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The Wisconsin Coalition Against Domestic Violence, along with the Wisconsin Bureau of Aging and Long Term Care, provides training and technical assistance to domestic abuse, aging and adult protective services staff to aid in the development of programming for older victims throughout the state.
Approximately 80% of reported abuse of the elderly in Wisconsin is perpetrated by family members. A significant portion of elder abuse or abuse against persons with disabilities is spousal abuse, which in some cases has been occurring in the relationship for many years. Adult children or other family members may also abuse elders or disabled family members. Research suggests that traditional domestic abuse interventions—services that are available through local domestic violence programs in Wisconsin—are appropriate interventions for situations involving domestic abuse in later life.
Older women or women with disabilities use domestic abuse services when those services are specialized and age appropriate. Technical assistance, training and support is available for local domestic violence service providers to develop programming and facilities that are more accessible and age-friendly to older victims and/or victims with disabilities.
Networking and Support
The Wisconsin Aging and Disabilities Program provides networking and support for people with disabilities or older people who are victims of abuse, their families and for professionals working with victims, their abusers, and other family members.
- Regional networking meetings provide support, education and problem solving opportunities for people working with older victims of abuse or victims of abuse with disabilities and/or their abusers. Meetings are held several times each year in various locations throughout Wisconsin.
- Staff support and membership on statewide task forces and systems' teams seeking to address the unique needs of abuse victims who are older or have a disability.
- WCADV's Aging and Disabilities Program Specialist is available for on-site training.
To schedule an on-site training or learn more about regional networking meetings, contact the Aging and Disability Program Specialist.
Technical Assistance and Quality Improvement
Providing information, resources, and programming support and assisting with system collaboration are ways that WCADV's Aging and Disabilities Program assists our members and the general public in their work to provide safety and support to older people and people with disabilities who are abused.
We can:
- Help with planning or facilitation of training events with local, state and national speakers
- Research national or state resources and aging and disability related research
- Problem solve about complicated cases or barriers within systems
- Discuss potential speakers on the topic of aging or disability or potential training topics
- Draft or collaborate on newsletter articles on aging and disability topics
- Help with program development and planning—telephone or on-site
- Assist with protocol, policy and practice development for systems and agencies
- Review materials
- Assist with system collaboration
- Help with developing programming for older victims and people with disabilities
- Assist with the development of support groups for older victims of abuse
- Provide information on the unique dynamics of abuse involving older persons or people with disabilities
- Help with links to local resources
- Provide information on the dynamics of power and control and caregiver stress
WCADV staff are available to assist with the development of protocol, policy and practice guidelines for your agency or other systems. We can provide sample materials, research additional resources or review materials as needed. The WCADV Aging and Disabilities Program staff and speakers bureau are available to provide your group or agency with education and training on a wide variety of topics related to abuse of people with disabilities and older people. All education and training sessions provided are tailored to your individual needs.
WCADV staff and speakers bureau members are available to:
- Conduct training or in-services ranging from one hour to a full day
- Help plan and facilitate training with local, state and national speakers
- Discuss potential aging and disability speakers or training topics
- Provide systems cross-training (domestic abuse, sexual assault, disabilities, aging, adult protective services, health care, etc.)
Some customized training and consultation fees may apply. Fees, travel expenses and material expenses vary and may be negotiable.
For more information on networking and support and technical assistance and quality improvement available please contact the Aging and Disabilities Program Specialist at (608) 255-0539 or click here and select Aging and Disabilities from the drop-down list to send an e-mail.