• By Todd Luck
• Posted Monday, June 1, 2026

Elder abuse includes domestic violence

Interpersonal violence may happen throughout your lifespan. Tactics may include physical, sexual, emotional, psychological, or financial abuse. Isolation is a common factor in all age groups, especially with older adults experiencing domestic violence that may include intimidation, threats, coercion, and instilling fear.

Abusers can be current and/or former spouses, partners, adult children, extended family and other caregivers. They may limit access to medical care, medications, medical devices or over medicate family members to further control them.

“Older generations have more traditional ideas about gender roles, handling finances and help-seeking outside of the home when in intimate relationships,” says DeWanna Hamlin, director of Bridges to Hope Family Justice Center. “Older adults may not define what is happening to them as ‘domestic violence’ or ‘abuse,’ which may have occurred for the duration of a marriage.” Hamlin also notes that being talked down to or not having their opinions or views considered may have been the experiences of prior generations. It was normative for couples to stay together even if controlling, violent or abusive behaviors were tolerated and known in the family, neighborhood or community.

“Survivors of domestic violence in later life, may be without a frame of reference for having autonomy over their bodies or a history of independent decision-making,” says Hamlin. “If survivors have been financially dependent on their partner or other family members for decades, the idea of living apart from them may be scarier and more unsettling than the abuse itself, even when injured.”

In some instances, the abuse is perpetrated by an adult child or grandchild, and the victim does not want to cause trouble for their family member, especially if the abuser is their caregiver.

Victims can decrease social isolation by staying active in the community, and maintaining connections with trusted friends, family, and other resources is key.

Health care providers, first responders, faith communities and elder serving program staff can play an integral role in prevention and safe intervention. Training for assessment of domestic violence later in life, identifying red flags, local resources and navigating referrals for at- risk individuals are all important collaborative efforts to increase opportunities for keeping our seniors safer.

Bridges to Hope is located at 725 N. Highland Ave, Annex 1, Winston-Salem. Service delivery is M-F, 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. No appointment is needed. Phone (336) 776-3255.

To report suspected adult abuse, neglect, and/or exploitation, call Adult Protective Services at 336-703-3503.