Chapter 3 - The invisible problem of abused older men

Abstract

It is not surprising that elder abuse has been primarily perceived to be a problem faced by older women. First of all, the great majority of older persons are women, numerically and proportionally, and the discrepancy in longevity between older women and older men increases by age group. As the existence of elder abuse is often the result of reports and surveys, it is not surprising that the number of older persons includes mainly older women. Males are seen to be physically stronger than are women, and this extends to differences between older men and women. As older women are perceived to be, and often can be, less able to defend themselves and/or escape their abuse, so too are they believed to be more vulnerable to abusive acts. Sexual abuse of older persons is limited to older women, and such abuse against older men has not been discussed. The fact that men have been identified to be the main abusers of family members leads to the conclusion that, therefore, family victims of abuse are adult females or young boys or girls. Thus, if the perpetrators of intrafamily violence (including elder abuse) are males, the victims must generally be females.