How to support older women experiencing domestic violence focus of new Canadian study

A new study co-led by a Dalhousie University professor aims to create programs to support women in mid-life and older who are experiencing intimate partner violence.

In Canada, 44 per cent of women who have ever been in an intimate partner relationship have reported experiencing some form of intimate partner violence.

That’s according to a Canadian Centre for Justice and Community Safety Statistics report released in 2021.

While research has consistently shown that younger people are more likely to be victims of domestic violence, a Dalhousie University professor wants to ensure there’s a demographic that’s not forgotten: women in mid-life and older.

“We want to make sure that people realize that there’s no age — there’s no age that this ends and this certainly can continue into later life,” said Dr. Lori Weeks.

Weeks, a gerontologist and professor at Dalhousie’s School of Nursing in Halifax, is co-leading a project to address the lack of support. The goal is to adapt and create interventions specifically for older women who are are experiencing intimate partner violence.

“One of the reasons we’re doing this research with women in mid-life and older is to really highlight people of all ages experience intimate partner violence,” she said.

“I think that historically a lot of our focus and services have been directed more at younger women.”

The team has received close to $600,000 in federal funding to recruit and train researchers in the three Maritime provinces to help deliver the program. Data will be collected over nine months to see how well the program works.