Some 80 professionals from various disciplines attended the Symposium designed to focus on current issues, programs, literature and resources, and broad-based initiatives pertaining to the violent victimization of older persons. The quality of life for older persons was illustrated by one gerontologist who reported on her experiences traveling to 116 cities in the United States and Canada over a 3-year period disguised as an 80-year-old woman and sometimes a 'bag lady.' She reported being offered food, money and a place to sleep, being spat upon, mugged and beaten by teenagers, shortchanged by shopkeepers, and clubbed for no reason by a female police officer. Such experiences were cited as evidence of the need for a change in attitudes, biases and cultural stereotypes concerning older people, and the need to create services and programs to improve the quality of life for the elderly. Homicide, sexual assault, assault/robbery, crime prevention and volunteerism, victim/witness assistance, and research and training also were discussed. Several reasons why older persons don't report sexual assault are listed. Crime prevention and volunteerism are discussed. 10 Footnotes.