Study examines elder abuse in Rhode Island

Study examines elder abuse in Rhode Island
(February 2009 Issue)

By Ami Albernaz

A landmark study of abuse of older women in Rhode Island yielded surprising findings and suggests new ways to counter the abuse. Contrary to the belief that abuse is most often inflicted by stressed caregivers, the findings show that women between 50 and 59 most often suffered abuse at the hands of a spouse or intimate partner, while women 60 and older were more likely to be victimized by "predatory" children or grandchildren who might steal money or personal belongings.

The researchers, led by Andrew Klein, Ph.D., of the Sudbury, Mass.-based Advocates for Human Potential, Inc., examined all domestic violence reports made to Rhode Island law enforcement in 2002 involving female victims ages 50 and older. Rhode Island was chosen because domestic violence is defined broadly - including violent and non-violent incidents that involve current or former intimates, family members or members of the same household - and because police are required to document all domestic violence reports.

The researchers found that in the majority of cases - 65 percent - victims reported abuse to police, countering other findings that women are unlikely to report the abuse themselves. Researchers also found that despite the mandate for police to report abuse to the Department of Elderly Affairs (DEA) in cases in which the victim is 60 or older, there is a seeming divide between the police and DEA social workers.

"Technically, there should be 100 percent overlap, at least for people 60 and over," Klein says. "But the DEA will rarely refer cases to the police, and vice-versa. Police will say, 'I don't turn it over to the DEA because they don't have the resources to deal with it.' And they're right, the DEA is under-funded."

Klein added, however, that he has heard that communication has improved since the study ended.

In 54 percent of the abuse cases, the perpetrator was a current or former intimate partner; in one-third of the total cases, the victim and perpetrator were married. In most of these cases, the victim was 50-59 years old.

At 60, the number of abuse cases dropped precipitously, with perpetrators less likely to be intimates or former intimates and more likely to be a younger relative who stole money or property such as appliances or clothing. However, around one-third of victims ages 60 and older were still abused by current or former intimates - a larger proportion than generally reported in the literature.

"Marriage is generally thought to be a stabilizing factor. Groups like the Heritage Foundation say that marriage is the safest place for women to be," Klein says. "Yet if a woman is married and abused, it's the most unsafe place for them to be." Many of the perpetrators had criminal records and as they aged, the criminality seemed to be focused on the current or former partner, Klein says.

Some of the younger family members who stole from their mother or grandmother had problems with substance abuse. In one such case, a 36-year-old man with a severe drug habit and a criminal history reportedly threatened to snap his 67-year-old mother's neck. In other cases, perpetrators were mentally ill and had stopped taking medication. Victims called the police simply so that their children or grandchildren could be made to take medication.

The findings suggest that a new model might be needed to treat perpetrators of domestic violence, Klein says. Although the law requires all who are convicted of domestic violence to complete a 26-week batterer intervention program, "the power and control model doesn't seem to be appropriate for predatory offspring," he says.

Mandatory substance abuse counseling and mental health counseling would be more appropriate requirements than batterer treatment alone, the report says.

While the report also called for increased communication between the police and elderly affairs workers, it says Rhode Island appears to be ahead of other states in getting victims to report abuse by current and former intimate partners. Whether this is because of victim advocacy or victim confidence in law enforcement and prosecutors is unclear.