Practitioner preparedness for working with older women and intimate partner violence

There is an increasing acknowledgement of a shortage in knowledge and awareness of intimate partner abuse (IPA) and older women both within society and from those who provide care provisions. A consequence is that the needs of women 45 and older are overlooked in service delivery and development often as a result of low prevalence rates of reported abuse among older cohorts. This chapter examines practitioner preparedness for working with older women who have fallen victim to IPA. The findings uncovered that practitioners presented with deficits in knowledge and understanding when working with this cohort and that there was a lack of joined-up thinking among services. The chapter raises concerns about the lack of training and awareness of the requirements of older women and highlights the demand for multi-agency working in addition to clear guidance and protocols to ensure that the needs of older female victims are met.