Elders victimized sexually because not seen as human beings

Senior woman

Carol Forsloff - According to the National Sexual Violence Resource Center, "recognition of sexual violence against people in later life is hindered by misconceptions that older adults are not sexual beings." Often this takes place in care facilities designed to help elders yet become a place where abuses may occur.

World Elder Abuse Awareness Day has been recognized as a time to learn about elder abuse, as experts observe that sexual violence against seniors is a serious problem. 

In a women's rights blog, several years ago, this problem of sexual violence against older women observes the notion that these women are not sexual beings is doubly devastating, as a post states, " That misconception is doubly insulting to older women because it implies that, not only are they not worthy of sexual desire, but that rape is fundamentally about sexuality and not about violence and power.

Unfortunately, due to their age and the aforementioned misconceptions, older victims of sexual abuse face a litany of hardships in the wake of their assault. They are, for example, more likely to suffer physical injuries as a result of an assault. Older victims are also more likely to be hospitalized following sexual abuse and have a higher instance of psychosocial trauma."

Sexual abuse of elders, suspected or known about for years, has been the subject of newspapers from time to time across the country, with various articles relating specific incidents and the problems involved.

Since more and more seniors are living on their own, and many lack children who can intervene in case of a problem, this multiplies the problem and makes it difficult even in reporting it.  That's because it is sometimes the unrelated caregiver who is the abuser.

One case, according to the newspaper accounting in an Oregon paper,  provoked a lawsuit.  It involved a 61-year-old with dementia. She had serious problems that involved refusal to eat and episodes of crying after being found by a nursing home aide, naked below the waist. Accusations were made about a male resident that allegedly sexually abused her. The staff’s response, according to Erin Olson, the attorney who represented the family at the time, was to simply put her pants on. 

The facility, Foster Creek, had 38 substantiated complaints against it in the four years previous to the one referencing this complainant.  This led to a number of nursing homes that were investigated in the Portland area. 

Elder abuse is more widespread than many would imagine and sex abuse is part of the story. Many nursing homes are able to cover up or ignore abuse with dementia victims. Family members are stressed by elders whose behaviors are difficult to control and who either don’t remember them or become irrational at times during episodes of dementia. So many cases go unreported. Those that are show the problem is widespread and something that authorities maintain should be addressed.  

During a two-year period a study of the problem of elder abuse was taken and found that almost a third of the nursing homes in the United States were cited for abuse violations. The report was provided to the Special Investigations Division, Committee on Government Reform, U.S. House of Representatives, July 30, 2001. It was found that often serious harm was caused to residents at a level that put them at the immediate threat of death or serious injury.  

CBS News has reported on the problem of elder abuse, with a major article written in 2000. Their investigation verified the high rate of elder abuse in nursing homes and the fear people have of living in one because of it.

The National Institute of Justice believes the problem of sexual abuse of seniors is very much under-reported and under-studied.  And even though there are episodes of elder abuse in care facilities, they have been more likely to occur among those living independently.