Regrettably, elder elderly sexual abuse is a little-known and under-researched phenomenon. Elderly sexual assault victims often have physical issues that result in communication difficulties, disorientation, or memory loss - all of which impair the elder's capacity to disclose the abuse.
Sexual abuse of the elderly is a component of the elderly's overall mistreatment. Sexual abuse has many forms, just as other kinds of abuse against the elderly take many forms.
Emotional and physical abuse often occurs in conjunction with other types of abuse, such as sexual abuse.
Older sexual abuse involves any sexual interaction with an elder who is unable to express their disapproval of the conduct against them or their permission for the activity due to mental illness or dementia. If your loved one has been abused sexually in a nursing facility or nursing home, you should seek a legal case review to ensure that you get the assistance you need.
Sexual abuse against the elderly often manifests itself via behavioral or physical symptoms and indicators. Among them are the following:
Sustaining an injury to the pelvis
Having difficulty walking or sitting down
Being diagnosed with a sexually transmitted illness, or STD
Underwear that is torn, bloodied or soiled
Genital or inner thigh bruises
Bleeding from the genitals or anus
Irritation or discomfort in the genitals or anus
Attacks of panic
Post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms (PTSD)
Agitation symptoms
Withdrawal from others on a social or emotional level
Sexual activity that is improper, unexpected, or aggressive
Attempts at suicide
Engaging in odd or improper behavior that seems to be the result of a sex-role connection between the offender and the victim of elder sexual abuse
If a loved one or someone you care about is exhibiting symptoms of abuse or neglect, you may need legal assistance. The first step is to schedule a case review and learn about your available choices.
According to the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) study, older victims are less likely to assist in the conviction of an adult sex offender who committed the crime against them.
The same study found that victims of elder sexual abuse are less likely to have their stories believed, particularly if there are no visible indications of physical damage. Elderly sexual assault victims who live in nursing homes have the least chance of obtaining a conviction for the crimes committed against them.
There is a dearth of study on elder sexual abuse and those who commit it. The research is hampered by the fact that many victims of elder sexual abuse are unable to speak well enough to describe what occurred or identify the offender.
Elder sexual abuse is often committed by friends, live-in nursing aides, nursing home assistants, family members, and other caregivers who are left alone to care for the old person.
According to research published in the Journal of Abuse, about 12% of elderly sexual abuse victims were assaulted in their homes. Around 15% of seniors who are sexually molested were assaulted in the sex offender's household.
Elder sexual abuse is not prevalent, according to the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rape (PCAR), one of the most active coalitions in evaluating all forms of sexual abuse. PCAR operates fifty crisis centers for victims of rape across the state of Pennsylvania. This group contributes to public education about elder sexual abuse by performing some of the most comprehensive research studies on the subject in the United States.
According to the PCAR's study, elder sexual abuse follows these statistics:
Women are six times more likely than males to be sexually abused by their elders.
Only around 30% of senior sexual abuse victims over the age of 65 disclose the incident to authorities.
Around 83 percent of senior sexual assault victims live in a facility for institutional care, such as a nursing home.
Around 27% of victims of elder sexual abuse were abused in their own homes or the homes of the offenders.
Approximately 80% of the time, the offender of elder sexual assault was the senior's caregiver.
Around 76 percent of victims of elder sexual abuse had the event observed by someone.
According to the National Senior Abuse Incidence Study, about 67 percent of elder sexual offenders were family members.
Preventing and Reporting Sexual Abuse in Nursing Homes
If family members or other nursing care personnel suspect elder sexual abuse, they should contact police or Adult Protective Services to have the matter examined further.
As with emotional abuse, the victim of elder sexual abuse will be assigned a government-appointed caretaker who will be responsible for investigating the event. This caregiver will speak with the older individual to determine what occurred during the event. They will also inquire about the old person's mental health, present living conditions, and relationships.
If there is a strong suspicion of elder sexual abuse, the person will be transferred to another nursing facility. They may also be treated via therapy or medication for sexual abuse. If you believe you have been a victim of abuse and need assistance, obtaining a case review from a legal team is an excellent place to start learning about your choices.
