GDASS Newsletter May 2025
A monthly update of news, training and opportunities from GDASS.
Spotlight
Dementia and Domestic Abuse: Understanding the Overlap
As we approach Dementia Action Week (19–25 May 2025), it's vital to spotlight the often-overlooked intersection between dementia and domestic abuse.
Domestic abuse does not stop with age, and dementia does not protect someone from harm. In fact, the intersection of dementia and domestic abuse can be complex and deeply hidden, making it all the more important for professionals to recognise the signs and respond appropriately.
The Hidden Risk
Older people are often assumed to be safe from domestic abuse. However, research and practice tell us otherwise:
- In England and Wales, around 1 in 20 people aged 60–74 report experiencing domestic abuse in the past year (ONS, 2022). However, we know the actual figure will be much higher, especially given that older people are less likely to recognise non-physical abuse as domestic abuse, and more likely to be too habituated to the abuse to recognise it for what it is.
- Only 4% of referrals to domestic abuse services are for people over 60, despite this group making up over 20% of the population (SafeLives, 2016).
- Over 900,000 people are living with dementia in the UK (Alzheimer’s Society, 2024), many of whom live at home, often with intimate partners or family members.
When dementia is present, it can increase vulnerability to abuse, diminishing the individual’s ability to recognise harm, seek help, or communicate what is happening to them.
Recognising the Signs
Professionals working with older adults or those with cognitive impairment should be alert to signs that might indicate abuse, including:
- Unexplained injuries or bruises
- Changes in behaviour or emotional state (e.g. agitation, withdrawal)
- Fearfulness around certain individuals
- Financial discrepancies or missing items
- Reluctance to be left alone with a particular person
Abuse or Symptoms of Dementia?
Dementia can mask or mimic signs of abuse, and vice versa. For example, confusion, disorientation, and memory loss are symptoms of dementia, but they can also be triggered or worsened by trauma and fear. It’s vital not to dismiss signs too quickly or assume that challenging behaviour is purely due to the dementia.
When the Person with Dementia Is the Perpetrator
In some cases, a person with dementia may display aggressive, controlling or violent behaviour towards a partner or carer. This may be entirely new behaviour caused by cognitive decline, or it may reflect longstanding abusive patterns that continue into older age.
- Around 30–50% of family carers of people with dementia report experiencing some form of abuse from the person they care for, often emotional or physical (Cooper et al., 2009).
- While cognitive decline can impair judgement, intent, or empathy, the impact on the victim remains serious and often under-recognised.
Professionals must:
- Acknowledge the harm being caused, even if the intent is not deliberate
- Offer support to the victim without expecting them to ‘cope’ or excuse the behaviour
- Involve adult safeguarding and specialist services
- Explore appropriate care and risk management for the person with dementia, while ensuring safety for others
Good Practice for Professionals
- Ask questions sensitively: If the person has capacity, speak to them alone and use simple, clear language
- Involve safeguarding teams early if you suspect abuse, regardless of who is at risk or who is causing harm
- Work collaboratively with domestic abuse services such as GDASS, dementia support, and adult social care
- Do not assume that capacity or vulnerability negates risk
- Consider carer support and advocacy, both for those being harmed and for those who may be struggling to care for someone with challenging behaviour
Support is Available
Specialist domestic abuse services such as GDASS, safeguarding adults teams, and dementia care organisations can work together to provide holistic support for everyone affected. If you're unsure how to proceed, seek advice. Your actions could make all the difference.
To continue the conversation and deepen your professional understanding, join GDASS for a free learning event focused on the intersection of domestic abuse and older people. This session will explore the challenges, best practices, and how services can respond effectively.
Sector News
VAWG Organisations Call for Reform in UK Visa and Immigration’s Assessments
Rights of Women and Project Resist brought together VAWG organisations to examine how UK Visa and Immigration’s handling of counter-allegations is impacting migrant women victim-survivors of domestic abuse applying for settlement. A briefing has been produced outlining concerns and recommendations for change which you can find here.
Somaiya’s Law: Addressing Honour Based Abuse in Sentencing, Safeguarding, and Social Care Data Collection
Somaiya’s Law is a campaign from Karma Nirvana aiming to strengthen the UK’s legal and safeguarding response to Honour-Based Abuse (HBA) and Forced Marriage (FM). It calls for ‘Honour’ be recognised as an aggravating feature in criminal sentencing, for mandatory training for frontline statutory professionals, and improved data collection to ensure victims are recognised, protected, and given justice. Read more here.
Fourth annual report from the national Domestic Homicide Project released
The annual Domestic Homicide Project released its findings last month, tracking the domestic abuse-related deaths across a four-year period. Findings were informed by bereaved families who continue to raise awareness and drive change. Read more here.
Research and Resources
Karma Nirvana Launch So-Called Honour-Based Abuse Identification Tool
Karma Nirvana have launched their first-ever free So-Called Honour-Based Abuse (HBA) Identification Tool, a vital new resource designed to support frontline professionals in recognising and responding to cases of HBA. Red more and access the tool here.
Verge of Harming: An Evidence-Based Framework for Engaging with Young People Who Harm (SafeLives)
Verge of Harming Phase 2 is a research report from SafeLives, working in partnership with Respect and five frontline services across the UK. The report explores how professionals can best support young people using harmful behaviours in their intimate or family relationships. Based on the voices of young people and practitioners, it outlines what effective, trauma-informed support should look like—and why. Read the research here and access the Empowering Engagement framework here.
‘Victims in their own right?’ Babies, children and young people’s experiences of domestic abuse
Centred around children's voices, this report from The Domestic Abuse Commissioner, brings together policy, practice insights and research into the provision of support available to children, to turn the spotlight on the legal status of children as victims in their own right. Read the full report here.