Sexual Abuse
Sexual abuse of the elderly is one of the most heinous violations imaginable. Nursing home residents are often physically unable to fight off or prevent such an attack and often have mental conditions that make them confused and forgetful or non-communicative, making reporting the abuse less likely or possibly less likely to be believed by nursing home staff.
Physical and behavioral signs of potential sexual abuse:
- Anal or genital pain, bleeding or unexplained redness or bruising
- Bruises around genitalia or inner thighs
- Blood in undergarments
- Pelvic injury
- New diagnosis of Sexually Transmitted Disease (STD)
- Withdrawal from social interaction
- Agitation
- Inappropriate sexual behavior
- Panic attacks
- Depression
- Fear of being around certain care givers
- Fear of being undressed or cleaned by caregiver
Family members should visit the nursing home frequently and observe any patterns of behavior or physical signs of sexual abuse. Many times, nursing home residents are unable or unwilling to report the abuse themselves. If you even suspect that your loved one is being abused, you should report it to the nursing home and to the appropriate law enforcement agency. If you suspect your loved one has been the victim of sexual abuse at a nursing home or other facility, call Wagner Hughes, LLC for a free consultation at (404) 900-6979.