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Elder Abuse
An estimated one million older individuals are abused or neglected each year. Abuse may be physical, financial or emotional. Neglect is the withholding of needed care. Self-neglect occurs when an older person is unable to provide for her/his own care.  Domestic Violence against older adults is devastating to the victim, robbing her/him of health, dignity, and sometimes, life. Older adults suffer physical, sexual, emotional, and financial abuse at the hands of spouses, partners, their family and others. Yet, many times they are not aware that they can or should seek help. Sometimes, the professionals and agencies to whom they turn may not be aware of the many resources available to meet the sensitive needs of older battered adults. Many older women face challenging family relationships. Husbands, partners, or adult children may tell them they cannot make their own decisions, such as where they can go or how they can spend their money. Some older women may be isolated from supportive family members and friends. Sometimes these women are afraid and feel they do not know what to do or where to turn. Many women who are harmed by a family member look for ways to continue the relationship while trying to stop hurtful behaviors. Some older women choose to end the relationship by getting a divorce or legal separation. Fear, love, financial, legal and health concerns often figure into a woman’s decision to stay or leave. Each woman needs information to make decisions that are right for her. (This information is excerpted from the Financial Safety Planning for Older Women, published by the Wisconsin coalition Against Domestic Violence and Elder Law Center, 1998.)  
Signs of Abuse If you are being hit, kicked, slapped, threatened, made always to feel bad or stupid, isolated from your friends and family, coerced or forced into sexual activity, having your property taken, prevented from getting a job or from having access to your money, medication, or medical care, or are otherwise being harmed, you are being abused!  If you are being abused, some of the things you may feel include shame, sadness, that you are worthless and deserve to be hurt, or that you must stay with your abuser.  A lot of abused women don’t think anything is wrong. You may have always thought that husbands or partners had the right to beat you.  People will listen and you can get help. You deserve to feel safe in your home, to feel good about yourself, and to not have your property taken from you. In fact, it is against the law for anyone to hurt or threaten you.
What kind of help can you get? A number of agencies can assist you, including government agencies and crisis centers. Types of services you can receive include:
Keene:(603)352-3782 Jaffrey: (603)532-6800 Many excuses are used for battering or abuse, including illness, financial issues or use of alcohol and drugs. The one thing that is certain is that, without help, the abuse will continue, and possibly escalate. If you are in immediate danger, call 9-1-1. Women’s Crisis Services can be reached 24 hours a day by calling 603-352-3782, 603-532-6800 or toll-free 1-800-852-3388 (NH only)
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| Women's Crisis Services is a Monadnock United Way Agency. Women's Crisis Services of the Monadnock Region, 12 Court St. Keene, NH. 03431 Women's Crisis Services of the Monadnock Region, 47 Peterborough St. Suite B, Jaffrey, NH. 03452 All graphics are the property of Women's Crisis Service's of the Monadnock Region, and New Hampshire Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence, © Copyright 2002 |
| Web site designed by Trudy Emmerick |