Unit 1 - Florida Council Against Sexual Violence

RISK FACTORS
Show slide, Factors Contributing to Increased Risk.
Slide – Factors
Contributing to
Increased Risk
Speaking Points:
• There are two types of factors that contribute to the
risk of an older person being sexually assaulted.
• These types are:
• Physical and mental factors affecting the older
individual that put them at higher risk. Or, because
of stereotypes, perpetrators believe that all older
people to be easy to victimize because of physical
and mental factors, and
• Factors in the environment which contribute to
the risk.
Show slides, Physical/mental factors.
Slides:
Physical/mental factors
Discuss and give examples, when needed:
Speaking Points:
• The brain changes and functioning declines with
lack of mental and physical stimulation.
• Mental functioning can decline with onset of
Alzheimer’s or simple memory loss (difficulty in
remembering recent events/experiences).
• Sensory changes and decline– sight, hearing, smell,
taste.
• Disease prevalence increases with age – cancer,
cardio-vascular disease, stroke, diabetes, arthritis and
osteoarthritis (joint disease), osteoporosis and
Alzheimer’s. Disease increases risk – weakens body
and, possibly, mental functioning and resilience.
• Physical changes and decline–
• bones become brittle,
FCASV Elder Sexual Abuse Trainer’s Guide 22
Unit 1