“Often, what the elderly person expresses to us is: ‘I only reported it because I want my son or daughter to get help,'” stated Iris Almeida during an interview marking the 14th anniversary of GIAV.
According to the psychologist, the main aggressors in the case of elderly individuals are their children, grandchildren, and sometimes caregivers, often involving “mental health issues” or substance use.
“They are not seeking punishment; rather, they want rehabilitation regarding substance use, whether it’s alcohol or drugs, or even mental health issues,” emphasized Almeida, who is also a researcher and university professor.
Launched on November 18, 2011, GIAV was created through a partnership between the Department of Investigation and Penal Action (DIAP) in Lisbon and the Egas Moniz School of Health and Science in Almada, providing psychological support to victims throughout the legal process.
For elderly victims, considering their vulnerability, “all procedures” are conducted at home or in their residence institution.
“It is also important that the court itself and the Public Prosecutor’s Office in our area in Lisbon are sensitive to victims, especially vulnerable ones who face physical mobility difficulties, sometimes also mental health issues,” highlighted Iris Almeida.
The GIAV coordinator also confirmed an increase in elderly individuals being supported in the space “in recent years,” attributing it to a crisis context in the country.
“Whenever we have a crisis, and we are currently experiencing a situation where housing prices are very high, it often results in children returning home to their parents […] and then demanding. We end up facing intergenerational conflicts,” she noted, adding that this was noted in GIAV “during the last crisis” as well.
In 14 years, the space’s psychologists conducted 3,512 victim support sessions of all ages for future memory declarations, 158 for inquiries by the Public Prosecutor, 86 during trial hearings, and 577 consultations.
Because GIAV is located at the Lisbon Justice Campus, home to several courts, its services have been extended to include minors aged 16 and 17, providing 90 sessions for them.
The facility operates in Building E of the Lisbon Justice Campus, where, since 2020, a PSP police station is also located, allowing domestic violence victims to file complaints directly.
GIAV’s area of operation, which has supported victims ranging from 5 to 100 years of age, is the Lisbon metropolitan area.
