A multi-case exploratory study of the lived experiences of older women, reconciling remaining in abusive relationships due to informal care needs.

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A growing group of older women are living in the context of current or previous domesticviolence. Latest figures available from the CSEW find lifetime prevalence for women ofdomestic abuse by a partner is 24.9% for 16-59 year olds and 15.9% for 60-74 year olds.1 Thisis the first year that data has been collected on women over 60 and no data is available for thoseaged over 74, who remain an unresearched group.There is a stark absence of research on how older women in abusive relationships manage livingwith and/or caring for a dependent partner. Yet, older women, described as "invisible victims"of domestic violence are one of the largest groups of people experiencing violence not accessingdomestic abuse services2 3. Those aged 60 and above are significantly more likely to have adisability and/or co-morbidities and are more likely to be living with the perpetrator after gettingsupport4. Prolonged exposure to abuse related trauma is a feature of many older women'sexperience of "growing old" with domestic violence. Pragmatism, the need for retribution, lackof options are all further considerations and suggests that both victim and perpetrator can beliving precarious lives, hidden behind closed doors, in a carer/cared for dynamic, where thevictim becomes perpetrator and the perpetrator becomes victim. To date, there has been noliterature exploring the phenomena of interpersonal revenge or "retributive justice" as it hasbeen called in this context. This is where a victim seeks revenge on the perpetrator for theperceived abuse4.There are now 11.8 million people aged 65 or over in the UK, 1.6 million are aged 85 or overand approximately 70% of these are women5. Projected demographics, the impetus to expandcare into the community and cuts in social care funding, means the expectation of caring fallsincreasingly at the feet of an ageing population. Currently, over 2 million older women areproviding unpaid care, and more than half have a health condition or disability themselves6. Alack of gender analysis in the elder abuse field, particularly of DV, means that older womenmay not receive the specialist support that they are entitled to7. The current project will thereforeinform policy and practice by deepening understanding of the way in which gender and age, askey inter-related factors, might be shaping support services for older DV victims. This willmake a unique contribution to domestic violence literature.This project aligns strongly with the ESRC's challenge to address the individual's perspectiveof their care and support needs and the challenges faced by health and social care servicedelivery which is also one of the key aims of the Health and Social Care Act (2012).