Our Nursing Home Sexual Abuse Lawyers Can Help You or Your Loved Ones

Understanding Sexual Abuse in Nursing Homes: Our Oregon Nursing Home Sexual Abuse Lawyers Share Important Information

 

Our Oregon nursing home sexual abuse lawyers understand how uncomfortable it can be for anyone to discuss sexual abuse.  This is particularly true when it has to deal with a loved one.  But while many people may think that they have to have difficult discussions about sexual abuse with a spouse or a child, they never think they would need to have that conversation with a loved one.  Especially a loved one that is in a nursing home, assisted living facility, or another type of rehabilitation center or other adult care home.  But unfortunately, that is not always true.

 

Sexual abuse does occur in nursing homes and it can be a huge problem, including leading to significant changes in a person’s behavior that could lead to self-injury or even suicide due to the abuse.  

 

What is Sexual Abuse?

 

Sexual abuse is unwanted, non-consensual sexual activity, in which the perpetrator uses force, threats, deceit, or manipulation to engage in the activity that the other person does not consent to, or has no ability to consent to. Often times, the victim and perpetrator know each other. Sometimes they do not. Sexual abuse can take a litany of forms, and each victim has a different reaction to the trauma sexual abuse induces. A victim may form post-traumatic disorder, also known as PTSD. A victim of sexual abuse may likely have to undergo extensive therapy, individually and in groups, to recover from the incident or incidents. One in ten adults aged 60 or plus have reported some form of elder abuse. Of those abused, there was a much higher likelihood of death, in comparison to those who were not abused. Contact our nursing home sexual abuse Attorneys so we can help you or your loved ones today. 

 

Sexual Abuse in Nursing Homes

 

Although many think of children and teenagers or others as the common victims of sexual abuse, too many forget that the elder population, namely those in the care of practically strangers in nursing homes, are too, potential targets. In 2016, it was reported that 819 cases were investigated at nursing homes across the nation. What is more difficult amongst the nursing home population is the introduction of health and mental conditions such as dementia, Alzheimer’s, and simply, the deterioration of cognitive functioning. Additionally, the patient may have mental health concerns that also impede the determination of whether sexual abuse took place. The ways in which a younger victim may exhibit psychological effects of being sexually abused may not be exhibited by an older person. For example, a younger person who has been sexually abused may feel and exhibit anxiety, fear, or PTSD. An older victim may not show any of those signs. The older victim may show nothing different than their usual self. Elder sexual abuse frequently goes underreported, under-investigated, and not even noticed. This is even more true amongst the rural and tribal communities. 

 

Our nursing home sexual abuse attorneys can help you and your loved ones determine whether sexual abuse took place.

 

Types of Sexual Abuse in Nursing Homes

 

As referenced above, sexual abuse can take a litany of forms. Generally speaking, it can include touching, fondling, intercourse, or any sexual activity. More specific to seniors, forms of sexual abuse may include: 

 

• Forced nudity
• Forced observation of masturbation and pornography
• Rape, oral, or anal sex
• Unwanted touching anywhere
• Taking sexually explicitly photos or videos of a resident. This includes during bathing, dressing, etc.

 

Signs of Sexual Abuse in Nursing Homes

 

Since cognitive functioning can be very limited, how does one determine if a nursing home resident has been sexually abused? What signs and symptoms of elder abuse can be detected?

 

Unsurprisingly, many of the signs and symptoms that a nursing home resident has been sexually abused do not stray too far away from those of the general population. They include:

 

Physical:

• Bruises around inner thighs, genital area, or breasts
• Genital infections or STDs
• Vaginal or anal bleeding or pain
• Difficulty sitting or walking
• Bloodied, torn, stained clothing

 

Emotional:

• Panic attacks
• PTSD
• Sudden or unexplained behavior 
• Avoiding or fear of a particular person or persons
• Suicidal ideation, tendencies, or attempts
• Extreme agitation
• Withdrawing from social engagements
• Fear of sleeping, being alone in room, or being alone at night in room

 

Still, again, because of cognitive impairment, detecting the above may prove more difficult. It should also be noted that the sexual abuse does not have to just be from an employee of the nursing home—it can be visitors, permanent and temporary staff, other residents, and others within the nursing home. 

 

Help for Nursing Home Sexual Abuse Victims

 

Different age groups suffer their own particular traumas and require certain psychological and legal interventions when sexual abuse has occurred. The elder population is no exception to this rule. 

 

Ask our Experienced Nursing Home Sexual Abuse Lawyer for Help in Oregon

 

If you or a loved one have been seriously injured or killed as a result of nursing home abuse or neglect contact the Oregon Nursing Home Abuse Lawyers at Kuhlman Law at our number below or fill out the intake form.  We offer a free initial case evaluation and handle cases on a contingency fee which means that you pay no money unless we recover.  

 

Our law firm handles cases throughout the state including Bend and Portland Oregon, Redmond, Central Oregon, Sisters, Madras, Multnomah County, Deschutes County, Salem, Eugene, Corvallis, Lane County, Medford, Gresham, La Grande, Albany, Medford, Beaverton, Umatilla, Pendleton,  Cottage Grove, Florence, Oregon City, Springfield, Keizer, Grants Pass, McMinnville, Tualatin, West Linn, Forest Grove, Wilsonville, Newberg, Roseburg, Lake Oswego, Klamath Falls, Happy Valley, Tigard, Ashland, Milwakie, Coos Bay, The Dalles,  St. Helens, Sherwood, Central Point, Canby, Troutdale, Hermiston, Silverton, Hood River, Newport, Prineville, Astoria, Tillamook, Lincoln City, Hillsboro, and Vancouver, Washington.  

 

We also have an office in Minneapolis, Minnesota and take Nursing Home Abuse cases throughout the Twin Cities, including St. Paul, Hennepin County, Ramsey County, Dakota County, Washington County, Anoka County, Scott County, Blaine, Stillwater, and Saint Paul Minnesota.  

 

Please act quickly, there is a limited time (Statute of Limitations) in which you can bring a claim under the law.