A Nationwide Survey of Domestic Violence Shelters' Programming for Older Women

Abstract

This article describes a nationwide survey of domestic violence shelters that examined special programming for older battered women. More than two fifths of the 428 respondents had sheltered at least one woman age 60 or older during the previous year, and 61 stated they offered special programming for older women. This programming most often was outreach or individual interventions. A majority of the respondents provided education about domestic violence to adult protective services staff and senior centers, but only 22% presented information to aging agency staff. Interactions between domestic violence and service providers for the aged are critical as they discover they have clients in common.

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