Table 2.
Overview of homicides among older adults (deceased), Victoria 2001–2015
| Variable | Deceased (n=59) | % | Female (n=23) | % | Male (n=36) | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Individual level | |||||||
| Accommodation type | Private residence—owned/private rental | 29 | 49.2 | 15 | 65.2 | 14 | 38.9 |
| Private residence—public rental | 6 | 10.2 | <5 | - | 5 | 13.9 | |
| Age group | 65–74 | 37 | 62.7 | 13 | 56.5 | 24 | 66.7 |
| 75–84 | 18 | 30.5 | 9 | 39.1 | 9 | 25 | |
| 85–94 | <5 | - | <5 | - | <5 | - | |
| Any physical illness | Yes | 39 | 66.1 | 14 | 60.9 | 25 | 69.4 |
| Country of birth | Australia | 15 | 25.4 | <5 | - | 12 | 33.3 |
| Outside Australia | 22 | 37.3 | 10 | 43.5 | 12 | 33.3 | |
| Diagnosed mental illness | Yes | 8 | 13.6 | <5 | - | <5 | - |
| Employment status | Employed | 6 | 10.2 | <5 | - | 5 | 13.9 |
| Retired/pensioner | 44 | 74.6 | 18 | 78.3 | 26 | 72.2 | |
| Ethnic or cultural affiliation | Known | 11 | 18.6 | 5 | 21.7 | 6 | 16.7 |
| History of substance use | Yes | 8 | 13.6 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 22.2 |
| History violence exposure | Yes | 15 | 25.4 | 6 | 26.1 | 9 | 25 |
| Main language | English | 23 | 39 | 5 | 21.7 | 18 | 50 |
| LOTE - known | 9 | 15.3 | <5 | - | 5 | 13.9 | |
| Mental illness, suspected | Yes | 12 | 20.3 | <5 | - | 8 | 22.2 |
| Physical disability | Yes | 4 | 6.8 | <5 | - | <5 | - |
| Physical injury | Yes | 11 | 18.6 | <5 | - | 8 | 22.2 |
| Psychiatric treatment (non-proximal) | Yes | 6 | 10.2 | 5 | 21.7 | <5 | - |
| Psychiatric treatment (proximal) | Yes | 11 | 18.6 | 7 | 30.4 | <5 | - |
| Service contact (any) | Yes | 29 | 49.2 | 10 | 43.5 | 19 | 52.8 |
| Service contact (proximal) | Yes | 21 | 35.6 | 8 | 34.8 | 13 | 36.1 |
| Suicide attempt | Yes | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Suicide ideation | Yes | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Undergoing treatment for physical illness | Yes | 16 | 27.1 | 9 | 39.1 | 7 | 19.4 |
| Interpersonal level | |||||||
| Deceased-offender relationship | Friend/acquaintance | 11 | 18.6 | <5 | - | 9 | 25 |
| Intimate partner | 10 | 16.9 | <5 | - | 8 | 22 | |
| Other familial | 27 | 45.8 | 14 | 60.9 | 13 | 36.1 | |
| Stranger | 8 | 13.6 | <5 | - | 5 | 13.9 | |
| Unknown | <5 | - | <5 | - | <5 | - | |
| Family homicide | Yes | 38 | 64.4 | 17 | 73.9 | 21 | 58.3 |
| FV homicide | Yes | 16 | 27.1 | 7 | 30.4 | 9 | 25 |
| Motive argument | Yes | 15 | 25.4 | <5 | - | 11 | 30.6 |
| Incident level | |||||||
| Incident location | Deceased’s home | 32 | 54.2 | 9 | 39.1 | 23 | 63.9 |
| Offender’s home | <5 | - | <5 | - | 0 | 0 | |
| Public place | 10 | 16.9 | <5 | - | 6 | 16.7 | |
| Shared residence | 10 | 16.9 | 5 | 21.7 | 5 | 13.9 | |
| Mechanism | Blunt object | 12 | 20.3 | 5 | 21.7 | 7 | 19.4 |
| Bodily force | 18 | 30.5 | 8 | 34.8 | 10 | 27.8 | |
| Sharp object | 21 | 35.6 | 7 | 30.4 | 14 | 38.9 | |
| Overkill (excessive force) | Yes | 6 | 10.2 | <5 | - | <5 | - |
| Presence of alcohol or drugs (deceased) | Yes | 29 | 49.2 | 13 | 56.5 | 16 | 44.4 |
| Community level | |||||||
| Residence ARIA | Inner regional - outer regional | 8 | 13.6 | <5 | - | 6 | 16.7 |
| Major city - inner regional | 50 | 84.7 | 20 | 87 | 30 | 83.3 | |
| Residence IRSD | 1 | 6 | 10.3 | <5 | - | <5 | - |
| 2 | 10 | 17.2 | <5 | - | 8 | 22.2 | |
| 3 | 9 | 15.5 | 5 | 22.7 | <5 | - | |
| 4 | 14 | 24.2 | <5 | - | 10 | 27.8 | |
| 5 | 19 | 32.8 | 8 | 36.4 | 11 | 30.6 | |