Sexual assault of older women: Risk and vulnerability by living arrangement

Sexual assault of older women may occur within the context of elder mistreatment, domestic violence, or victimization of homeless or mentally ill individuals. Older women with self-care deficits due to impaired physical, cognitive, or psychiatric function or substance use may be vulnerable to sexual assault either because of an inability to self-defend or make wise choices about their environment, or due to exposure to potential offenders. Using consecutive clinical cases of women ages 50 and older (N = 198) who presented for a sexual assault exam, the authors searched for differences in victim, suspected offender, and assault characteristics by alleged victims’ living arrangement (institutional, domestic, homeless, or unknown). The authors found significant differences by living arrangement in age and impaired consciousness at onset of assault; relationship of suspected offender to victim; and in type(s) of coercion, weapon(s) used, and body trauma. Findings have implications for practice, research, and policy.