AGEING WITHOUT VIOLENCE

In the last three years Anton Trstenjak Institute is performing an original local program to prevent violence against the elderly. We developed this program based on research and anthropological findings and previous European programs in which we participated.

The program aims to prevent violence against the elderly – especially at their home environment, where violence is most frequent. Our approach to prevent violence is innovative, interdisciplinary and includes legal, sociological and psychological aspect.

The program's objectives are: to increase awareness of violence against elderly in Slovenian society, the acquisition of skills for increasing the safety of the elderly, strengthening protective factors, reducing the risk factors for violence against the elderly and determining the prevalence and forms of violence against older people in selected localities in Slovenia.

The target group are elderly and their families in local communities. Participants learn about quality aging, which precludes any form of violence. They also learn about personal safety, how to be prepared to deal with situations that can lead to violence and how to strengthen protective factors against violence. Some of participants get involved into volunteer work. They participate in raising awareness about violence against elderly. Old people, who are in need for counselling, can discuss their problems with implementers of the program – with psychologist, lawyer and sociologist.

Violence against elderly is difficult to detect in practice. That’s why our program is focused on strengthening protective factors (positive communication, effective regulation of property issues for the elderly, maintaining and developing social networks, etc.).

The program is carried out in different regions in Slovenia. It includes workshops, in which participants learn about variety of topics: good communication, rules for good personal conversation, legal aspects of security of older people and property issues, training of practical skills to enhance the security of the elderly and local police officer talks about concern for the safety outside the home.

Program also includes individual counseling for the elderly and their family members, who are particularly vulnerable to violence and need advice on the prevention of violence. We also offer individual counseling representatives of local services. We work together with them on prevention of violence in local communities.

In some places, after completing the workshops, we continue to work on different themes about the prevention of violence. For this purpose we create a self-help group. Disseminators (leaders) of the groups attend training at Anton Trstenjak Institute. Leaders of the groups with the help of predefined themes and violence prevention Handbook spread themes about the prevention of violence in different environments.

Anton Trstenjak Institute of gerontology and intergenerational relations has a wide range of experience in the fields of research and practical work to prevent violence against the elderly.