Elder Abuse and Justice
Research type
Research Study
Full title
A multi-agency collaboration involving designing and testing a range of restorative approaches to enable victims of elder abuse in private domestic settings explore justice-seeking options.
IRAS ID
224241
Contact name
Rebecca Zerk
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Aberystwyth University
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 7 months, 30 days
Research summary
The study's focus is on the decision-making by older people (60 years and over) in relation to potential justice options in cases of elder abuse in family settings. It will explore how restorative approaches may help to build positive empowering relationships. In the design stage, the research team will work with practitioners and representatives from older people’s groups to design restorative approaches tailored to older people. This will involve using case study examples and role-playing exercises assessing the potential strengths and limitations of various restorative models. At the design stage, the Researchers developed with practitioners and stakeholders flexible restorative models that aim to prioritise the safety and well-being of older people who are victims of low to medium abuse.
Referrals to the Project intervention will come through local authority social services. Participants will be provided with the services of a Choice Support Worker who will outline various justice seeking options (criminal, civil or welfare), besides a restorative option. The restorative option may include a family meeting. The aim of the Project is to explore ways in which the abuse and neglect can be ended and enabling the older person to achieve justice.
The research component of the Project, for which ethical approval is being sought, involves evaluating the restorative intervention and other justice interventions chosen by the older person. Information will be collected from victims, harmers and other key people to find out the effectiveness of restorative models. This will include studying audio-visual recordings of the restorative family meetings and interviewing the main participants.REC name
Social Care REC
REC reference
17/IEC08/0020
Date of REC Opinion
7 Jun 2017
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion