The Journal of Elder Abuse & Neglect. It’s website states: “The Journal of Elder Abuse & Neglect is devoted to bringing to light the causes, effects, treatment, and prevention of the mistreatment of older people. This quarterly journal’s goal is to make you aware of the problem of elder abuse and neglect, increase your understanding of the dynamics that cause it, and show you new and effective treatment methods and preventive strategies”. The fact that a journal, which has the sole purpose of illuminating this hideous crime, even exists is very disturbing. But knowledge is power, as we say, so getting past my initial revolt led me to better understand this crime and what we can do about it.

The article Sexual Violence in Later Life, A Technical Assistance Guide for Advocates examines the ways in which sexual assault advocates can work to insure that older victims of sexual assault are recognized, protected, and served:

“Talk to older people in your community-they are the experts on how to enhance services to meet the needs of those in later life.• Put older people in positions of power in your organization – get and keep several older board members and staff who can look at policy and practice and identify ways to better assist older victims.• Assess your facility – is it user-friendly for older victims and people with disabilities?• Be prepared for older victims to contact your center. Is staff willing to meet them in a safe place to talk if they can’t get transportation to your center?• Work collaboratively with aging units and adult protective services/elder abuse agencies with expertise in working with older victims.• Be creative and flexible.As with all victims, the key to being successful with older people is listening carefully and giving them time to make decisions”, Ramsey-Klawsnik, H. (2010).

Many evidence based studies show a need for better reporting mechanisms. “Rape stereotypes involve the assault of young women due to sexual desire, resulting in the exclusion of older adults from sexual violence research, policies, and interventions, suggesting a need to further knowledge in this area. Debates also persist on the prevalence and nature of elder sexual abuse (ESA), where it occurs, and its most common perpetrators…findings of underreporting demonstrate a need for reliable estimates of prevalence, location as well as common victim-perpetrator relations and awareness of required steps toward prevention and intervention. Beyond this, transdisciplinary efforts are needed to yield effective training, education, and culturally appropriate resources”, (Hand M., 2019).

In my community, 180, Turning Lives Around is a well known non-profit whose mission statement is: “180 Turning Lives Around empowers survivors and families affected by domestic violence and sexual assault to find the courage and strength to turn their lives around. 180 supports this mission through: 24/7 hotlines – including the 2ND Floor Youth Helpline, counseling, legal advocacy, emergency shelter and transitional housing and art, play and music therapy for children”, https://180nj.org. This agency has many programs for survivors of every type of abuse, for example, this past week offered:

AMANDA’S EASEL CREATIVE ARTS THERAPY PROGRAM
3 Exercises to Help with Anxiety and Stress
3 Mindfulness Breathing Techniques
Progressive Muscle Relaxation
How to Make and Use a Calm Down Glitter Bottle

180, Turning Lives Around also offers community outreach and professional education, such as the Drug-Facilitated Sexual Assault Education Project and Professional Training On Domestic Violence And Sexual Assault, and for teens, Teen Healthy Relationships and Sexual Violence for Middle schools, High schools, and Senior Health class which includes:

180’s services & resources in Monmouth County

Statistics-examples & the law in New Jersey

Healthy vs. Unhealthy relationship dynamics

Safe break-ups

Risk reduction & bystander intervention

What is consent

How to help your friends, victim rights & options

Since 1976, 180 Turning Lives Around has supported and empowered individuals and families in crisis. A private, non-profit organization, 180 is the only state-designated Monmouth County agency that provides comprehensive and compassionate services to those affected by domestic and sexual violence. This link connects to many valuable brochures on topics around abuse and the many services: https://180nj.org/get-info/printed-materials/educational-brochures/.

With the changing demographics of the population widowhood and its impact to health will grow and magnify, how would the article impact your nursing care? What nursing actions would you incorporate to address this issue? Make sure that all your responses are supported by evidence-based data.

Resources

Hand M. (2019). ELDER SEXUAL ABUSE: A REVIEW OF LEGALLY MANDATED APPROACHES TOWARD PREVENTION AND FUTURE IMPLICATIONS. Innovation in Aging, 3(Suppl 1), S968. https://doi.org/10.1093/geroni/igz038.3510

Journal of Elder Abuse & Neglect.

https://www.tandfonline.com/toc/wean20/current

Ramsey-Klawsnik, H., (2010). Sexual Violence in Later Life: A Technical Assistance Guide for Advocates.

http://www.nsvrc.org.

https://180nj.org/get-info/about-us/mission-statem…

Vierthaler K. (2008). Best practices for working with rape crisis centers to address elder sexual abuse. Journal of elder abuse & neglect, 20(4), 306–322.

https://doi.org/10.1080/08946560802359235