Respect
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Section 2: PREVENTION
Module 9: Root causes of violence
Violence Prevention Initiative
Respect Aging:Preventing Violence against Older Persons
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Agenda• Welcome
• Brainstorming
• Learning together:
• Root causes of violence
• Small group activity
• Reporting back to whole group
• Wrap-up / Evaluation
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What is “violence”?• Violence is accomplished through the abuse of power and control.
• Most commonly understood as a pattern of behaviour intended to establish and maintain control over family, household members, intimate partners, colleagues, individuals or groups.
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Violence against older persons
• Cycle of family violence
• Devaluing and marginalizing
• Isolation = limited access to resources
• Intimate partner violence
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Control tactics
• Physical violence
• Humiliation, jealousy
• Creating dependency
• Isolation; watching
• Minimizing violence
• Threats
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Caregiver stress
• Theory says caregivers lose control under stress
• But it is never okay to harm an older person
• Stress does not justify violence
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Being a supportive helper
• Be aware of power imbalances
• Acknowledge differences in power
• Provide information
• See older person as active participant
• Offer choices
POWER AND
CONTROL
PHYSICALUsing physical
force whichresults in pain
or injury
SEXUALForcing sexual
acts or behaviors
without consent
PSYCHOLOGICALOngoing controlling behaviour; isolation
EMOTIONALSpecific demeaning
tactics such as making threats,
intimidation
VERBALUsing language to hurt or shame: yelling, lying,
insulting
FINANCIALStealing money; taking over bank accounts or possessions without
permission
CULTURALIgnoring or ridiculing cultural
traditions
SPIRITUALNot permitting religious observance of person’s
choice
NEGLECTFailing to meet
the needs of the older person
BELIEVE AND VALIDATE
Listen to and believe the older person.
Acknowledge feelings and emphasize that she/he is
not alone.
ADVOCACY & EMPOWERMENT
ACKNOWLEDGE INJUSTICE
The violence perpetrated against the older person is not her/his fault. No one deserves to be harmed.
RESPECT AUTONOMY
Respect the older person’s right to make decisions about her/his own life. She/he is the expert in
her/his own life.
RESPECT CONFIDENTIALITY
Meet with the older person privately, without caregivers or family members present. This is essential in building trust and ensuring safety.
HELP WITH SAFETY PLANNING
Help the older person develop a safety plan. Work out a place to go if she/he
needs to escape.
PROVIDE INFORMATION
Provide the older person with information and
options so she or he can make choices.