Support Groups for Older People Who Have Been Abused

Book excerpt: Violence and Abuse Series 'The book is well written and informative for anyone who might want to work with victims of abuse. The author provides clear guidelines about who can benefit from group work and how survivors can heal and work together.' - Ageing Matters in Ireland In this thought-provoking book, Jacki Pritchard shows how support groups for victims of elder abuse provide invaluable opportunities for the voices of older people to be heard. Following groups through a two-year period, she discusses how they were set up and the difficulties encountered and overcome. The inclusion of younger adults alongside older people in one of these groups demonstrates the success of these techniques across a broad age span and the relevance of these experiences to general group work theory. She presents qualitative material alongside guidance for how to undertake practical and therapeutic work with male and female survivors. Presenting the implications of her findings regarding the interplay of child abuse, domestic violence and adult abuse, she highlights the need for professionals to recognise close links between the different types of abuse. Pointing to an important and new area of professional intervention in elder abuse, the author provides clear guidelines about who can benefit from group work and how survivors can heal and work together.