Interventions with Older Women Experiencing Domestic Violence: Pilot Study Results Silvia Straka Sarita Israel Esther Hockenstein Lyse Montminy Guylaine Racine This presentation was funded by RESOVI

Agenda Domestic violence and age Two intervention approaches The need for an integrated approach Research Project Objectives Methodology Pilot Study Results Conclusion

Domestic violence and age

Two intervention approaches

The need for an integrated approach

Research Project Objectives

Methodology

Pilot Study Results

Conclusion

The Problem of Domestic Violence domestic violence is an important social problem in Canada 1 in 4 Canadian women have experienced physical or sexual violence by a marital partner ½ of Canadian women have experienced at least 1 incident of physical or sexual violence since age 16

domestic violence is an important social problem in Canada

1 in 4 Canadian women have experienced physical or sexual violence by a marital partner

½ of Canadian women have experienced at least 1 incident of physical or sexual violence since age 16

Domestic violence and age domestic violence primarily viewed as a problem of younger women assumption that domestic violence decreases with age, is no longer a problem for older couples based on research with faulty assumptions it is now known that domestic violence does exist in old age

domestic violence primarily viewed as a problem of younger women

assumption that domestic violence decreases with age, is no longer a problem for older couples

based on research with faulty assumptions

it is now known that domestic violence does exist in old age

Interventions: Differences Between the Needs of Older and Younger Women older abused women have much in common with younger abused women however, there are important differences older women’s needs are often different they have additional needs not often found in younger women many of younger women’s needs are not shared by older women

older abused women have much in common with younger abused women

however, there are important differences

older women’s needs are often different

they have additional needs not often found in younger women

many of younger women’s needs are not shared by older women

Current State of Knowledge About Domestic Violence Against Older Women Question: are older women experiencing domestic violence “abused elders” or “battered women”? the question arises because there are two approaches for intervening with this group: elder abuse domestic violence

Question: are older women experiencing domestic violence “abused elders” or “battered women”?

the question arises because there are two approaches for intervening with this group:

elder abuse

domestic violence

Two Intervention Approaches the problem is situated within the intersection of these two approaches the elder abuse and domestic violence approaches are said to be very distinct different paradigms different contexts of practice different discourses different intervention strategies

the problem is situated within the intersection of these two approaches

the elder abuse and domestic violence approaches are said to be very distinct

different paradigms

different contexts of practice

different discourses

different intervention strategies

Domestic Violence Approach identified by women themselves construction of the problem construction of solutions domestic violence is caused by patriarchal social structures giving men more power than women grassroots, community-based approach feminist, empowerment paradigm

identified by women themselves

construction of the problem

construction of solutions

domestic violence is caused by patriarchal social structures giving men more power than women

grassroots, community-based approach

feminist, empowerment paradigm

Domestic Violence Approach Currently Inadequate for Older Women current domestic violence approaches are not directly transferable to older women different socialization of older women: meaning of marriage and divorce greatly reduced social networks focus on needs of younger children is not applicable post-retirement women have different income issues: focus on employment not relevant many older women have health problems problems of accessibility to shelters, etc.

current domestic violence approaches are not directly transferable to older women

different socialization of older women: meaning of marriage and divorce

greatly reduced social networks

focus on needs of younger children is not applicable

post-retirement women have different income issues: focus on employment not relevant

many older women have health problems

problems of accessibility to shelters, etc.

The Need for An Adapted Approach feminist model must be adapted to meet needs of older women analysis of the problem intervention strategies resources

feminist model must be adapted to meet needs of older women

analysis of the problem

intervention strategies

resources

Elder Abuse Approach elder abuse is a more recently known social problem than domestic violence defined by service providers and health care professionals geriatric and gerontological services homecare departments hospitals little input from older adults situated in a caregiving paradigm

elder abuse is a more recently known social problem than domestic violence

defined by service providers and health care professionals

geriatric and gerontological services

homecare departments

hospitals

little input from older adults

situated in a caregiving paradigm

The Need for a Specialized Elder Abuse Approach for Domestic Violence elder abuse clientele have a specialized profile: frail and users of homecare or gerontological services resulting focus on caregiving issues key theory of elder abuse is caregiver stress dimension of gender has been ignored problem of domestic violence is thus not a central focus and can be masked by caregiving focus

elder abuse clientele have a specialized profile:

frail and users of homecare or gerontological services

resulting focus on caregiving issues

key theory of elder abuse is caregiver stress

dimension of gender has been ignored

problem of domestic violence is thus not a central focus and can be masked by caregiving focus

The Need to Integrate the Two Approaches the literature argues the need to integrate the two approaches to best serve older women but first we need to know more about: how the problem is viewed within each paradigm how each approach has constructed its practice cannot bridge the two approaches without first having an intra-discourse understanding

the literature argues the need to integrate the two approaches to best serve older women

but first we need to know more about:

how the problem is viewed within each paradigm

how each approach has constructed its practice

cannot bridge the two approaches without first having an intra-discourse understanding

Research Project a research-practice partnership CLSC Ren é-Cassin Université de Montréal arose from social workers’ questioning of their practice initially wanted to explore the potential of a feminist intervention approach But we know nothing about current intervention approaches

a research-practice partnership

CLSC Ren é-Cassin

Université de Montréal

arose from social workers’ questioning of their practice

initially wanted to explore the potential of a feminist intervention approach

But we know nothing about current intervention approaches

Objectives To understand how social workers construct the problem when encountering situations of abused older women To describe the interventions strategies used with older women in situations of domestic violence To identify current intervention models used in practice by Quebec CLSC social workers To explore what a feminist approach could contribute to practice

To understand how social workers construct the problem when encountering situations of abused older women

To describe the interventions strategies used with older women in situations of domestic violence

To identify current intervention models used in practice by Quebec CLSC social workers

To explore what a feminist approach could contribute to practice

Methodology Exploratory Quebec CLSC social workers (homecare, elder abuse) Qualitative Use of case vignettes Semi-structured interviews Focus groups

Exploratory

Quebec CLSC social workers (homecare, elder abuse)

Qualitative

Use of case vignettes

Semi-structured interviews

Focus groups

Description of Case 1 Mrs B (78 year old, Alzheimer’s disease, intermediate phase…incontinence, agitated, very little concentration, etc) Mr B (73 year old, retired, takes care of Mrs with his daughters, feels very tired, looses patience sometimes, talks loudly, pushed Mrs and she fell) Daughter worries for her father’s health and is asking for help

Mrs B (78 year old, Alzheimer’s disease, intermediate phase…incontinence, agitated, very little concentration, etc)

Mr B (73 year old, retired, takes care of Mrs with his daughters, feels very tired, looses patience sometimes, talks loudly, pushed Mrs and she fell)

Daughter worries for her father’s health and is asking for help

Case 1 Violent behaviour No domestic violence Stress of caregiver Assessment criteria Intervention goals For Mrs B For Mr B

Violent behaviour

No domestic violence

Stress of caregiver

Assessment criteria

Intervention goals

For Mrs B

For Mr B

Description of Case 2 Mrs W (64 year old, married for 40 years, good health, cultivated, deprived of her grand-children’s presence, does not want to separate) Mr W (71 year old, retired for 6 years, unpleasant with Mrs…since the beginning of their marriage) Mrs is asking for help, because her children prevent her from seeing her grand-children

Mrs W (64 year old, married for 40 years, good health, cultivated, deprived of her grand-children’s presence, does not want to separate)

Mr W (71 year old, retired for 6 years, unpleasant with Mrs…since the beginning of their marriage)

Mrs is asking for help, because her children prevent her from seeing her grand-children

Case 2 Domestic violence Intervention Goals Create a relationship: engage client in an intervention process Intervene « around » the violence, answer to many other demands Protect Mrs W (protection scenario)

Domestic violence

Intervention Goals

Create a relationship: engage client in an intervention process

Intervene « around » the violence, answer to many other demands

Protect Mrs W (protection scenario)

Conclusions: Pilot Focus Group Eclectic approaches as per the situation (stress of caregiver, domestic violence) Little homogeneity in assessment criteria Interventions based on experience Interventions based on the perception of domestic violence among elderly spouses

Eclectic approaches as per the situation (stress of caregiver, domestic violence)

Little homogeneity in assessment criteria

Interventions based on experience

Interventions based on the perception of domestic violence among elderly spouses