Institutionalized Children in Later Life

"Imagine locking me ... in a nursing home" – Care Opportunities and Risks for Former Institutionalized Children in Later Life

Project duration: 01/08/2024 - 31/07/2026

Principal investigator: Prof. Dr. Silke Birgitta Gahleitner

Project staff: Marie Martensen, Senta Ebinger, Maite Gabriel

Abstract:
The aim of the planned study is to determine the needs of former institutionalized children with experiences of sexualized violence regarding appropriate psychosocial care in old age and to develop training proposals for psychosocial professionals in elder care. An informational brochure will be created for both professionals and affected individuals. The study targets all institutions involved in residential and outpatient elder care, encompassing a psychosocial professional spectrum that includes nursing and social work.

The research project focuses on former institutionalized children in old age. Of particular interest is the subjective perspective of the individuals affected, aiming to provide insights into their future support needs, especially in advanced old age.

The core research questions include:

• What specific support needs exist for former institutionalized children with experiences of sexualized or other severe violence in old age?
• How can professionals working in this field be sensitized to these needs?

The methodological design and the interpretation of results will explicitly consider that a significant proportion of former institutionalized children are individuals with early trauma and disrupted attachment experiences. The study will place special emphasis on the role of trauma and its associated dynamics for those affected, their supporters, and broader societal support processes in both the study’s design and its analysis.

The project has obtained official ethical approval.

Funding: Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse

Keywords: Aging, Trauma, Former Institutionalized Children, Care, Social Gerontology, Sexualized Violence

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