Domestic violence against seniors perceived by the “prevention/ intervention staff”

In this paper the author focuses on the issue of domestic violence against seniors in Poland. The opinions of prevention/ intervention staff (i.e. employees of Social Welfare Centers, District Family Support Centers, Police, Health Care) on this subject are presented. The analysis includes, above all, the characteristics of a victim of domestic violence, the most common forms of abuse, places of residence of the elderly who fall victim to domestic violence and the level of detection of family violence against seniors. It is also explained how presentday studies manifest their interest in the matter of old age and which aspects of the aging process are covered by particular areas of study (inter alia sociology, social policy, social work). At the end, the author draws conclusions as to why little research has been done on this topic (remains a taboo) and why we should start to explore this issue at present and take actions aiming at reducing (and eventually eliminating) the phenomenon of family violence against seniors.