Andorra Approves Protocol to Prevent Gender-Based Violence Against Elderly in Care Services

The Andorran government has approved a protocol to prevent, detect, and respond to gender-based and domestic violence against elderly people using sociosanitary services.

Developed by the Secretariat of State for Equality and Citizen Participation and the Ministry of Social Affairs, the protocol covers all authorised public and private services for older adults listed in the National Register of Social and Sociosanitary Services. This includes home care, day centres, residential homes, and assisted living facilities, in both regular and respite regimes.

The measure aims not only to manage the impacts of such violence but to stop it from occurring, through lasting structural changes in the care system. The government plans actions to publicise the protocol and support its adoption by relevant organisations.

Prevention and detection focus on three main pillars: staff sensitisation and training, promoting empowerment of elderly users, and early identification of risk factors.

Response procedures include guidelines for initial interventions, tools to assess victim risk levels, steps for suspected cases, standards for reporting confirmed incidents, and specific measures when the aggressor is a service professional.

The protocol highlights risks to women over 65, who face unique challenges from gender-based violence in domestic or care settings. These stem from factors including age, health conditions, dependency, social contexts, and institutional barriers, which often delay detection and response. Authorities stress the need for this targeted approach to protect victims, uphold their dignity, and improve their quality of life.