Intervention with abused older males: conceptual and clinical perspectives

Men and women experience abuse in different ways and older men have particular treatment needs that must be addressed by clinicians. The current design and configuration of clinical services may create barriers to abused older men receiving treatment fully suited to their needs. In this article, the unique experiential dynamics and help seeking behaviors of older men who experience abuse are delineated and recommendations are given for structuring services to better meet their needs. Gender-sensitive clinical techniques and modalities are described and suggestions for interventions that could prove particularly efficacious in the treatment of older men are offered.