Older Victims of Abuse: Understanding Help-Seeking in an Understudied Population

Fraga Dominguez, Silvia and Storey, Jennifer E. and Glorney, Emily (2026) Older Victims of Abuse: Understanding Help-Seeking in an Understudied Population. Victims and Offenders. ISSN 15564886 (ISSN) (In Press)

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Abstract

The abuse of older adults by someone in a position of trust, also known as elder abuse (EA), is a prevalent and impactful problem worldwide that often goes unreported. The current study investigated EA victims’ help-seeking, including barriers and facilitators to help-seeking, sources of reporting and responses, and attitudes towards intervention. The study utilized secondary data from a UK EA helpline, with 1,623 cases examined through a mixed-methods approach, combining qualitative content analysis, descriptive statistics, and logistic regression. Data were gathered on victim, perpetrator and abuse characteristics, and victims’ help-seeking. Victims faced a wide range of barriers to seeking help, particularly in relation to their social network, and sometimes due to the perpetrator’s influence. Attitudes towards external help were mixed and victims had a variety of goals that they were seeking from intervention. Cases where victims were female, younger, experiencing mental health problems, or suffering psychological abuse, were more likely to be self-reported.

Item Type:	Article
Dates:	Date Event 6 January 2026 Accepted
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Elder mistreatment, victims, help-seeking, barriers, older adults, reporting
Subjects:	CAH04 - psychology > CAH04-01 - psychology > CAH04-01-01 - psychology (non-specific)
Divisions:	Life and Health Sciences > Psychology
Depositing User:	Gemma Tonks
Date Deposited:	14 Jan 2026 14:09
Last Modified:	14 Jan 2026 14:09
URI:	https://www.open-access.bcu.ac.uk/id/eprint/16802

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