Sexual Violence Against Older Women: Documenting the Practices of Aged Care Service Providers

Abstract

In this chapter, we present and interrogate findings from an exploratory, qualitative research project on aged care service providers’ ‘best-practice’ responses to older women who have been sexually assaulted as older women or were viewed as ‘at-risk’ of being targeted for sexual assault. Aged care service providers are likely to have access to women who are otherwise isolated and positioned as vulnerable and have the potential to provide a key source of support and intervention. We present findings on the contexts in which participants came into contact with older women who had experienced or were ‘at-risk’ of sexual assault, and the barriers and facilitators to responding ‘well’ to these incidents. Our findings present important practical implications for supporting aged care service providers in responding appropriately to older women in their care who experience sexual assault.