Rural Domestic and Sexual Abuse Program Advocates: Making a Difference in the Lives of Older Survivors of Abuse

Rural domestic and sexual abuse service programs can play a crucial role in providing older victims the advocacy and services they need to be safe and to heal from the trauma of abuse. The purpose of this booklet is to provide rural domestic and sexual abuse service programs with resources and tools to effectively respond to abuse in later life, an issue that lies at the nexus between domestic violence, sexual assault, and elder abuse. The first section provides an overview of abuse in later life and the unique challenges it poses for older victims and service providers. The remainder of the booklet provides ideas and perspectives for serving older victims, including suggestions on tailoring services in domestic and sexual violence programs to better meet the needs of this population and a discussion on how communities can work together to respond to abuse in later life.