Nursing Home Residents Can be Sexual Abuse Victims

Monday, July 6, 2020

Nursing Home Residents Can be Sexual Abuse Victims

Written by Malman Law, reviewed by Steve J. Malman.

Nursing home abuse and neglect can take on a variety of different forms. In some cases, abuse in a nursing home takes the form of sexual abuse. When a nursing home staff member, vendor, or another resident sexually abuses a nursing home patient, the patient can file a legal claim not only against the individual who is at fault, but also against the nursing home itself. Nursing homes are responsible for hiring and retaining qualified employees who will not mistreat residents.

If you believe that your loved one has been the victim of sexual abuse in a nursing home, the compassionate Chicago nursing home abuse lawyers at Malman Law are here to help. Our legal team can assist you with investigating your claim, and if necessary, filing a lawsuit against the appropriate individual or entity.

Types of Nursing Home Sexual Abuse

Nursing home residents are extremely vulnerable individuals. As such, some residents are sadly victimized by sexual predators. Generally speaking, sexual abuse in a nursing home setting includes physically or sexually touching a resident in a non-consensual and unwanted manner. Moreover, engaging in this type of conduct with a nursing home resident who is physically or mentally unable to provide consent also amounts to sexual abuse.

Sexual abuse in a nursing home setting includes sexual battery, sexual assault, unwanted physical touching on any area of the body, sodomy, rape, sexual harassment, and taking sexually provocative photographs of the resident.

Susceptibility to Nursing Home Abuse

There are some types of nursing home residents who are more susceptible to sexual abuse than others. For example, female residents are sometimes more prone to sexual abuse in a nursing home setting than male residents, since some abusers perceive them as physically weaker than male residents.

Moreover, residents who suffer from mental conditions, such as Alzheimer’s, may not be able to consent to physical or sexual touching, rendering them more vulnerable to abuse. Finally, residents who are socially isolated from their families are more vulnerable to sexual abuse, since perpetrators often think that these individuals will not report the abuse.

Common Signs of Nursing Home Sexual Abuse 

Nursing home sexual abuse often comes with certain signs and symptoms that you should always be on the lookout for. Many victims of nursing home abuse will start to become withdrawn, especially around an abusive nursing home staff member. They may also exhibit cuts or bruising, experience bleeding in the vaginal area, or exhibit unusual mood swings. Finally, the resident may develop an unexplained sexually-transmitted disease (STD).

Taking Legal Action

If you suspect that your loved one is a victim of sexual abuse in a nursing home, then there is legal action that you can take. The first step is to speak with a knowledgeable Chicago nursing home abuse lawyer.

A lawyer can investigate the circumstances and make a determination about whether or not abuse is likely occurring. If it is, then your lawyer may be able to file a claim or lawsuit against the staff member, third-party, and/or the nursing home itself.

When filing a claim or lawsuit against the nursing home, the abuse victim can pursue monetary compensation for any injuries which he or she suffered as a result of the abuse, as well as monetary compensation for related medical treatment, pain and suffering, humiliation, and other similar damages.

Speak with a Chicago Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer Today

The knowledgeable team of attorneys at Malman Law can assist you with investigating and responding to your suspicions of nursing home abuse. For a free case evaluation and legal consultation with a skilled Chicago nursing home abuse lawyer, please call us today at (312) 629-0099 or contact us online.