Survey on Abuse in Later Life: Professionals and Service Providers

Thank you for taking the time to fill out this survey by the Office on Violence Against Women and North Shore Elder Services. Our community has received funding from the Department of Justice's Office on Violence Against Women to create or enhance services for older victims of abuse. In order to gather the kinds of information that will help us plan activities and services that better respond to the needs of victims of abuse in later life, we are asking older adults and service providers throughout our community to share their experiences. Your ideas are important to us.

Individuals who are age 50 and older may be hit, yelled at, or sexually assaulted. They may be neglected or have had money or possessions stolen. Older victims are most generally harmed by someone they know; often someone they love or trust, such as a spouse, partner, adult child, other family member or a caregiver. You may know an older adult who has been or is being harmed. You may want to talk to someone before or after taking this survey. If you need further information before or after taking this survey please contact Lisa at 978-750-4540. All responses are kept confidential.

This provider survey is designed to gather information in three areas:

1. Your organization's perspectives about helpful services for older adults (age 50 and over) who may be experiencing some form of abuse,

2. Your organization's experience with issues of abuse in later life, and

3. Background information about your organization.

Section A: Services/Opportunities that Might Help Older Individuals

Question Title

* 1. Please check the top three (3) services you think would be helpful for older individuals who are being hurt by a spouse, partner, adult child, family member, or caregiver.

24-hour phone helpline for older victims and non-abusing family and friends to call for information and support

Affordable legal help to stop the abuse (such as help getting a restraining order or changing a power of attorney)

Affordable long-term housing

Assistance with balancing checkbooks, managing finances, or creating personal budgets

Case management (a professional to work with older victims to create a plan about what to do next)

Counseling for older victims

Help for older victims taking care of the house or apartment

Legal advocacy (someone to help if an older victim needs to go to court)

Money for rent or moving expenses, food, prescriptions for medication and medical supplies, if they are not available due to interference from the abuser

Options for pets (such as foster care or shelter for pets while older victims are staying at a shelter)

Protective or restraining orders (legal orders to keep an abuser away)

Personal advocacy (someone to talk to about the abuse and to provide emotional support)

Safe shelter (safe emergency housing for someone who is in danger)

Support groups (a small group of older survivors of abuse who meet regularly to talk to each other and support each other)

Transitional housing (temporary housing from 12-24 months for older victims who need a place to stay while they take next steps)

Transportation to medical appointments, victim services and court

Please use this space below to describe other victim services you think would be helpful:

Question Title

* 2. Where do you think would be a good place to hold services for older victims? (Check all that apply.)

Area Agency on Aging

Church, synagogue or other faith community building

Domestic violence program

Health care center

Housing complex for older adults

Library

Senior center

Sexual assault program

Please use the space below to suggest other locations:

Question Title

* 3. What hours should services be available? (Check all that apply)

Mornings

Afternoons

Evenings

Weekdays

Weekends

24 hours a day, 7 days a week

Question Title

* 4. What information could be helpful for older victims? (check all that apply)

Tips on caregiving (tips on how to manage the stress of providing care to a person who is hurtful OR tips on how to provide care for a family member while living with an abuser)

Childcare information (how to provide care for own children, grandchildren or great grandchildren living in the home where an older adult is being harmed)

Criminal justice system information (what happens after a spouse, partner or family member is arrested?)

Employment and job training information

Financial information (how to balance a checkbook or create a budget OR how to stop abuser from stealing from victim

Housing information (emergency shelters, transitional housing or affordable permanent housing)

Information about available services

Information about how to leave an abuser

Information about legal issues (protective orders, wills, guardianships)

Information about programs for abusers

Information about sexual abuse

Safety planning

Referrals to other services and agencies that can offer help in the community

Spiritual/religious issues

Substance abuse (drugs or alcohol)

Please use the space below to describe what other information you think would be helpful for victims of abuse in later life:

Question Title

* 5. How should we let older individuals know about available help? (check all that apply)

Billboards

Brochures about services

Facebook or YouTube

Faith-based publications such as newsletters or materials distributed at services

Internet

Newspaper ads

Posters or Flyers

Presentations to community groups

Publications for older adults such as free senior newspapers

Radio ads

Television ads

Please use the space below to suggest other ideas:

Question Title

* 6. Where would you recommend posting posters or brochures? (check all that apply)

Area Agencies on Aging

Bathrooms of restaurants and other public places

Beauty parlors or barber shops

Churches, synagogues or faith communities

Healthcare settings

Senior Housing locations

Libraries

Nursing homes, assisted living or other facilities

Senior Centers

Please use the space below to suggest other places:

Question Title

* 1. Please check the top three (3) services you think would be helpful for older individuals who are being hurt by a spouse, partner, adult child, family member, or caregiver.

Question Title

* 2. Where do you think would be a good place to hold services for older victims? (Check all that apply.)

Question Title

* 3. What hours should services be available? (Check all that apply)

Question Title

* 4. What information could be helpful for older victims? (check all that apply)

Question Title

* 5. How should we let older individuals know about available help? (check all that apply)

Question Title

* 6. Where would you recommend posting posters or brochures? (check all that apply)

Question Title

* 7. What other suggestions do you have to help older individuals who are struggling with controlling and hurtful situations?