[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 41 (Thursday, April 2, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E587-E588]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             THE OLDER WOMEN's PROTECTION FROM VIOLENCE ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. CAROLYN B. MALONEY

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, April 1, 1998

  Mrs. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, the Hargraves had nine 
children, 23 grandchildren, and 11 great-grandchildren. Helen Hargrave 
was 71, her husband, 83. Last Memorial Day, Charles Hargrave became 
violently angry. He pushed her to the ground, then shot and killed her 
before turning the gun on himself. Unfortunately, Helen Hargrave is not 
alone.
  Older people are victimized by different types of abuse, including 
psychological, financial, physical abuse and neglect. And there is a 
significant population of older people who are abused by adult children 
or care givers. The number of reports of elder abuse in the United 
States increased by 150% between 1986 and 1996. Further, of the more 
than one million people aged 65 and over who are victims of abuse each 
year, at least two-thirds are women. And older women report more 
serious injuries than male victims of elder abuse.
  These figures can no longer be ignored, these women can no longer be 
overlooked. The time has come to effectively and comprehensively 
address the issue of violence against older people. We must provide 
professionals with the skills needed to identify the problem, support 
for those who are too frightened or demoralized to ask for help, and 
protection for those who are vulnerable.
  In an effort to confront this complex issue, Congressman Mike Castle 
and I have introduced the ``Older Women's Protection from Violence Act 
of 1998.'' This legislation will help protect older people from elder 
abuse, including domestic violence and sexual assault, as well as 
institutional and community violence. This legislation will also 
encourage existing outreach efforts and other services to better assist 
older people victimized by such crimes.
  Older women often experience such violence differently than their 
younger counterparts. For example, it is more difficult for an older 
women to do something about an abusive relationship. She has fewer 
options than a younger woman, and usually is more dependent on her 
husband's medical coverage as well as his income. And like many women 
her age, she is unlikely to have a career or pension of her own on 
which to rely. Older women have reported being pushed, hit, and even 
shoved down flights of stairs, suffering fractures, dislocated joints, 
and deep muscle bruises that take weeks to heal. Further, domestic 
violence can be exacerbated by age-related conditions or circumstances, 
including retirement, failing health, financial pressures, and changing 
patterns of dependency in relationships.
  Several potential scenarios of older abused women exist. Some women 
have been in violent relationships for 30, 40, even 50 years. Others 
are starting new relationships following a divorce or the death of 
spouse, while some older battered women have been in non-violent 
relationships for many years with abuse starting later in life.
  Experts have found that service providers in the field of domestic 
violence often lack critical experience and skills in working with 
elderly clients. Most shelters for abused women are not equipped to 
deal with older women who may have physical limitations or health 
problems. Similarly, service providers in the field of elder abuse have 
also had difficulties in working with older battered women because 
their approaches often do not address the root causes of such violence.
  Some of the key issues addressed in the ``Older Women's Protection 
from Violence Act'' include: domestic violence services and outreach 
programs to address the specific needs

[[Page E588]]

of older victims; community-based intervention and prevention programs; 
reauthorization of ombudsman programs and the elder abuse prevention 
program under the Older Americans Act; measures to protect older people 
from financial and material exploitation; preferences given to health 
profession educational programs which require students to receive 
significant training in treatment issues related to elder abuse, 
including domestic violence and sexual assault; development of 
curricula for social workers, health care providers and law 
enforcement; legal assistance for victims of elder abuse through law 
school clinical programs; and research about the sexual abuse of older 
women.
  Not even the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) specifically addresses 
the specific concerns of older women. This bill, however, has been 
included in VAWA II--introduced earlier this month--to address that 
oversight. These efforts are vital if we are to adequately respond to 
the unique health, housing and legal needs of older women. Older women 
who just want to have a peaceful life. Older women just like Helen 
Hargrave.

                          ____________________