Coercive control and older people: towards definitional consistency

Although some countries have enacted laws against coercive control, there are mixed definitions of the associated patterns of behaviors, particularly when they are perpetrated against older people. Such definitional inconsistency is problematic as it can perpetuate the invisibility of coercive control, increase the risk of harm and isolation of victims, minimize the possibility of criminal charges being laid, and challenge researchers investigating the topic. This commentary provides an evidence-based definition of coercive control to support greater consistency in understanding and approaches to managing the behaviors and, in the process, improve healthcare, social policy, and research practices that better protect vulnerable older people.