Sexual Abuse in Nursing Homes

If your loved one is not able to communicate to you what is happening in their particular situation, you can always look out for potential warning signs that can indicate the type of sexual assault and frequency with which it is occurring. Some signs of nursing home sexual abuse could be:

• Unexplained STDs or infection. 
• Unexplained pelvic or hip injury. 
• Bruising around the thigh, genital area or breasts. 
• Unexplained vaginal or anal pain, irritation or bleeding. 
• Blood, tears or stains on gowns or undergarments. 
• Increased difficulty in walking or sitting upright. 
• Symptoms of post-traumatic stress such as hyper-alertness, emotional numbness, difficulty sleeping or irritability. 
• Panic attacks or anxiety. 
• Suicide attempts. 
• Withdrawing from family or social interactions. 
• Acting out inappropriate sexual behaviors or unusual sexual activities. 

Elder sexual abuse can come from anyone who comes into contact with the resident. This includes staff, friends, strangers, visitors, other residents and family members. One of the more common forms of nursing home sexual abuse may come from other residents who have dementia, which sometimes leads to resident-to-resident sexual aggression. Staff should be aware and proactive in preventing these instances, but it is also vital for you to be alert to different sources of nursing home sexual abuse. 

Many risk factors could potentially lead to sexual abuse in nursing homes. Some things to keep an eye out for are:

• Individuals with dementia or memory problems. 
• High-level needs and a high degree of dependence. 
• Consistent and prolonged social isolation. 
• Communication troubles. 
• High levels of stress in the nursing facility, including understaffing, inadequate background checks and training. 
• Not receiving regular visitors or checks from individuals living outside the nursing home.

Because of the secretive nature of these crimes, it can be hard for family members and the public to be aware that there is an issue, especially with a nursing home that doesn’t respond to or report these cases. Sometimes the staff isn’t even aware of these issues. In one case, a nursing home in Washington, D.C., was fined for failing to report nursing home sexual abuse allegations. According to the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN), elder abuse is largely underreported despite mandatory reporting laws.

Unfortunately, cases of nursing home sexual abuse happens because predators chose to prey on the vulnerable. In the case of George Kpingbah, though allegations about his behavior had been made in the past, nothing could be proven until they caught him in the act. After Kpingbah was caught though, the nursing home acted immediately. Allegations were raised multiple times, and nothing was done. This shows a lack of sympathy part of the nursing home because other residents of theirs also reported being abused by Kpingbah.

Protect your loved one by first ensuring they are safe, and make sure they receive adequate care to recover from their ordeal. Report the abuse to nursing home administrators, call 9-1-1 and file a complaint immediately to make sure they are out of danger. Write down the specific details of the abuse if you can come across them and document any evidence that you may have found, as it can aid in the investigation. Reporting the abuse to Adult Protective Services is always advised as well. 

If you suspect your loved one has been sexually abused, it may be a good idea to ask if:

• They received an unwanted contact in an intimate nature, especially to private areas. 
• There is unnecessary or excessive contact used during regular bathing or cleaning. 
• They are forced to be nude or denied privacy while changing or using the restroom. 
• They are forced to observe sexual acts, pornographic images, or listen to sexually graphic conversations. 
• They are spoken to with a sexual undertone or sexually graphic language. 
• Someone is taking videos or photographs of them in a sexually explicit nature, including videos of bathing or routine care and distribution of these images or videos. 
• There is any form of sexual assault or molestation. 

Seeking services from a reputable nursing home sexual abuse lawyer is also advised, as these cases require extensive knowledge and personal care. Contact KBA Attorneys to learn about filing a nursing home abuse lawsuit and to ensure that your loved one sees justice.

• Sandee LaMotte. “How to protect a loved one from abuse or sexual assault in a nursing home”, CNN, https://www.cnn.com/2019/01/18/health/sexual-abuse-protection-nursing-home-long-term-care/index.html. Accessed July 10, 2019.
• RAINN. “Elder Abuse”, Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network, https://www.rainn.org/articles/elder-abuse. Accessed July 10, 2019.
• Mark Davis. “America’s hidden horror: Sexual abuse in nursing homes and care facilities”, The Sacramento Bee, https://www.sacbee.com/news/nation-world/national/article146281039.html. Accessed July 10, 2019.
• Blake Ellis and Melanie Hicken. “Sick, Dying and Raped in America’s Nursing Homes”, CNN, https://www.cnn.com/interactive/2017/02/health/nursing-home-sex-abuse-investigation/. Accessed July 10, 2019.
• NPR. “Health Workers Still Aren’t Alerting Police About Likely Elder Abuse, Reports Find”, NPR, https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2019/06/12/731820729/reports-find-health-workers-still-arent-alerting-police-regarding-likely-elder-a. Accessed July 10, 2019.
• David Lazarus. “Is your loved one in a nursing home? Here’s why you should be alarmed”, Los Angeles Times, https://www.latimes.com/business/lazarus/la-fi-lazarus-dangerous-nursing-homes-20190611-story.html. Accessed July 10, 2019.