Violence against the elderly in the family: psychoeducational intervention with the offenders

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of a psychoeducational intervention on elderly offenders. METHODS: This is a qualitative research. Seven elderly family members, who were not their caregivers, accused of attacking them, and who responded to a process at Special Criminal Court for the Elderly and 1st Court for Domestic and Family Violence against women in the municipality of Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil, were evaluated. Socio-demographic data was filled, followed by a psychoeducational intervention, and then, a semi-structured interview was performed. Data were analyzed through thematic content analysis. RESULTS: The themes which emerged from psychoeducational intervention and semi-structured interview showed the following: (a) related to the way of thinking about old age, there was evidence of greater understanding of aging complexity; (b) aging process and elderly rights were the issues that sensitized them most; (c) among the attitudes, they would seek to avoid: do not live with the elderly, do not contradict, do not discuss, and to reflect before committing violence against him/her; (d) in relation to felt needs, they referred to the creation of courses and training to guide people on how to live and take care of the elderly. CONCLUSION: The results showed that psychoeducational intervention contributed to sensitization, reflection and awareness on the part of the attackers about aging complexity, the demands that accompany it, and the importance of understanding the elderly, holistically.