Citation

Peguero AA, Lauck AM. Sociol. Compass 2008; 2(1): 62-73.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2008, John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1111/j.1751-9020.2007.00055.x

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

According to US Census Bureau projections, there will be an estimated 72 million people over the age of 65 in the USA by the year 2030. Exposure to violence and crime victimization has serious physical, emotional, mental, and economic consequences for the growing older population in the USA. It should thus come as no surprise that much sociological attention has focused more on examining the correlates of violence for the older American population. We intend to provide an overview of the typologies, empirical research, and the pertinent factors associated with older people and their exposure to violence. We then discuss necessity to further research and our understanding of the important social problem of the exposure of violence for older people in the USA. In conclusion, implications of research findings of how to address the vulnerabilities of older people in relationship to their exposure to violence are discussed.