{"id":10537,"date":"2021-08-10T06:31:08","date_gmt":"2021-08-10T06:31:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/diamondlaw.ca\/?page_id=10537"},"modified":"2023-07-06T13:40:07","modified_gmt":"2023-07-06T13:40:07","slug":"nursing-home-sexual-assault","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/diamondlaw.ca\/practice-areas\/nursing-home-sexual-assault\/","title":{"rendered":"Nursing Home Sexual Assault"},"content":{"rendered":"

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

Sexual assault<\/a> can affect anyone regardless of gender, race, or age. The unthinkable act can even happen at nursing facilities throughout the country. Statistics Canada (2010) tells us that seniors are the fastest-growing age group in Canada. Even though it’s repulsive to think about, there are examples of nursing home patients being sexually abused.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Elder abuse is a general term used to describe damaging acts toward vulnerable and elderly citizens and is fast becoming a common term as much of our population ages and enters residential facilities. Elder abuse and nursing home negligence can take place in many different ways \u2013 including physical, psychological, or emotional abuse, neglect, sexual assault, and financial exploitation.<\/span><\/p>\n

The manner of this transgression is not only reprehensible but may also be legally actionable. Families of the victim may file a lawsuit and be awarded financial compensation if they can demonstrate by a preponderance of the evidence that their loved one was sexually assaulted while living at the long-term care facility.<\/span><\/p>\n

In reality, however, it is difficult to measure instances of elder abuse. This can be due to many factors such as under-reporting, the lack of support and loneliness of vulnerable seniors, confusion about what elder abuse is, and a general lack of awareness, among other factors.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Sexual Assault Signs in Nursing Home<\/b><\/h2>\n

Within the elder abuse context, <\/span>sexual assault<\/span><\/a> in nursing homes is a hidden problem because it too often goes undetected and under-reported. There is no concrete way to determine if your loved one has been sexually assaulted in a nursing home.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Your best line of defense is communication. The fact that many nursing home residents who have been abused are afraid to tell others about it is important to understand. Some may feel ashamed, or do not want to bother others. It can also sometimes be difficult to report abuse to the authorities for residents who have suffered strokes or other medical conditions that affect their speech or motor skills.<\/span><\/p>\n

For example, cognitively impaired residents are often unable to describe assault events, the fears or the feelings of helplessness that they feel. Therefore, it’s important to be aware of the warning signs of sexual abuse of your loved one, as reported by various doctors and experts. These include the following signs.<\/span><\/p>\n