Suggestions for Prevention Measures Based on Polish Research Concerning Older Victims of Domestic Violence

Abstract

The paper presents an analysis of the needs of older victims of domestic violence under the care of social services or law-enforcement agencies, based on research conducted in Poland. The main purpose is to highlight the distinguishing features of working with an older client group and to determine whether services in Poland are adequately prepared for providing help to older victims. The resource base is research carried out for the projects IPVoW (research based on diagnostic survey methods and in-depth structured interviews), Mind the Gap! (based on re-analysis of data) and SNaP (based on re-analysis of data and in-depth structured interviews). This article is a review and comparative analysis of results obtained in these projects. In the period analysed between 2009 and 2016, the Polish legal system improved and older victims increasingly received more effective help. Nevertheless, meeting their specific needs demands a more comprehensive approach, which is undoubtedly more time-consuming and requires a different understanding than with other victims of violence. Unfortunately, the police, law-enforcement officers and social workers frequently do not have sufficient knowledge of gerontology. In order to be effective, working with older people requires special training, including knowledge of the overall process of ageing.

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