Best Practices for Working with Rape Crisis Centers to Address Elder Sexual Abuse

ABSTRACT

Sexual violence perpetrated on elders is a significant problem. Elder sexual assault victims often need more assistance than younger victims, yet they typically receive fewer services. Rape crisis centers have faced a multitude of barriers in addressing elder sexual abuse. This article provides an overview of the rape crisis movement and discusses why elders have been both overlooked as potential targets of sexual assault and underserved as victims. Recommendations are made to encourage collaboration between elder and rape crisis advocates. This article describes a Pennsylvania project to cross-train Department of Aging protective service workers and rape crisis advocates.

KEYWORDS:

• Barriers
• elder sexual abuse
• rape crisis movement
• service provision
• sexual violence
• rape crisis counseling
• protective services

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Karla Vierthaler

Note: All materials developed by the Pennsylvania Department of Aging and the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rape, as well as information about the elder sexual abuse project, are available from Karla Vierthaler.