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Signs of Elder Abuse
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Sexual Abuse in Nursing Homes: The Unfathomable
The elderly in nursing homes are a highly vulnerable population who generally lack the ability to defend themselves or give consent. This is the how and why elder sexual abuse can happen as frequently as it does.
Elder sexual abuse is defined as the coercing of an elder through force, trickery, threats or other means into unwanted sexual activity and can range from sexual exhibition to rape, inappropriate touching, photographing the person in suggestive poses, forcing the person to look at pornography, forcing sexual contact with a third party, or any unwanted sexualized behavior.
Nursing home patients are easy targets for sexual abuse because the caregivers, who frequently but not always, are the abusers because they have access to the patients’ genitals during toileting and bathing.
A growing number of sexual abusers in elder care settings shine a light on the convicted sexual offender who has aged and is no longer being electronically monitored. Patients entering an elder care setting do not get background checks. Convicted sexual offenders are placed in the midst of an extremely vulnerable society filled with helpless men and woman. Convicted sexual offenders don’t get cured, they just get older.
A few years ago, a nursing home and its nursing attendants failed to prevent a male resident from sexually abusing ten female residents. The sexual abuse included groping female residents’ breasts, kissing them, and using sexually explicit language. The perpetrator frequently exposed his genitals and preyed on women with dementia.
Signs of elder sexual abuse include bruising on inner thighs, anal or genital bleeding, sexually transmitted diseases, difficulty walking or standing, genital itching or pain, scared, withdrawn, misplaced comments about sex, and sudden changes in personality.
In another nursing home, a male patient with dementia repeatedly sexually abused women patients. The nursing manager thought these acts were consensual and told staff to ignore them. Sexual aggression is not uncommon in a dementia setting.
Recently a young female nursing attendant was fired from her job for posing various male and female patients in compromising positions. She recorded the photos and videos on her cell phone. She admitted doing it and said she didn’t think there was anything wrong as it gave the patients something to do. You have to wonder if the cause for her firing goes along to the next job. Or does anyone else care?
If your loved one has been the victim of the unfathomable crime of elder care sexual abuse or you suspect it, please contact an experienced elder abuse care law firm to support your fight for justice on behalf of your loved ones dignity.
Reporting Abuse
If you are unsure where to report a case of elder abuse, you can contact an attorney specializing in elder law who can help you with the reporting.
Medicare Eligibility for Nursing Home Care
Medicare will cover nursing home care only if the patient receiving the care needs skilled nursing.
Nursing Home Abuse
Abuse can be physical, emotional, financial and sexual. More ...