Are you confident about your knowledge about gender-based violence and women 55+?
What should I know about supporting older women and gender-diverse people who experience multiple forms of discrimination?
Whose who identify as:
First Nations, Métis, and Inuit peoples are the three distinct groups recognized as Indigenous in Canada, each with their own unique histories, cultures, identities, and legal relationships with the Crown. While they share experiences of colonization and systemic discrimination, they are not a homogenous group. Their relationships with each other are diverse and shaped by specific historical, geographic, and political contexts. Efforts toward reconciliation and justice must respect their distinct rights, nationhoods, and voices.
Older Indigenous women often carry the weight of historical traumas, such as the legacy of residential schools, forced relocations, and cultural assimilation policies. These experiences can lead to deep-seated distrust of authorities and institutions, impacting their willingness to seek help. Older women may also have experienced multiple forms of violence throughout their lives, including cultural dislocation and loss of traditional roles. (Statistics Canada) (Canada.ca).
Indigenous mothers and grandmothers who are experiencing abuse from adult children or grandchildren may feel they have to stay quiet to protect the younger generations from the authorities and to compensate for experiences of racism and discrimination.
Often viewed as knowledge keepers and matriarchs, older women may feel a strong responsibility to uphold cultural traditions and maintain family unity. This cultural role can sometimes pressure them to remain silent about abuse to avoid bringing shame to the family or community.
At the same time, the endurance of older Indigenous women is a profound testament to their survival and strength. Many have held families together across generations, sustained cultural practices in the face of violent erasure, and quietly resisted systemic oppression while nurturing the next generation. Their lived knowledge of land, kinship, ceremony, and care continues to shape communities and movements for justice. Acknowledging their strength means recognizing not only the harms they have endured but also the leadership, resistance, and wisdom they continue to offer in the face of ongoing colonial violence.
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Older Francophone women who are victims of gender-based violence can face unique barriers when seeking support and assistance. These challenges often stem from a combination of language, cultural, and age-related factors. The Francophone community in Canada is highly diverse, reflecting a variety of cultural, regional, linguistic, and historical identities. While French is the common language, the experiences and backgrounds of Francophones vary widely depending on factors like geography, heritage, and migration. There can be discrimination based on regional accents alone (glottophobia) as some versions of the French language are deemed to be superior, which leads to linguistic insecurity. Francophone women who are lesbian, bisexual or non-binary bring diverse perspectives to advocacy and culture within Francophone communities. As the French language is very gendered, gender diverse Francophones can struggle to express their experiences in their native language. Some Indigenous communities have adopted French as a first or second language, adding linguistic layers to their cultural identity.
Older Francophone women face limited access to services in French in many regions, especially in non-Francophone areas, services such as shelters, counseling, legal aid, and helplines may not be available in French. It can be difficult to know which organizations have French speaking staff. Turnover is high. Even for organizations that advertise services in French, it is dependent on staffing. The lack of Francophone staff within domestic violence services is common and Francophone staff are hard to retain. This is especially true in less resourced services (shelters, sexual assault centres, victim services) when other sectors can pay more. Lack of gender-based violence training across the service system means frontline workers are unlikely to be trained to recognize or address the unique needs of older Francophone victims, leading to inadequate support. Service providers can ensure the information about their services is accurate and current with respect to providing services in French.
And yet, older Francophone women have long been carriers of cultural resilience, linguistic vitality, and community care. They have helped preserve language and traditions across generations, often in the face of assimilationist pressures and geographic isolation. Many have played key roles in sustaining cultural institutions, volunteering in community spaces, and fostering intergenerational solidarity. Their life experience, humour, and storytelling are integral to the fabric of Francophone communities across Canada. Recognizing their strength means going beyond service gaps to honour their contributions and ensure their voices are central in efforts to improve access, equity, and culturally meaningful support.
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Older women living with disabilities face numerous barriers when seeking support, including physical accessibility issues, communication barriers, and a lack of specialized services. The stigma associated with both disability and being an older woman can further isolate them and discourage reporting abuse or seeking help (UN Women).
They experience unique forms of abuse, including withholding of medication, denial of assistive devices, or physical abuse targeting their disability. They may also face neglect, where caregivers fail to provide necessary care, which can be life-threatening. They can experience heightened fear of their abusers and may be more dependent on them for daily care, which complicates their ability to leave abusive situations. This dependency can include financial abuse, where abusers control their access to resources. They are at a higher risk of sexual violence due to perceived vulnerability, dependence on others for personal care, and societal stereotypes that devalue them.
Older women with disabilities are underrepresented in research and support services, leading to a lack of tailored interventions and support systems. This neglect exacerbates their vulnerability and the severity of the abuse they face.
Despite these systemic barriers, older women with disabilities are often powerful advocates, knowledge holders, and community leaders. Many have developed sophisticated strategies for navigating inaccessible environments and resisting ableist assumptions throughout their lives. Their lived experience offers critical insights into how systems must change—not only to accommodate but to centre disability justice. Their resilience is rooted not in overcoming disability, but in challenging the structures that marginalize them and creating networks of mutual care, creativity, and survival. Valuing their leadership means ensuring their inclusion in policy-making, program design, and community development.
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Older immigrant and refugee women who are survivors of gender-based violence (GBV) face unique barriers related to language, cultural differences, legal status, economic vulnerability, and systemic discrimination. They may face challenges in acculturating to a new society, especially if they immigrate later in life. This can lead to increased isolation and dependency on family members or community, which can be exploited. They may also experience culture shock and a generational divide with younger family members who have integrated into Canadian society, complicating family dynamics and support.
Older newcomer women often have less access to support services, such as shelters, counseling, and legal aid, due to language barriers, lack of awareness, and mistrust of authorities. They may hold traditional roles within the family, which can include caregiving for grandchildren or maintaining cultural practices. These roles can increase their isolation and dependency on family members. Cultural expectations may also discourage them from disclosing abuse or leaving abusive situations. They may also feel shame or fear of stigma within their cultural communities, which can prevent them from seeking help. The stigma surrounding divorce or leaving an abusive relationship is often stronger among older generations, leading to a reluctance to report abuse or seek help. The combination of these factors can make older immigrant women particularly vulnerable to ongoing abuse without adequate support.
Older women who come to Canada from conflict zones may have lost family members or been separated from their support networks due to war, displacement, or resettlement processes. The absence of familiar social and family support structures can leave them feeling alone and without anyone to turn to. Their experiences are shaped by pre and post migration experiences, the trauma they have endured, and the challenges of navigating a new country with different cultural, legal, and social system. They often have experienced multiple, overlapping forms of trauma, including war-related violence, displacement, loss of family members, and GBV such as rape, sexual assault, or intimate partner violence. Such complex trauma can make it more difficult to trust others or seek help.
And yet, many older newcomer women demonstrate extraordinary resilience. Despite trauma, dislocation, and marginalization, they draw on deep cultural, spiritual, and personal strengths, persisting through loss, caring for others, and rebuilding lives in unfamiliar and often unwelcoming environments. Their resilience is often quiet but profound, rooted in lived histories of survival, adaptability, and hope. Recognizing and honouring this resilience is essential to building trust, fostering culturally safe support systems, and creating space for older newcomer women to be seen not only in terms of their vulnerability, but also as agents of healing, wisdom, and strength.
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The intersection of ageism, racism, and sexism compounds older women’s experiences of violence. A legacy of historical and ongoing racial discrimination fosters distrust in law enforcement, social services, and the justice system, making it more difficult to ask for help. Older women may experience racial stereotypes. For example, Black women are often subjected to stereotypes such as the "strong Black woman" or “angry Black woman” tropes which minimize their experiences of trauma and make it harder for them to seek or receive adequate support.
Older women face specific forms of violence that can be exacerbated by their status as racialized individuals when encountering service providers who are openly or unconsciously biased. They may feel isolated due to the lack of community resources tailored to their needs.
Racialized older women often have strong ties to their cultural heritage and may adhere to traditional norms and values. This can influence their responses to GBV, including a reluctance to identify behaviour as abusive or report abuse due to fears of bringing shame to the family or community. Discrimination can occur within their own cultural communities, particularly if they deviate from traditional roles.
At the same time, racialized older women carry deep legacies of resistance, wisdom, and cultural continuity. Many have survived generations of systemic exclusion, racism, and gender-based violence while continuing to care for families, build communities, and advocate for justice. Their spiritual, cultural, and practical knowledge has anchored intergenerational strength and nurtured collective resilience. These women are often the cultural and moral centres of their communities—storytellers, healers, and quiet leaders. Recognizing their strength requires listening to their voices, honouring their lived experiences, and ensuring they are not only protected from harm but included as active participants in shaping safer, more equitable systems.
Resources:
Support Network for Indigenous Women and Women of Colour
Older Two-Spirit people experience distinct forms of marginalization shaped by colonization, systemic racism, and cisheteronormativity. Prior to colonization, many Indigenous nations recognized and honoured Two-Spirit people for their sacred roles, but these traditions were violently disrupted by colonial imposition of binary gender systems, Christian doctrine, and residential schools. As a result, many Two-Spirit people have experienced rejection from both settler systems and, at times, their own communities.
In later life, older Two-Spirit individuals may carry the trauma of cultural displacement, family estrangement, and systemic abuse across healthcare, education, housing, and policing. They may have been forced to hide or suppress parts of their identity to survive, leading to internalized shame or disconnection from culture and community. Lack of culturally safe and 2SLGBTQI+ inclusive services in aging, housing, and health care can further compound feelings of invisibility and isolation.
Two-Spirit people often find themselves erased within both mainstream LGBTQ+ movements (which centre settler frameworks) and aging services that fail to recognize the complexities of Indigenous gender and sexual diversity. For those who are reconnecting with their culture later in life, especially after experiences of violence or displacement, this healing journey can be deeply personal and complex.
Older Two-Spirit people are knowledge holders, cultural carriers, and survivors of immense historical and ongoing violence. Many have sustained Indigenous teachings, challenged erasure in both settler and Indigenous spaces, and led movements toward reclamation and resurgence. Their stories are ones of sacred resistance, creative survival, and deep wisdom. Recognizing their strength requires affirming their identities, restoring the honour and belonging that colonization tried to erase. They are central to the healing of communities and to the decolonization of gender, sexuality, and aging.
Older lesbian and bisexual women live at the intersection of ageism, sexism, and heteronormativity—facing unique challenges shaped by lifelong marginalization. Many have endured eras in which their identities were criminalized, pathologized, or rejected by family, religion, and society. These experiences of historical and systemic trauma can result in lingering fear, internalized stigma, and a sense of invisibility.
They may face exclusion within both mainstream aging services and 2SLGBTQI+ spaces that prioritize youth. Stereotypes, such as being lonely, unstable, or asexual, further erase their identities and limit understanding of their needs. In later life, isolation can be intensified for those without children or traditional family structures, especially if they have experienced estrangement due to their sexual orientation. Long-term care and housing systems often lack affirming practices, leaving some to conceal their identities once again to remain safe.
Healthcare and social services may fail to recognize or affirm their identities, resulting in inadequate care or re-traumatization. The pressure to hide one’s identity, especially in institutional settings, remains a painful reality for many older lesbian and bisexual women.
And yet, these women have forged powerful lives despite systems that were never built for them. Many have built chosen families, sustained long-term partnerships, and fought for social change—from the early days of 2SLGBTQI+ activism to ongoing community care. Their resilience, creativity, and refusal to conform have opened doors for generations to come. They are storytellers, caregivers, organizers, and trailblazers who continue to reimagine what aging with pride and dignity can look like. Recognizing their strength means creating spaces where they are not only safe, but fully seen.
Gender diverse older adults, including transgender and nonbinary people face distinct and often unrecognized risks of gender-based violence. Their experiences are shaped not only by gender identity but also by ageism, ableism, racism, and lifelong marginalization across health, legal, housing, and social systems. Too often, GBV services are built on binary and cisnormative assumptions, rendering these survivors invisible or excluded. Naming their experiences and honouring their strengths is essential to creating inclusive and equitable responses.
Non-binary older adults face distinct barriers to safety and support. Most services operate within binary understandings of gender, which can lead to misrecognition, exclusion, or denial of care. Their experiences of violence may go unacknowledged in both research and practice. They may also face compounded invisibility as both older adults and gender-diverse people, making it more difficult to find community or affirming support. The gendered nature of many services, from shelters to medical intake forms, creates additional barriers to access.
Non-binary older adults have expanded the very language and imagination of gender. Their quiet resistance, creativity, and insistence on authenticity continue to challenge rigid norms and open new pathways for understanding care, identity, and community. Their contributions are integral to building safety and belonging for all.
Trans older women who are survivors of gender-based violence often face heightened risks due to transphobia, medical discrimination, and social exclusion. Many have endured a lifetime of marginalization across systems, including housing, healthcare, employment, and public safety. In later life, they may be misgendered or denied care in institutional settings that are not trained to recognize or respect gender diversity. Violence may come not only from intimate partners but also from institutions, service providers, and strangers. Estrangement from family and reduced access to affirming networks can compound their isolation and vulnerability.
Trans older men also experience gender-based violence in ways that are often overlooked. Some are survivors of abuse that predates or coincides with their transition, including sexual violence and family rejection. Others face violence rooted in transphobia such as outing, misgendering, or partner violence shaped by rigid expectations of masculinity. Trans men may be excluded from services that are not equipped to support masculine-presenting survivors, and they may hesitate to disclose violence due to fears of being disbelieved or having their identities erased.
Despite this, older transpeople embody profound resilience and bring vital voices to GBV conversations. Many have shaped the front lines of 2SLGBTQI+ and feminist movements, held space for others to survive and modelled what it means to live courageously and authentically. Their leadership and lived knowledge are essential to building trans-inclusive systems and communities.
Older intersexualized victim-survivors of gender-based violence (GBV) face unique challenges due to stigma, medical discrimination, lack of awareness, and systemic marginalization. They may have varying preferences for how they describe their bodies, identities, and experiences. Some may use the term "intersex," while others may prefer specific medical terms, culturally specific terms, or avoid labels altogether. Providers should ask individuals how they prefer to be addressed and respect their chosen terminology.
Many older intersexualized people have experienced non-consensual or forced medical interventions (such as surgeries, hormone treatments, or other procedures) aimed at making their bodies conform to binary sex norms. These procedures often occurred during childhood or adolescence without their consent or full understanding, leading to lifelong physical, emotional, and psychological trauma. Providers should understand that these individuals may have unique health concerns or trauma-related triggers related to past medical experiences. Many older intersex people live with the long-term physical and psychological effects of non-consensual medical treatments.
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Older women with conditions such as autism, ADHD, dyslexia, who are survivors of gender-based violence (GBV) face unique challenges due to societal stigma, misunderstandings of neurodiversity, and systemic barriers. The experience of gender-based violence (GBV) among neurodivergent women can vary significantly between older and younger women due to differences in generational attitudes, accessibility to support systems, and specific vulnerabilities associated with age and neurodiversity.
Older neurodivergent women grew up in an era with less awareness and understanding of neurological conditions, potentially leading to misdiagnosis or lack of diagnosis. This can exacerbate their vulnerability to GBV, including physical, emotional, and financial abuse. They might also face specific forms of abuse, such as being denied necessary support or being coerced into inappropriate care arrangements. They can face greater barriers to accessing support due to a lack of understanding and acceptance of neurodiversity during their formative years. They may not be aware of or have access to neurodiversity-affirming support services. Additionally, they might struggle with navigating complex systems for legal or medical support, especially if they were never provided adequate coping tools or advocacy training. (SpringerLink).
Older women may have internalized stigma or negative societal attitudes about neurodiversity, leading to lower self-esteem and increased vulnerability to manipulation or abuse. They might also feel less empowered to advocate for themselves or seek help, particularly if they have experienced long-term discrimination or misunderstanding. (Autism Research Institute)
Service providers need training on neurodiversity to reduce stigma and improve understanding and to provide neurodiversity-affirming practices, such as clear communication methods, sensory-friendly environments, and tailored advocacy support.
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Older women living with dementia who are victim-survivors of gender-based violence (GBV) face complex barriers due to their cognitive impairments, societal stigma, and dependence on caregivers who may sometimes be perpetrators. Addressing these challenges requires a trauma -and violence-informed, dementia-sensitive approach.
Dementia, which encompasses conditions like Alzheimer’s disease, impairs cognitive functions such as memory, reasoning, and communication, making these women particularly susceptible to various forms of abuse. The stigma associated with dementia often stems from misunderstandings, stereotypes, and fears surrounding the condition. People with dementia are often seen as incapable, unpredictable, or even dangerous. There's a misconception that they are immediately unable to contribute to society or make decisions, even in the early stages of the condition. This can lead to them being infantilized, ignored, or treated with less respect.
Cognitive impairment can mean women with dementia forget incidents of abuse or struggle to recall details, making it difficult for them to report abuse or seek help. This also means they might be repeatedly victimized by the same perpetrator without being able to take protective action. Regular, independent check-ins by external agencies can help increase the safety of women living with dementia.
Cognitive impairments make it challenging for them to recognize when they are being financially exploited, further increasing their risk of abuse. They may not be able to assess situations accurately, recognize danger, or make informed decisions. Involve a trusted third party (eg. family, advocates) in care plans to mitigate risks of isolation and abuse.
Dementia often leads to problems with language and communication, making it hard for victims to articulate their experiences of abuse or ask for help. This communication barrier can also lead to their reports of abuse being dismissed or misunderstood by caregivers, family members, or authorities.
Abusive caregivers may isolate women with dementia from family, friends, or other support networks to maintain control and prevent them from disclosing the abuse. This isolation further exacerbates their vulnerability. Isolation can prevent them from seeking help or disclosing abuse, and it reduces the likelihood that others will notice signs of mistreatment.
Dementia is often accompanied by physical decline, making older women more physically vulnerable and less able to defend themselves against physical abuse or sexual assault. As dementia progresses, women may become more emotionally dependent on their caregivers or close family members, which can be exploited by abusers who use emotional manipulation or coercion to maintain control.
Older women with dementia face multiple forms of discrimination, including ageism and ableism. Society often devalues older individuals, particularly those with cognitive impairments, leading to their experiences and voices being ignored or dismissed.
Signs of abuse in women with dementia may be overlooked or attributed to their cognitive condition rather than recognized as abuse. For example, bruises might be dismissed as accidental falls, and changes in behavior might be seen as symptoms of dementia rather than indicators of trauma. All service providers working with older people should be trained on GBV to be able to recognize warning signs and indications of escalating risk, how to respond and where to refer in the community.
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Gender-related homicides / femicides are more prevalent in rural areas compared to urban settings. In 2021, the rate of gender-related homicide in Canada was more than 2.5 times greater in rural areas compared to urban areas (1.13 versus 0.44 per 100,000 population) canada.ca
Additionally, between 2017 and 2020, the proportion of femicides committed using a firearm was substantially higher in small and rural population centres (29%) than in large and medium population centres (12%) gbvlearningnetwork.ca
One of the most significant barriers older women face in rural and remote areas is geographic isolation. Many live in communities where the nearest shelter, healthcare facility, or support service is hours away. Limited transportation options further restrict their ability to seek help, especially if they do not drive or rely on an abusive partner for mobility. In cases where public transportation is nonexistent or unreliable, women may have no way to leave their situation safely.
Accessing support is also complicated by limited service availability. Many rural areas lack shelters, crisis centers, legal aid, and specialized healthcare providers trained in gender-based violence. Even where services exist, they are often underfunded and struggle to meet demand. In some cases, police stations, courts, and victim support workers may be located in another town or require long wait times for assistance.
Tight-knit communities can further discourage women from seeking help. In small towns, privacy is limited, and survivors may fear being recognized at the local clinic, police station, or grocery store. Social stigma and fear of gossip often deter women from reporting abuse, especially if the abusive person is well-connected in the community. This lack of anonymity can make it difficult for women to seek support without repercussions.
Emergency housing options are scarce in many rural and remote areas. While urban centers may have shelters dedicated to women fleeing violence, rural communities often have limited or no such facilities. Even when shelter beds are available, they may be located in a distant town, requiring women to leave their social support networks behind. This can be especially challenging for older women who rely on family, neighbors, or community members for daily support.
Technology could be a potential solution, but limited digital access remains a major barrier. Internet and cell service can be unreliable or unavailable in remote areas, making it difficult for women to contact crisis lines, access online counseling, or participate in virtual legal consultations. Additionally, some older women may not have experience using digital platforms, further isolating them from remote services.
Law enforcement responses can also be inconsistent in rural and remote areas. Police detachments may be far away, and response times can be delayed, leaving women vulnerable in crisis situations. In some cases, officers may be familiar with the abuser, creating concerns about bias or reluctance to intervene. If survivors need to attend court, the distance to legal services can be another barrier, as they may have to travel significant distances for hearings or legal representation.
Resources:
The Canadian Domestic Homicide Initiative
The Learning Network briefs, webinars and infographics
How do social and economic factors impact older victim-survivors?
Older women, especially those who have spent years in unpaid or underpaid caregiving roles, often have limited financial resources. Even those with some economic stability may fear living alone, as social isolation can be a serious concern. A history of gender-based violence (GBV) can further exacerbate economic vulnerability due to job disruptions, healthcare costs, financial abuse, and the long-term impacts of trauma. For older women who also experience discrimination based on race, ability, sexual orientation, gender identity, or geographic location, the social and economic effects of GBV are further amplified, making safe housing even harder to secure. Additionally, limited personal space, poor living conditions, and neglect from family can worsen chronic health conditions, reducing overall well-being and increasing dependence on others.
With limited income, accessing safe, stable, and affordable housing is difficult. Older women without financial independence may be forced to move frequently, sleep in overcrowded spaces, or lack legal rights to stay in a home. Many rely on subsidized housing, but long waitlists leave them in precarious situations. Survivors of GBV may also experience estrangement from family and community, reducing their social safety nets and access to informal support systems. Additionally, they may not be aware of or have access to shelters and housing assistance programs, which often cater to younger survivors and may not be designed to meet the needs of older women.
The housing crisis may force older women to live with family members, friends, or acquaintances to avoid homelessness. While this arrangement may provide short-term relief, it can also increase their vulnerability to economic dependence, exploitation, and further abuse due to power imbalances and limited autonomy. It is not uncommon for older women to be expected to provide unpaid caregiving for grandchildren or sick family members in exchange for housing, an arrangement that can become exploitative. Conversely, family members without stable housing may move in with an older woman, creating dependency that is a well-documented risk factor for elder abuse. Without stable, independent housing, older women are also at risk of being placed in institutional settings such as nursing homes, where they may lose autonomy, privacy, and self-determination. Additionally, many housing initiatives fail to account for the long-term trauma of GBV survivors, limiting their effectiveness and leaving older women without meaningful options for secure and dignified living arrangements.
Despite the significant barriers to safe and stable housing, several protective factors can help reduce older women’s vulnerability to homelessness, exploitation, and further victimization. Expanding age-inclusive and GBV-informed housing initiatives is essential, as many existing shelters and transitional housing programs do not adequately serve older survivors. Housing models must be trauma-and violence-informed, accessible, and flexible, ensuring that older women with disabilities, chronic illness, or mobility issues have safe and appropriate living spaces. Financial supports such as rental subsidies, senior-specific housing benefits, and legal protections for tenants can help older women secure long-term, stable housing rather than being forced into precarious or exploitative arrangements.
Community-based solutions that reduce isolation and dependence are also critical. Co-housing models, intergenerational living arrangements, and supportive senior housing can provide safety and social connection while maintaining autonomy.
Stronger legal protections and housing rights advocacy can also play a role in preventing eviction, discrimination, and coercive housing situations. Ensuring that older women have access to legal aid, tenant protections, and resources to challenge unjust living conditions can significantly improve housing security.
Economic insecurity is both a cause and a consequence of gender-based violence in later life. For women aged 55 and over, poverty often reflects a lifetime of structural inequality. Lower lifetime earnings, interrupted employment due to caregiving, and systemic undervaluing of women’s work create a gendered poverty gap that deepens with age.
Older women are more likely than men to live alone and depend on fixed incomes such as Old Age Security (OAS) or the Canada Pension Plan (CPP). Many have no private pensions or savings, particularly those who spent years in unpaid or underpaid caregiving roles. The gender wage gap compounds over time into a retirement gap, leaving older women more likely to experience chronic financial stress, housing insecurity, and dependence on others for basic needs.
Poverty is not only an economic issue but a form of structural violence. It limits women’s choices and safety. Financial dependence on an abuser can trap women in violent relationships. For those who leave, poverty can make it impossible to secure safe housing, transportation, or legal representation. In rural and remote regions, where services are sparse and public transportation is limited, financial barriers often translate into social isolation and heightened risk.
Indigenous, immigrant, and racialized older women experience even higher rates of poverty due to colonial dispossession, systemic discrimination, and unequal access to secure employment and benefits. These inequities are compounded by policy frameworks that rely on household income measures, masking women’s individual poverty and obscuring their financial vulnerability within couple households.
The invisibility of women’s economic insecurity is sustained by a lack of disaggregated data. While Statistics Canada reports lower poverty rates for seniors overall, these averages hide deep gendered disparities among older women, particularly those living alone, divorced, widowed, or with disabilities. Recognizing poverty as both a gendered and structural issue is essential to building prevention strategies that ensure older women’s safety, dignity, and autonomy.
Social and economic factors have profound effects on the mental health of older women who have experienced gender-based violence (GBV). These intersecting factors contribute to chronic psychological distress, substance use, and barriers to accessing care. Victim-survivors often experience long-term mental health consequences, such as depression, anxiety, PTSD, and suicidality, which are worsened by economic instability, social isolation, and lack of access to healthcare. Ageism and sexism in medical settings further compound these challenges, as mental health concerns among older women are frequently dismissed, misdiagnosed, or minimized. Research has shown that older women’s trauma histories are often overlooked, leading to inappropriate or ineffective mental health interventions (Government of Canada, 2023).
Economic hardship is also a major barrier to mental health care. Many older women cannot afford therapy, psychiatric care, or specialized trauma services, especially if they lack retirement savings, insurance, or financial independence. Some may avoid seeking help due to societal expectations, cultural norms, or internalized guilt, fearing judgment for prioritizing their own well-being. Additionally, mental health services are often not designed for people who have experienced lifelong trauma, focusing instead on immediate crisis intervention rather than the deep, cumulative impact of abuse across the lifespan (SAMHSA, 2020).
Despite these challenges, several protective factors can help mitigate the long-term mental health effects of GBV and support older women in achieving emotional, social, and economic well-being. One of the most important protective factors is access to trauma- and violence- informed care (TVIC) and age-inclusive mental health services. Mental health providers must recognize the cumulative impact of GBV over a lifetime, rather than focusing solely on immediate trauma. Age-inclusive approaches should challenge ageist biases, ensuring that older women’s mental health needs are taken seriously and addressed with dignity. TVIC models also help professionals avoid re-traumatization by providing supportive, non-judgmental, and survivor-centered interventions.
Social connection and support networks also play a critical role in reducing isolation and improving mental well-being. Peer support groups, faith communities, and survivor-led networks provide spaces where older women can share their experiences without stigma or judgment. Programs that connect older survivors to mentors, peer advocates, or intergenerational groups help restore a sense of belonging and agency. Community-based services such as art therapy, mindfulness groups, and recreational activities offer non-clinical ways to improve mental health, particularly for those who may be hesitant to seek formal therapy.
Many older women who are victim-survivors of gender-based violence (GBV) face a complex mix of trauma, economic hardship, and untreated mental illness, leading to higher risks of substance use disorders (SUDs) and worsening mental health symptoms. Due to the cumulative effects of violence, financial instability, chronic pain, and social isolation, many older women turn to substances as a coping mechanism. They are more likely to self-medicate with alcohol or prescription drugs (such as opioids, benzodiazepines, or sleep aids) in an effort to manage trauma symptoms, pain, and sleep disturbances. Some may also turn to nicotine or illicit drugs as a means of coping, often in the absence of adequate mental health and social supports.
Despite these realities, older women who use substances often face heightened stigma, which prevents them from accessing care. The dominant societal narrative frames substance use as reckless or immoral, rather than recognizing it as a response to trauma, pain, and structural inequities. This stigma is particularly severe for older women, who are often judged more harshly than younger people or men for using substances, as their use contradicts societal expectations of women as caregivers, responsible elders, and moral role models. As a result, healthcare providers, social workers, and GBV service professionals may overlook, dismiss, or shame older women's substance use, rather than providing non-judgmental, trauma-informed support.
To better serve older women who use substances, professionals must shift their approach from a moralistic or abstinence-based lens to a substance use health model. This means:
A substance use health approach acknowledges that substance use exists on a spectrum, that relapse is a normal part of recovery, and that meeting people where they are is more effective than punitive or abstinence-only models. Without this shift, many older women will continue to be excluded from services, shamed into silence, or forced to navigate their substance use alone, deepening their vulnerability to GBV, poverty, and preventable health crises.
The intersection of GBV, economic insecurity, and social isolation has a profound impact on mental health and addiction in older women. Without targeted interventions, these women remain at high risk of chronic psychological distress, substance use disorders, and ongoing victimization.
See: Harm Reduction and Substance Use Health - EQUIP Health Care | Research to Improve Health Equity
Older women in Canada face systemic barriers in employment due to age discrimination, gender bias, caregiving responsibilities, and economic precarity. Many have spent years in unpaid or underpaid caregiving roles, leading to lower lifetime earnings, reduced pension contributions, and greater financial insecurity in later life. Women who seek employment in later years encounter ageist hiring practices, precarious work conditions, and limited opportunities for advancement, with many employers assuming they are less adaptable, slower with technology, or more expensive to retain. These biases push older women into low-wage, part-time, or contract work, preventing them from achieving financial stability. A recent report found that 52.6% of individuals aged 55 to 64 have experienced age discrimination in employment, with women facing this bias more frequently than men (Government of Canada, 2023). Additionally, a survey by Women of Influence found that nearly 80% of women reported experiencing age-related discrimination in the workplace (Women of Influence, 2024). These challenges are further compounded for older women who are victim-survivors of gender-based violence (GBV), as financial dependence on an abuser, employment gaps due to trauma, and a lack of GBV-informed workplace supports create significant barriers to stability.
For victim-survivors of GBV, these employment challenges become even more acute. Many remain in abusive relationships due to financial dependence, particularly if they have spent years outside of the formal workforce. Those who leave abusive situations struggle to re-enter employment, facing long gaps on their résumés, lack of recent skills training, and ongoing trauma that affects job performance. Workplaces frequently fail to offer GBV-informed policies, making it difficult for survivors to navigate employment while managing legal, financial, and emotional recovery. The lack of structured support, combined with age discrimination and precarious work conditions, means that many older GBV survivors face a grim choice: remain in an unsafe situation or endure poverty and economic instability.
Addressing these issues requires comprehensive policy changes that challenge gendered ageism in hiring, promotion, and workplace training while ensuring that employment services and workplaces integrate GBV-informed approaches. Without intervention, older women—particularly those affected by GBV—will continue to experience workforce exclusion, financial precarity, and increased vulnerability to further violence and exploitation. Structural change is necessary to create real pathways to safety, security, and economic independence for older women in Canada.
CNPEA builds awareness, support and capacity for a coordinated pan-Canadian approach to the prevention of elder abuse and neglect. We promote the rights of older adults through knowledge mobilization, collaboration, policy reform and education.
The Wildflower Project is a 5-year initiative led by CNPEA and informed by a diverse group of partners across many sectors including shelters, interval and transition housing, violence against women, elder abuse, and community support services for older adults.
Learn more about CNPEA
