In a single two-year period, the Special Investigations Division of the U.S. House Government Reform Committee identified nearly 9,000 cases of nursing home abuse, and many of these cases involved sexual abuse of elderly patients ages 60 or older. If your loved one has been a victim of sexual assault in a nursing home, speak with an experienced personal injury attorney as soon as possible.
Sexual assault in nursing homes is both understudied and underreported, and each of these obstructions feed off each other, as many elderly patients are coerced or are afraid or unwilling to report these incidents. The offenders are typically nursing home staff members, such as nurses, assistants, or other employees.
According to one study from the Journal of Abuse, the majority of sexual assaults against elderly citizens (nearly 71%) occurred in nursing homes. Here are some common physical and behavioral signs that your loved one has been sexually abused:
- Agitation;
- Panic attacks;
- Pain, bleeding, or irritation in the genital area;
- Sexually-transmitted diseases (STDs);
- Pelvic injuries;
- Trouble walking or sitting;
- Stained or torn undergarments;
- Sudden withdrawal from communication or social involvement;
- Symptoms of PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder);
- Withdrawn/fearful behavior around particular staff members.
Nursing homes are legally responsible for ensuring that their patients are entirely safe from all forms of abuse, and this includes proper background checks and investigations for any and every potential employee; they must also ensure that employees are properly trained and the facility is adequately staffed at all times. Negligence in any of these areas can result in an eventual sexual assault on a patient, and the employees and/or the nursing home itself must be held legally liable for the damages.
If your loved one has been a victim of sexual assault in a nursing home, we will fight for full compensation for the injuries and losses and see that justice is served. Contact 844 See Mike for a free consultation. We are a personal injury law firm representing individuals (and their families) who have suffered an injury. We will handle your case quickly and advise you every step of the way, and we will not hesitate to go to trial for you.
Lastly, 844 See Mike is not paid attorneys’ fees unless we win your case. Our no-fee promise is that simple. You have nothing to risk when you hire us – only the opportunity to seek justice.