Sexual Violence Among People Aged 50 Years and Older: Recommendations for Prevention Provided by Direct Survivors of Sexual Violence Past Age 50

Sexual violence (SV) is the least acknowledged or reported form of elder abuse, and older adults have been largely excluded from prevention and intervention. Guided by a Critical Feminist Gerontological-Social Ecological framework, a survey was developed to explore knowledge and experiences of SV in later life, and prevention recommendations. Data were collected using Amazon Mechanical Turk, directing participants to a survey on perceptions of SV, involving write-in questions on knowledge and experiences with SV in later life, and needs for prevention. Responses were thematically analyzed. Six themes were identified from 16 survivors of SV since turning 50. These themes include critical needs for knowledge, awareness, and resources for prevention; the rife yet hidden nature of SV; minimization, victim blame, and disbelief of SV in later life; the role of gender-, age-, and work-place-related imbalances of power; needs for greater accountability for people who offend; along with fear, strong emotions and extreme anger among survivors. The results suggest that SV in later life is a complex social problem that must be explored, prevented and addressed at multiple levels, requiring primary, secondary, and tertiary strategies across the lifespan. Timely implications for practice, policy, and research are discussed based on the survivors’ recommendations.