Older women’s reflections on the meaning of surviving an attempted intimate partner homicide in later life

Objectives: This study explores the experiences of older women who survived attempted intimate partner homicide (IPH)—a population largely overlooked in existing research. Guided by a life-course perspective, it examines how these women make meaning of their survival in later life, offering insight into their emotional needs and expanding the understanding of survivorship in older age. Method: Using interpretative phenomenological analysis, in-depth, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 11 women over the age of sixty, all survivors of intimate partner homicide. Results: Three key themes emerged: (1) Surviving an IPH attempt as a critical turning point and a chance for new life; (2) Surviving an IPH attempt as a continuum of the violent relationship dynamics; (3) The perception of coping at this point in life. Conclusion: The findings suggest that survivorship is an ongoing process shaped by personal agency, age-related factors, and social, legal, and familial networks, carrying multiple meanings for participants that reflect both challenges and opportunities in their journey forward.