (e.g., spouse, partner, family member, or caregiver) with the victim and sexual abuse or stalking by any offender, including strangers. 

The term abuse in later life applies to victims who are age 50 and older for the following reasons: 

• By age 50 there is a significant decrease in the number of victims accessing services from domestic violence and sexual assault programs. This is partly because many services for domestic and sexual assault victims focus on meeting the needs of younger women and their children. Most domestic and sexual violence programs do not have programming tailored to meet the unique needs of victims of abuse in later life, such as financial planning for persons who do not yet qualify for Social Security or support groups exclusively for older women. 
• Victims who are age 50 and older may need economic assistance to obtain safe housing and live independently if they choose to leave their abuser. However, victims who are age 50 to 62 may be ineligible for financial assistance from the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program because they may not be parenting children. They also may be ineligible for Social Security and the aging services network because they are too young. Few options exist to assist victims in this age group who want to become independent from their abuser but do not have the financial resources to do so. 
• Focusing on survivors age 50 and above includes older victims who have a shorter life expectancy due to structural oppression or because they experienced trauma, lived in poverty, or lacked access to health care. 

How domestic violence programs can support older survivors 

Domestic violence programs are vital supports for older survivors of abuse—helping them regain control of their lives, plan for their emotional and physical safety, and foster a sense of dignity and empowerment that is essential for their well-being.  

Victim services can be life changing and lifesaving. Victim advocates are equipped to offer empathy, compassion, healing support, and resources to survivors of all ages. Yet, it is vital to understand some of the unique challenges in abuse in later life cases to assure that responses to older survivors are age-relevant and address both their immediate and long-term needs. Outreach efforts, too, may be adapted to be inclusive of older adults. Including depictions of survivors across the lifespan and from different backgrounds and populations is an important first step. Being intentional about language used to describe abuse is key. Not all older adults will identify with terms like “domestic violence,” or the words “abused” or “victim.” Instead, describing behavior can be a more effective way to connect with older survivors.