Community
Surge in women aged 65+ seeking support for abuse
Nearly two-thirds have a disability or long-term health condition
July 30, 2025 06:57
Nearly two-thirds have a disability or long-term health condition
July 30, 2025 06:57There has been a huge surge in the number of women over 65 seeking help for domestic abuse, Jewish Women Aid (JWA) has reported.
The charity said that the number of clients in this age bracket had increased by 41 per cent in the past five years. This included women reporting harm from partners, ex-husbands, adult children and even grandchildren.
JWA said that the most common forms of abuse reported were emotional (92 per cent), financial (67 per cent) and coercive control (62 per cent).
Its research also found that more than 60 per cent of JWA clients over the age of 65 were still living with their abuser, nearly 90 per cent reported feeling depressed and nearly two-thirds had a disability or long-term health condition.
Sam Clifford, CEO of JWA, the UK’s only specialist charity supporting Jewish women and girls affected by domestic abuse and sexual violence, said: “There must be greater recognition that abuse can affect women of all ages, and that older women deserve the same understanding and access to support. Abuse doesn’t stop at any age, and it doesn’t only come from intimate partners.”
Clifford added that women were contacting them after years, sometimes, decades, of abuse. “Often, these women don’t recognise what they’re experiencing as abuse, because it’s been normalised for so long.”
JWA said that many older women faced significant barriers to seeking help, including poor health, emotional dependency, and deeply rooted beliefs about family loyalty and privacy. Some remained reliant on abusers for care, housing or financial support.
Clifford said: “At JWA, we tailor our support to each woman’s needs, whether that means counselling, legal advice, housing support or working with adult social care. But we cannot do this alone. We need more community awareness and understanding so that every Jewish woman knows that help is available and that she is not alone.”
Deborah (not her real name), 68, said: “JWA has made me recognise that there are different types of abuse. Before I contacted JWA, I would not have thought that what I was going through would be relevant to JWA’s service. It opened my eyes to all of the different types of ways I was abused. I wasn’t imagining it, it wasn’t my fault. JWA has made a big difference to my life.”
JWA is currently supporting more than 800 women affected by abuse. Across the UK, one in four women experience domestic abuse, one in five face sexual assault, and domestic violence accounts for 18 per cent of all violent crime. Jewish women are equally affected, said the charity.
They added that Jewish women stayed in abusive relationships significantly longer than non-Jewish women – often ten to 17 years – compared to three to eight years in the wider community.
JWA helpline: 0808 801 0500.
Email: advice@jwa.org.uk
Website: www.jwa.org.uk
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