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Older adults have been largely excluded from practice, research, policies and education on sexual violence (SV) prevention. Thus, guided by a Critical Feminist Gerontological Framework, integrated within the Social Ecological Model, the central aim of this dissertation is to offer an in-depth understanding of perceptions of SV, chiefly in later life, and how age, gender, SV experience, or work with elders or SV victims may impact perceptions, barriers and solutions to prevention. This three-manuscript dissertation begins with an introductory chapter on SV in later life, followed by a systematic scoping review and thematic analysis, or thematic synthesis, of research on perceptions SV in later life, barriers to prevention and how they can be addressed. Results from the scoping review informed the second phase of this mixed methods dissertation study on perceptions of SV in later life, comprised of a factorial vignette survey gathered through Amazon Mechanical Turk (MTURK), where participants were randomized to one of five vignettes, involving the five kinds of SV identified in later life research, where the age of the victim was randomized to 21, 51 or 81 years. After reading the vignettes, participants were asked 20 Likert-scale and categorical questions, on perceived seriousness, culpability, reportability and knowledge of SV, examined in a regression analysis, and 27 open text questions, on knowledge and perceptions of SV, including in later life, explored using a qualitative thematic analysis. Seven overarching themes were identified in the thematic synthesis, of 18 scholarly articles, regarding (a) needs for knowledge and awareness, (b) research, (c) policy development, (d) influences of agism and sexism, (e) SV being a taboo involving limited support, (f) sociocultural differences, and (g) confusion about the nature of SV as well as how it is defined. Further, 567 survey responses were analyzed to assess how age, gender, work industry and victimization impact perceptions of SV and its prevention, primarily in later life. Hierarchical multiple regression analyses determined that participant characteristics (age, gender, victimization, frequent work with elders or SV survivors) and vignette scenario characteristics (victim age, of 21, 51 or 81 years, and SV type, involving partner violence, incest, care-provider perpetrated, institutional or stranger-perpetrated SV), did not significantly predict how serious SV was perceived, or victim blame. Still, participants who frequently worked with SV survivors, in long-term care, social work or SV agencies were less likely to blame offenders for SV, while frequent work with elders significantly increased the likelihood of blaming offenders. Logistic regression results determined that social workers, SV agency workers, and individuals who frequently worked with survivors were less likely to correctly label SV, while those who frequently worked with elders or received a vignette involving incest were more likely to label SV. Chi-square results showed that participants 50 years or older, those who worked with elders or received a vignette involving an 81 year old victim more often knew where to report SV. Yet SV agency workers less often knew where to report SV. Logistic regression results also determined a greater likelihood of endorsing reports of SV in an institution, involving incest, perpetrated by a care provider, or if participants frequently worked with elders. Still, those who worked frequently with survivors or in long-term care were less likely to report SV. Finally, a thematic analysis of survey responses from healthcare, long-term care, social work, law enforcement, and SV service providers and victims of later life SV underscored six overarching themes regarding SV perceptions and its prevention, principally in later life. These involved (a) physical abuse and unwanted sexual touch, (b) knowledge, awareness, and research needs, (c) SV not being taken seriously, (d) victim blame, (e) influences of rape culture and prejudice, and (f) SV being a taboo involving strong emotions and trauma. Results offer valuable implications for practice, policy, research and education, while addressing two grand challenges in social work, by confronting ageist and sexist stereotypes to advance social justice and healthy aging.