In this episode, Anna Lempriere speaks with Dina Holder, Community Engagement Manager at the Women’s Centre, about domestic abuse and family violence - particularly as it affects older people and those with dementia. With honesty, warmth, and deep experience, Dina shares how abuse can go unrecognised, why older adults are often underserved, and what support is available. This conversation offers insights for anyone on the dementia pathway or concerned about someone they know.
⚠️ Please note: this episode discusses sensitive topics that may be triggering for some viewers.
Resources
- The Women's Centre Cornwall: https://www.womenscentrecornwall.org.uk/
- Safer Cornwall: https://safercornwall.co.uk/domestic-abuse-sexual-violence/
- First Light: https://www.firstlight.org.uk/
- Dementia and longstanding domestic abuse: There is a surprisingly limited amount of research on this topic although findings from Dr Lucy Knight and Professor Marianne Hester’s research highlights that the onset of dementia in the situations studied led to an escalation in the severity of the domestic abuse: http://www.rcpsych.ac.uk/pdf/Knight%20Lucy.pdf
- Domestic abuse and the co-existence of dementia: https://dewischoice.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Dewis-Choice-Dementia-and-Domestic-Abuse-18.7.24-1-compressed.pdf
- The combination of dementia and domestic abuse is all too often overlooked: https://theconversation.com/the-combination-of-dementia-and-domestic-abuse-is-all-too-often-overlooked-139535
- Care Provider Response to Domestic Abuse and supporting people living with dementia and their carers: https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5cea59cc8648df0001e6810d/t/61a0ab7cf2f8dd6d6dac33ee/1637919619007/domestic-abuse-and-dementia.pdf
- Knowsley’s Dementia and Domestic Abuse Toolkit https://knowsleysafeguardingadultsboard.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Domestic-Abuse-and-Dementia-.pdf
- Dementia and Domestic Abuse – Dewis Choice https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j6gD3SqVnhM
Discover Voices (c) 2025, a production by registered charity, disAbility Cornwall & Isles of Scilly.
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