ATTORNEY NEWSLETTER
Three Reported Incidents
Residents Unable To Protect Themselves
1000 Nursing Homes Cited For Sexual Abuse In Last 3 Years
The unthinkable is happening at skilled nursing facilities throughout the country: Vulnerable seniors are being raped and sexually abused by the very people paid to care for them. Some of the victims can’t speak. Some rely on walkers and wheelchairs to leave their beds if they can get out of bed at all. Some have been robbed by dementia of their memories. These people come to nursing homes to be cared for. Instead, they are sexually assaulted. Sexual assault and rape are real and growing horror in America’s nursing homes and elder care facilities. Statistics show that incidents of sexual abuse, assault and rape are up. Since much elder abuse, including sexual elder abuse, goes unreported, incidents of sexual assault and rape are probably greater than we know. Evans Law Firm. Inc. represents victims of sexual assault or other abuse in nursing homes, and pursue all persons responsible, including owners, administrators and managers. Call us today at (415)441-8669 if any senior loved one has suffered any kind of elder abuse here in Santa Cruz County or elsewhere in California. Our toll-free number is 1-888-50EVANS (888-503-8267).
Recently Reported Sexual Assaults
Authorities recently arrested a nursing home aide for allegedly sexually molesting three disabled patients at elder care homes.[1] Two of the reported offenses occurred at the facility where he worked, officials said. Another took place at a nursing home where the same man was an independent caregiver for one of the residents. The local Sheriff’s office stated that the suspect allegedly “engaged in sex acts with the victims who were unable to consent, protect themselves, or report the abuse due to their physical and mental status.” Detectives started investigating the suspect earlier this after receiving information that the alleged abuse happened between 2013 and 2020, with additional incidents suspected. The individual was arrested on felony charges of elder abuse, rape, and other unlawful sexual acts. He is being held without bail.
Four Important Facts About Sexual Assault In Nursing Homes
This case is a sad illustration of how sexual assault and rape in nursing homes has become a recurring tragedy. Anyone with a loved one in a nursing home or about to make a decision regarding admitting a senior to a home should be aware of these four important statistics:
- While reported sexual abuse is still fairly rare (1.9% of nursing home residents report sexual abuse), much abuse goes underreported. This can be due to the social stigma around sexual assault, or fear of retribution by the perpetrator. Nursing home residents with mental or physical disabilities may not be able to recount their experience and tell the authorities.
- There have been over 20,000 complaints of sexual abuse in nursing homes over the past 20 years, according to the Administration for Community Living. That means that every day, about three people in nursing homes are sexually abused.
- Female residents and dementia patients run a higher risk of sexual abuse. In general, women have a higher risk of sexual abuse than men. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that 1 in 5 women have been either raped or suffered an attempted rape, compared to 1 out of 38 men. Residents with mental illnesses like Alzheimer’s are also at a high risk of sexual abuse because of their impaired memory and communication skills.
- Over 1000 nursing homes in the United States have been cited for sexual abuse over a recent three-year period. A 2017 CNN report found that nearly 100 of these facilities received multiple citations. Over 500 of the facilities were also cited for failing to investigate and report allegations of sexual abuse — or for not screening employees for past sex crimes.
Protecting Loved Ones From Sexual Abuse
If you have a loved one who is about to enter a home, check the facility out on Medicare’s Nursing Home Compare website and the California Department of Public Health website. If there have been citations of abuse against the facility, you can read the citations and find out what was alleged. If your loved one is already a nursing home resident, consider an in-room surveillance camera. Surveillance cameras in a senior’s room are permitted under California law. If suspect any kind of elder abuse of a loved one, including sexual abuse, call t Evans Law Firm immediately.
Contact Us
Ingrid M. Evans represents California seniors who have been victims of elder abuse including abuse and neglect or sexual abuse in nursing homes. Call Ingrid at once if you suspect something is wrong. You can reach us at (415) 441-8669, or email us at <a href=”mailto:info@evanslaw.com”>info@evanslaw.com</a>. Our toll-free number is 1-888-50EVANS (888-503-8267).
[1] Evans Law Firm, Inc. is not involved in the case in any way.
