When you entrust the care of a loved family member to a nursing home or assisted living facility, sexual abuse may be so unthinkable of a concern as to not cross your mind. But, federal data indicates that 16,000 complaints of sexual abuse were made by or on behalf of residents of nursing homes and assisted living facilities between 2000 and 2015. Given the fact that only a small minority of elder abuse cases are ever reported, it is a given that the actual prevalence of sexual abuse of the elderly in such facilities is much, much higher. CNN has also reported that over 1,000 long-term care facilities have been cited for mishandling suspected cases of elder sex abuse.
What this means is that family members of elderly residents in long-term care facilities cannot rely on the facilities to self-police sex abuse by caregivers and others, and that it is often up to family members to not only notice the signs of sexual elder abuse but also to take action to prevent further abuse and recover financial damages for the losses and mental anguish suffered by sexual abuse victims. At Johnson Moore, our California elder abuse attorneys represent elderly victims of sexual abuse by investigating whether abuse has occurred and taking legal action against elder care facilities that fail to prevent the sexual abuse from occurring.
The Signs of Sexual Elder Abuse
Again, relatively few victims of elder sexual abuse take steps to report their abuse. This is due to a number of reasons, including fear of further abuse by caregivers, concern that they will not be believed, and lowered mental and physical faculties. Indeed, abusers will often select victims who they believe will not have the resources to report their abuse.
Thus, family members should be on the watch for sexual abuse at nursing homes and assisted living facilities, which can manifest in the following signs, among others:
- Accounts of inappropriate touching and sexual behavior
- Fear of caregivers and nervousness
- Unexplained symptoms of sexually transmitted disease
- Genital and vaginal infections
- Torn or ruined clothing and undergarments
- Bleeding and bruises in vaginal, anal, and breast areas
- Isolation and requests not to be visited
- Recent, unexplained changes in mood
- Talking to oneself, rocking back-and-forth, and thumb-sucking
Bringing a Sexual Elder Abuse Claim in California
When you contact Johnson Moore about suspected sexual abuse, we will work with you to more fully investigate the matter and determine what legal options are available to you. Founding partners Gregory Johnson and Jody Moore are long-time passionate advocates in the fight against elder abuse in California, and we will be candid and straightforward with you regarding your likelihood of success in pursuing a legal action and what steps will be necessary in achieving success.
Through our experience, we have also developed a strong understanding of what type of evidence is necessary to winning financial recovery in elder abuse claims and how best to go about compiling that evidence, especially when nursing homes and assisted living facilities put up stiff resistance to efforts to root out and expose elder abuse. In every elder abuse case we bring, we make it a point not only to win maximum financial recovery but also to prevent further elder abuse occurring in society-at-large.
Contact Johnson Moore If You Suspect Sexual Elder Abuse
At Johnson Moore, we are here to help victims of elder neglect and their families understand their legal options and lead them to the just outcomes they deserve. Our attorneys are compassionate and determined defenders of the elderly, and we will take the time to fully understand your concerns and assess what steps we can take on your behalf. If you suspect a loved one is the victim of sexual elder abuse, contact Johnson Moore today to schedule a free consultation to discuss your options for recovery and other forms of relief.