“We’re going to tie you to the chair”: the perception of perpetrators and the risk of violence in old age

Abstract

This article analyses the experiences and perceptions of a sample of people over 60 about the most frequent type of violence in old age, the risk factors, the offenders and the reactions to abuse. A mixed study was carried out with the sequential application of 677 questionnaires and 45 interviews. The results show that older people are mainly victims of psychological abuse and financial exploitation; the type of abuse varies according to the type of aggressor; and that machismo, ageism, mental health problems, addictive behaviours and social isolation are risk factors for violence. Health and justice professionals are perceived as those to whom victims should turn and confide.