Domestic abuse campaign highlights how older people are being targeted by family members

NEARLY 100 older people a year in Tameside seek support for domestic abuse but it’s thought that many more may need help.

Not all of these were people are being abused by a partner, some of them are people who are being abused by their adult children.

Tameside Council is working with partners Age UK Tameside, a charity which works in the community to help older people remain independent and well,  and Jigsaw, which provides the Bridges domestic abuse support service, to relaunch the Sitting Right With You domestic abuse campaign to raise awareness with everyone – but particularly older people – that there’s support available.

Last year (2022/23) 98 domestic abuse referrals in Tameside were in relation to victims who were over 55 years of age. However, this accounts for just 7.3% of domestic abuse referrals in Tameside and it is believed there could be many more cases where people haven’t sought help.

The UK government’s definition of domestic violence is ‘any incident or pattern of incidents of controlling, coercive, 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, psychological, physical, sexual, financial and emotional abuse.

In some cases of domestic abuse involving older people, the perpetrator can be a family member who has or wants control of their victim’s money for their own financial gain.

 
The Sitting Right With You campaign aims to highlight controlling and coercive behaviours and that feeling scared of a member of your own family isn’t right and that there’s help and support available for anyone who is experiencing this.

Tameside Council Executive Member of public health Cllr Eleanor Wills said: “Anyone of any age, background or gender can experience domestic abuse. However, older people can be particularly vulnerable to domestic abuse because - for whatever reason, be it their health or other circumstances - they may feel more dependent on their abuser and isolated from the rest of the community and the support networks that are available.

“Domestic abuse is everyone’s business. If you’re worried about yourself or someone you know could be experiencing domestic abuse, please talk to someone about it. There is support available.”

For further information see www.tameside.gov.uk/domesticabuse or call 0800 328 0967. In an emergency you should always call 999.