Close
Improving support for older survivors of domestic abuse (IRIS) – Working with key stakeholders to understand the support needs of older people affected by domestic abuse
Almost 2.7 million older people were affected by domestic abuse in the UK in 2020. Older people experience abuse (from intimate partners or adult children) for twice as long before seeking help compared to those under 60. With limited specialist support available, they are at increased risk of physical, emotional, and financial harm. Yet presently, we have little understanding of the lived experiences of older survivors, what increases risk, and the support they need due to their limited opportunities to participate in research.
In this project, we are:
- Undertaking a scoping review to synthesise the evidence base on domestic abuse in older people;
- Conducting interviews with: (i) domestic abuse survivors aged 60 and over, and (ii) professionals who work with older victims/survivors of domestic abuse. By increasing our understanding of the support they need and their barriers they face, we can raise awareness, challenge the invisibility and stigma of domestic abuse in older people, and develop interventions that better meets their needs.
How to get involved
Study Posters
For more information, please see posters below:
Our partner organisations
Hourglass – Hourglass (Safer Ageing) are a charity dedicated to ending harm, abuse and exploitation of older people in the UK.
Visible Later Lives – Carrie Bower, a registered social worker and founder of Visible Later Lives, specialises in raising awareness about domestic abuse and trauma in later life.
Dewis Choice – The Centre for Age, Gender and Social Justice – the first dedicated service in the UK for older men, women and non-binary people who’ve experienced domestic abuse from an intimate partner and/or adult family member.