In late September, the WA Government launched the ‘Coercion Hurts’ campaign to raise awareness about coercive control. It’s an important moment for all of us who work in the community services space.
This campaign focuses on helping people understand that family and domestic violence isn’t just physical—it can be emotional, psychological, and controlling. While it’s aimed at men aged 25-54 and highlights the subtle forms of abuse that many people don’t immediately recognise, as Advocare knows all too well, older people fall victim to its influence too.
What is coercive control?
Coercive control is defined as: “… a pattern of controlling behaviours which a perpetrator uses to establish and maintain control over another person and it presents as a series of intentional actions directed at a person to instil fear, intimidation, humiliation and isolation.”
Advocare’s, Shawnee Van Poeteren is passionate about this topic, particularly in how it intersects with elder abuse. She’s dedicated hundreds of hours over the past few years to shining a light on coercive control and its insidious, negative impact on lives.
“Although this type of abuse is often associated with family and domestic violence involving younger people, it’s crucial to recognise that older people can also be vulnerable to power and control dynamics and are not immune to it,” Shawnee explains.
Th three common forms of coercion used to control others, especially older people, are social isolation, manipulation and the act of ‘gaslighting’.
An example of social isolation is the perpetrator moving an older person far away from their family, friends and community or, withholding grandchildren from visiting grandparents.
Manipulation, is at the heart of most coercive control practices. It occurs when the behaviour and actions once appearing as considerate and dedicated towards supporting the older person, changes to become controlling. As a result, the older person starts living in fear of what will happen if they don’t do what the perpetrator wants them to do.
Finally to ‘gaslighting’ – a method of coercive control that causes confusion and paranoia in anyone who experiences it. These effects are intensified for older people who are sometimes already living with physical or mental health issues or cognitive impairment. Hearing a phrase like, “That never happened, you’re absolutely insane,” is one such sample phrase.
What can you do if you suspect it?
“As a professional, the first thing to remember is that everyone, regardless of age, deserves to be heard, believed and validated when they disclose experiences of abuse and neglect. Genuine, kind and compassionate responses can alleviate an older person’s fear and anxiety and support their healing journey”, Shawnee reminds us.
Following the launch of the ‘Coercion Hurts’ campaign to raise awareness about coercive control, if you’re an aged care service provider, you may soon notice an increase in people reaching out, particularly with questions about it.
The Department of Communities is hosting a webinar the week of October 14, as well as a two-day event called ‘Ending Coercive Control and Family Violence’ later in the month, hosted by The Hatchery. Keep an eye out for these events through your professional news networks. Advocare will also keep you posted through our social media channels.
Workshops like these offer a valuable opportunity to learn more about how coercive control is affecting the people you work with every day – you may even recognise someone in your personal circles who might be experiencing it.
Taking part in training is also a chance to connect with other professionals, share experiences, and pick up practical tools so you feel more confident in supporting victims of domestic violence, regardless of their age.
Spread the word about what coercive control is and how it plays out. It’s not ok, nor will it ever be, and it needs to stop – now.
Watch Shawnee in this OPAN video talking more about coercive control.