Research output per year
Research output per year
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to explore practitioners’ perceptions of the barriers to help-seeking for victim-survivors of domestic abuse aged 60 years and over. Help-seeking as defined by Anderson and Saunders (2003) is not a single act or decision, but a complex and continuous process victims engage in when seeking support.
Design/methodology/approach
Fifty qualitative semi-structured interviews were conducted with statutory practitioners and managers from twenty-one out of twenty-two local authorities in Wales. The research team worked collaboratively to produce a coding scheme which was subjected to a systematic coding exercise using the software package NVivo.
Findings
Professionals believed that older people’s ‘interconnectedness’ with family, social embeddedness in the community and ‘meanings of the home’ influenced help-seeking. The research suggests that for older victim-survivors of domestic abuse, discrimination on account of age by practitioners, considerably compounds older people’s experiences of help-seeking, restricting the range, quality and type of support provided. The paper demonstrates a significant shift is required in practice to ensure older people are in a position to make informed choices and their wishes are central in the decision-making process.
Research limitations/implications
Further qualitative research is needed to explore what older people themselves believe are the factors that impact on service engagement.
Originality/value
This study is the first in the United Kingdom to conduct Pan-Wales research on help-seeking behaviours of older people. One of the key findings from the study suggests that connections to the home and social ties strongly influence help-seeking for older victim-survivors of domestic abuse.
Key words: domestic abuse, older people, help-seeking, family, meanings of the home, social networks.
The purpose of this paper is to explore practitioners’ perceptions of the barriers to help-seeking for victim-survivors of domestic abuse aged 60 years and over. Help-seeking as defined by Anderson and Saunders (2003) is not a single act or decision, but a complex and continuous process victims engage in when seeking support.
Design/methodology/approach
Fifty qualitative semi-structured interviews were conducted with statutory practitioners and managers from twenty-one out of twenty-two local authorities in Wales. The research team worked collaboratively to produce a coding scheme which was subjected to a systematic coding exercise using the software package NVivo.
Findings
Professionals believed that older people’s ‘interconnectedness’ with family, social embeddedness in the community and ‘meanings of the home’ influenced help-seeking. The research suggests that for older victim-survivors of domestic abuse, discrimination on account of age by practitioners, considerably compounds older people’s experiences of help-seeking, restricting the range, quality and type of support provided. The paper demonstrates a significant shift is required in practice to ensure older people are in a position to make informed choices and their wishes are central in the decision-making process.
Research limitations/implications
Further qualitative research is needed to explore what older people themselves believe are the factors that impact on service engagement.
Originality/value
This study is the first in the United Kingdom to conduct Pan-Wales research on help-seeking behaviours of older people. One of the key findings from the study suggests that connections to the home and social ties strongly influence help-seeking for older victim-survivors of domestic abuse.
Key words: domestic abuse, older people, help-seeking, family, meanings of the home, social networks.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 247-260 |
| Number of pages | 14 |
| Journal | Journal of Adult Protection |
| Volume | 19 |
| Issue number | 5 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 09 Oct 2017 |
| Event | Coercive Control and Older People - Welsh Women's Aid, Cardiff, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland Duration: 27 Jul 2017 → 27 Aug 2017 |
Keywords
- domestic abuse
- older people
- help-seeking
- interconnectedness
- meanings of the home
- social ties
Fingerprint
Dive into the research topics of 'Domestic abuse and older people: Factors influencing help-seeking'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.Research output
- 19 Citations
- 1 Chapter
-
Dewis Choice: A Welsh Initiative promoting justice for older victim-survivors of domestic abuse
Wydall, S., Clarke, A., Williams, J. & Zerk, R., 01 Jul 2019, Violence Against Older Women : Responses. Bows, H. (ed.). 1 ed. Springer Nature, Vol. 2. p. 13-36 24 p. (Palgrave Studies in Victims and Victimology).Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter
Activities
-
Exchange VAWDASV Conference, Building Better Social Care in Wales
Wydall, S. (Participant)
28 Mar 2018Activity: Participating in or organising an event › Conference
-
Strengths -based social care practice with older people: Partnership Conference
Wydall, S. (Speaker)
31 Mar 2016Activity: Talk or presentation › Invited talk
-
Welsh Government
Wydall, S. (Advisor)
15 Mar 2016 → …Activity: Consultancy › Work on advisory panel to industry or government or non-government organisation
File -
Guest speaker at first seminar on older women and domestic abuse
Wydall, S. (Speaker)
2016Activity: Talk or presentation › Oral presentation
-
Department of Law and Criminology (Organisational unit)
Wydall, S. (Member)
2012 → …Activity: Membership › Membership of working group or panel