Elderly Sexual Assault in San Bernardino

When you think of elder abuse, sexual abuse is likely not the first thing to come to mind. However, elder sexual assault happens more often than you might think. A sexual assault or battery against an elderly person occurs when someone takes advantage of an elderly individual in a sexual manner. Unfortunately, the elderly person’s caregiver is the perpetrator in many cases.

Although sexual assault and battery may happen anywhere, these crimes tend to happen most often in nursing homes. When an act of elder sexual assault is committed because of the negligence of a nursing home or assisted living facility, the elderly victim may be entitled to compensation for the injuries they suffered.

What is Elderly Sexual Assault?

Elderly sexual assault is a type of abuse that involves the initiation of physical or sexual contact or the threat of such contact when the contact is nonconsensual or unwanted. Elderly sexual assault or battery can include an unwanted touch or may even be a rape.

There are some instances in which an elderly person may seem agreeable to participating in sexual activity; however, they may actually be unable to give proper consent. If an elderly person has dementia or Alzheimer’s disease, they may not be able to consent to the activity due to the condition of their mind. Elderly persons may also be suffering from confusion or some other form of memory impairment that may impact their ability to consent. These types of cases can be difficult, because the elderly victim may not have been aware of what had happened to them, causing them not to report the sexual assault or to seek the help they need.

Risk Factors of Elderly Sexual Assault

It is important for elderly individuals and their loved ones to keep in mind the risk factors of elderly sexual assault for their protection. Abusers have a tendency to seek out elderly people because they are more vulnerable. The perpetrators believe elderly individuals will be an easier target for them. Those that live alone or in nursing homes are at a higher risk for sexual assault or battery than those that live with their loved ones at home.

Another risk factor of this form of elder abuse is simply being an elderly woman. Elderly women have been shown to be statistically more likely to suffer from an incident of sexual assault. Other risk factors include being a victim of any other form of neglect or abuse or having a physical disability.

Indicators of Sexual Assault

If you are worried that a loved one has been a victim of a sexual assault, there are some signs you can look for that may indicate that your loved one is in need of help. These indicators include torn clothing, unexplained sexually transmitted diseases or infections, bruising, anxiety, depression, and a sudden change in affect or mood. If you notice these signs, you should talk to your loved one.

One of the ways you can help your loved one is to help them hire an experienced elder abuse attorney who can help them fight for compensation if another party was negligent in allowing the abuse to happen.