Few things are as heartbreaking as sexual abuse against vulnerable people, children, and older adults. These cases are more common than they ought to be and justice is rarely delivered to victims and their families.
Below, we cover some of the most alarming statistics about elder sexual abuse in nursing homes and how you can file a lawsuit if your loved one has been hurt in a long-term care facility.
0.6% of Older Adults Are Exposed to Sexual Abuse
With so few reports of elder sexual abuse, it can be challenging to determine the actual prevalence of such cases. However, studies now show that 0.6% of older adults (age 65+) in the United States are the victims of sexual abuse. This is double the rate in the UK, which is just 0.3%. In Sweden, as many as 2.2% of women and 1.2% of men were found to have been sexually abused.
From the Journal of Nursing Research and Practice.
7% of Nursing Home Abuse Cases Are Related to Sexual Abuse
While the majority of nursing home abuse cases are related to physical abuse and neglect, up to 7% of abuse cases involve nonconsensual sexual touching, along with more aggressive forms of sexual assault. Even though this makes sexual abuse is one of the least common forms of harm that occurs in nursing homes, the impact is no less severe.
From Cureus Journal of Medical Science.
4.8% of Nursing Home Employees Have Criminal Backgrounds
Even though nursing homes are responsible for conducting background checks, one California study revealed that out of nearly 150,000 employees had a history of criminal activity, suggesting that some facilities were either failing to conduct background assessments or hiring those with criminal histories anyway.
From the U.S. Department of Justice.
55% of Patients Sexually Abused in One Study Died
One study of the sexual abuse of 20 nursing home residents revealed that 11 of them — or 55% — died within the 12 months following their assault. All patients had been found to have cognitive impairment and symptoms of rape-related trauma. In this study, more staff members were revealed to be perpetrators than residents and the journal noted that other facility staff were insensitive to the seriousness of the abuse against the residents.
From the Journal of Psychosocial Nursing & Mental Health Services.
0.7% of Staff That Report Committing Abuse Admit to Engaging in Sexual Acts
New data suggests that nearly 65% of nursing home staff (or 2 in 3 employees) report committing one or more acts of abuse within the prior year. The majority of staff members admitted to psychological abuse and neglect, while only 9.3% admitted to physical abuse and 0.7% admitted to abuse that included sexual conduct that the resident did not consent to.
From The World Health Organization.
Dementia-Driven RRSA is the Most Common Form of Nursing Home Sexual Abuse
Many nursing home residents struggle with cognitive impairment, including disorders like Alzheimer’s and dementia. These and other mental health issues that are common in aging populations can increase sexual aggression, raising the incident rate of resident-on-resident abuse. This happens to be more common than staff-on-resident sexual abuse.
That said, nursing homes are responsible for supervising patients and eliminating contact between sexually agressive patients and others. Failure to do so can land the facility in hot water when a resident abuses another.
From The National Consumer Voice for Quality Long-Term Care.
Only About 6% of Offenders Are Prosecuted and 2% Are Convicted
In one 2004 study of 50 women who had experienced sexual abuse in nursing homes, research found that all of the alleged perpetrators were male residents over the age of 70. Of these cases, only were prosecuted and only 1 was successfully convicted. This means that just 2% of people who commit elder sexual abuse are delivered justice for their crimes.
From the Journal of Gerontological Social Work.
How to File a Nursing Home Sexual Abuse Lawsuit
If you believe your elderly loved one was sexually abused in a nursing home, it’s important to have an experienced legal professional on your side. At Mazow | McCullough, PC, we can help hold negligent nursing homes and abusive staff accountable for the actions that harmed your loved one. Contact us today for more information by calling (978) 744-8000 or toll-free at (855) 693-9084.
