Financial Abuse of Older Women in Serbia

Abstract

A survey of older women in Serbia was conducted to understand the structural and individual financial abuse they experienced within the family context, as well as the risks of this form of abuse and their knowledge of their rights. This is the first study on financial abuse of older women in Serbia. It has important implications for older women who experience lower overall economic status than older men and women of younger ages. A convenience sample of 97 older women age 65 years and older from ten cities/municipalities of Serbia was interviewed. Respondents provided information on their finances, experience of receiving/forgoing their inheritance, lifelong contract with family members, etc. Given the sampling methodology, findings do not allow for generalization of the results. However, they provide insights that can inform more efficient policies to protect older people, in particular older women, from this form of abuse.

KEYWORDS:

• financial abuse
• inheritance
• older women
• self-sacrifice

Notes

1. Approximately two thirds of all cases Serbian citizens have brought to the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg are related to the breach of rights to have a court case processed in a reasonable time period, http://www.cins.rs/srpski/news/article/postupke-razvlace-sudovi-gradjani-vestaci-i-drugi-posledice-trpe-svi- retrieved on 4 June 2015.