ELDERLY VICTIMS OF PHYSICAL ASSAULT AND HOMICIDE

Statistically, elderly citizens are the least likely to be physically injured in the commission of a crime. However, when injuries are suffered, they tend to be more serious due to the normal physical vulnerability of the aging body. According to national statistics for 1987 to 1992, the elderly are twice as likely as any other age group to be seriously injured and require hospitalizations when victimized. Elderly robbery victims are more likely than their younger counterparts to face multiple offenders and offenders armed with a gun (BJS 1987).

Most homicide victims age sixty-five or older were killed during the commission of another felony (such as robbery) and were more likely to be killed by strangers. By contrast, younger homicide victims are more likely to be killed by an acquaintance and to die during events such as a fight or family argument (Bachman 1992). Both the youngest (ages twelve to fourteen) and oldest (ages sixty-five and older) of the population had the lowest rates of murder: less than 0.05 per 1,000 persons (Perkins 1997).

The elderly are less apt to try to protect themselves than their younger counterparts. As part of the aging process, the elderly have an increased frailty that makes them more susceptible to physical injury and less able to recover from such injuries. Even slight resistance during a criminal incident may result in serious injuries for an older victim. For example, as a victim of a mugging, a younger person may experience only minor bruising or scraping as a result of being pushed to the ground. For the elderly victim, there is a marked increase in sustaining serious injuries, such as broken bones or concussions--injuries from which they may not fully recover.

In assisting elderly victims of physical assaults, victim service providers can do the following:

• Establish an interagency agreement between local law enforcement agencies (sheriffs and police) and the appropriate local agency charged by state law to receive reports and investigate when police or a social worker respond to a report of elderly victimization that results in physical injury. -Dawn Breedlove 9/10/08 10:12 PM

• Establish a policy of providing hospital or home visits (if victims are stable or their family is receptive) to inform them of available services. Providers can use this time to determine specialized needs such as food shopping and transportation to and from doctors' appointments and drug stores. In addition, they can provide information on witness intimidation and harassment and security options. Victim compensation forms should be provided as necessary along with an explanation of applicable victim compensation benefits to the victims or family. The provider can help victims complete and document the compensation application and supply several self-addressed stamped envelopes to forward the application to the victim service provider's agency. Victims or family members should be directed to forward medical or counseling bills they receive to the agency as well. The provider can also obtain a police report for victims and mail the package to the compensation program on behalf of the victim.

• Determine the physical extent of injury to the victim and any special assistance he or she may need in attending meetings and court-related hearings once released from the hospital and/or physician's care. If the elder does not have family in the nearby area and depends on public transportation, getting to and from court or medical appointments can be difficult if the victim is in a wheelchair or uses other mobility aids such as canes or walkers. Victim advocates should work with local agencies to determine services available to meet the elder client's transportation needs.

• If the elderly victim is to be hospitalized for an extended length of time, the provider should be prepared to work with the local utility and phone companies to ensure that the injured victim will have electrical and phone service when he or she returns home. The phone may be his or her only life-line to emergency medical care and other supportive services upon return.

• Prosecuting attorneys should be alerted of any extended hospital or physical therapy stay anticipated for the elderly victim. This information will be useful in determining when to conduct police line ups, file charges, hold bond hearings, etc.