What’s in a name? Family violence involving older adults
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/JAP-08-2018-0016 |
| Pages | 187-192 |
| Published date | 10 December 2018 |
| Date | 10 December 2018 |
| Author | Susan M. Benbow,Sharmi Bhattacharyya,Paul Kingston |
| Subject Matter | Health & social care,Vulnerable groups,Adult protection,Safeguarding,Sociology,Sociology of the family,Abuse |
What’s in a name? Family violence
involving older adults
Susan M. Benbow, Sharmi Bhattacharyya and Paul Kingston
Abstract
Purpose –The purpose of this paper is to review the terminology used to describe family violence involving older
adults in order to stimulate a discussion that may assist in the use of a more appropriate and clearer terminology.
Design/methodology/approach –Different definitions of terms used to describe violence are considered
and the contexts in which they are used. Two cases are described to illustrate the use of overlapping terms,
the assumptions that lie behind them and the different actions that they lead to.
Findings –The authors argue that legal, relational, health (physical and mental) and social perspectives are
all useful and integration contributes to a fuller understanding of violence.
Originality/value –The importance of terminology used to describe family violence involving older adults has
been neglected in the past, yet it influences understanding about violent incidentsand shapes responses to them.
Keywords Elder abuse, Intimate partner violence, Violence, Domestic abuse, Adult family violence
Paper type Viewpoint
Recently, we studied domestic homicide reviews involving older adults as victims and/or
perpetrators. In doing so, we came across a range of literature using a variety of terms that might
be applied to some of the homicides involved. In this paper, we reflect on some of the different
terms used and the implications of using those terms. We reflect on possible ways of dealing with
a confusion of terminology and nomenclature that sometimes, in our view, may bias risk
assessment and obscure or minimise the potential for risk and harm. We do not consider here
honour-based violence or female genital mutilation, both of which may involve older adults.
Domestic violence/abuse and intimate partner violence/abuse
Domestic violence and abuse is defined by the Home Office (2018) as:
[…] any incident or pattern of incidents of controlling, coercive or threatening behaviour, violence or
abuse between those aged 16 or over who are or have been intimate partners or family members
regardless of gender or sexuality. This can encompass, but is not limited to, the following types of
abuse: psychological, physical, sexual, financial, and emotional.
This definition includes violence between intimate partners (which is sometimes referred to as
intimate partner violence or abuse, or partner violence/abuse) and violence between family
members who are not intimate partners. Spousal abuse is another term that is sometimes used,
but intimate partner abuse allows for a range of partner relationships without making
assumptions about gender or formal relationship status. In practice, the term domestic abuse is
also sometimes preferred to domestic violence in order to acknowledge that abusive behaviours
may not involve physical violence.
The World Health Organisation (2002) has taken a different approach. It published its first World
report on violence and health in 2002 and defined violence as:
The intentional use of physical force or power, threatened or actual, against oneself, another person,
or against a group or community, that either results in or has a high likelihood of resulting in injury,
death, psychological harm, maldevelopment or deprivation. (p. 5)
Received 13 August 2018
Revised 13 August 2018
Accepted 21 August 2018
The work reported here was
unfunded.
Susan M. Benbow is based at
the University of Chester,
Chester, UK.
Sharmi Bhattacharyya is
Consultant at the Betsi
Cadwaladr University Health
Board, Chester, UK.
Paul Kingston is based at the
Faculty of Health and Social
Care, University of Chester,
Chester, UK.
DOI 10.1108/JAP-08-2018-0016 VOL. 20 NO. 5/6 2018, pp. 187-192, © Emerald Publishing Limited, ISSN 1466-8203
j
THE JOURNAL OF ADULT PROTECTION
j
PAG E 18 7
To continue reading
Request your trial