Respect

aging

Section 2: PREVENTION

Module 9: Root causes of violence

Violence Prevention Initiative

Respect Aging:Preventing Violence against Older Persons

Respect

aging

Agenda• Welcome

• Brainstorming

• Learning together:

• Root causes of violence

• Small group activity

• Reporting back to whole group

• Wrap-up / Evaluation

Respect

aging

What is “violence”?• Violence is accomplished through the abuse of power and control.

• Most commonly understood as a pattern of behaviour intended to establish and maintain control over family, household members, intimate partners, colleagues, individuals or groups.

Respect

aging

…is rooted in inequality.

…violates people’s rights.

…may also be a crime.

Violence…

Respect

aging

Violence against older persons

• Cycle of family violence

• Devaluing and marginalizing

• Isolation = limited access to resources

• Intimate partner violence

Respect

aging

Control tactics

• Physical violence

• Humiliation, jealousy

• Creating dependency

• Isolation; watching

• Minimizing violence

• Threats

Respect

aging

The Cycle of Violence

HONEYMOON

TENSION

EXPLOSION

Respect

aging

Caregiver stress

• Theory says caregivers lose control under stress

• But it is never okay to harm an older person

• Stress does not justify violence

Respect

aging

Being a supportive helper

• Be aware of power imbalances

• Acknowledge differences in power

• Provide information

• See older person as active participant

• Offer choices

Respect

aging

Tools

• Power and Control Wheel

• Advocacy and Empowerment Wheel

POWER AND

CONTROL

PHYSICALUsing physical

force whichresults in pain

or injury

SEXUALForcing sexual

acts or behaviors

without consent

PSYCHOLOGICALOngoing controlling behaviour; isolation

EMOTIONALSpecific demeaning

tactics such as making threats,

intimidation

VERBALUsing language to hurt or shame: yelling, lying,

insulting

FINANCIALStealing money; taking over bank accounts or possessions without

permission

CULTURALIgnoring or ridiculing cultural

traditions

SPIRITUALNot permitting religious observance of person’s

choice

NEGLECTFailing to meet

the needs of the older person

BELIEVE AND VALIDATE

Listen to and believe the older person.

Acknowledge feelings and emphasize that she/he is

not alone.

ADVOCACY & EMPOWERMENT

ACKNOWLEDGE INJUSTICE

The violence perpetrated against the older person is not her/his fault. No one deserves to be harmed.

RESPECT AUTONOMY

Respect the older person’s right to make decisions about her/his own life. She/he is the expert in

her/his own life.

RESPECT CONFIDENTIALITY

Meet with the older person privately, without caregivers or family members present. This is essential in building trust and ensuring safety.

HELP WITH SAFETY PLANNING

Help the older person develop a safety plan. Work out a place to go if she/he

needs to escape.

PROVIDE INFORMATION

Provide the older person with information and

options so she or he can make choices.

Respect

aging

Restoring power and control to the older person

• Empowerment through:

• Information

• Options

• Choices

• Involvement