Sexual offending on elderly women: A review

Despite the not infrequent occurrence of the rape of an elderly woman and the subsequent public shock that is generated, this type of offence remains poorly reported in the medical and scientific literature. This article reviews what little literature is available and brings together the existing knowledge about the phenomenon. The paucity of hard data is emphasized along with the almost complete lack of understanding in respect of the underlying motivations within this offender group. Further work is required, namely the development of theoretical models and the conducting of robust observational studies.