Why Are Women At More Risk Of Nursing Home Abuse?
Any resident in a nursing home is at risk of becoming the victim of abuse and neglect. Although these facilities should be safe spaces for residents, they are often just the opposite. Women, in particular, are more at risk of becoming a victim of abuse in nursing homes than their male counterparts. If you have a loved one in a nursing home and you suspect they are being mistreated, it is important to speak to a Tampa nursing home abuse attorney today.
Why are Women at Greater Risk of Nursing Home Abuse?
There are many reasons women are more likely to suffer from nursing home abuse than men. The most common of these are as follows:
- Perpetrators often perceive women to be weaker than men, making them easier targets
- Women have longer life expectancies, which can result in more time spent in nursing homes, increasing the likelihood that abuse and neglect will occur
- On average, women take longer to recover from illness, injury, or surgery than men, meaning they are in a weakened and more vulnerable state for longer periods of time
- On average, most nursing homes have more female residents than male, increasing the odds that abuse victims will be women
- Women are more prone to developing diseases and conditions that make them more susceptible to abuse, such as osteoporosis and Alzheimer’s disease
Sexual Abuse in Nursing Homes
Inside and outside of nursing homes, women are more prone to becoming victims of sexual assault, even though men can also become susceptible. According to a report, there were 16,000 complaints of sexual abuse from 2000 to 2017. Although that is approximately 1,000 complaints every year, the real number is likely far higher than that, as sexual abuse is largely unreported.
Nursing homes often want to hide allegations of sexual abuse and sadly, staff members and administrators do not always believe women who do report it. Nursing homes are also sometimes quick to dismiss complaints, claiming that the resident struggles with memory issues, even when they do not.
To ensure that sexual abuse stops as quickly as possible, it is important to know the signs of sexual abuse in nursing homes. Loved ones should also be able to recognize the signs, as elder family members may not always want to admit the abuse occurred. Some of the most common signs of sexual abuse among women in nursing homes are as follows:
- Swollen genitals
- Unexplained vaginal bleeding
- Unexplained bruising
- Abrasions and lacerations of the genitals
- Unexplained sexually transmitted diseases
If you have noticed any of these signs in your loved one, it is important to speak to a Tampa nursing home abuse lawyer immediately.
Our Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer in Tampa Will Help You Make Things Right
Compensation cannot undo wrongdoing, but it can help offset the financial burden of your loved one’s injuries. If you suspect your family member has been hurt, our Tampa nursing home abuse lawyer at Kohn Law will hold the facility accountable and help your family make things right. Call us now at 813-428-8504 or contact us online to schedule a free review of your case and to learn more about your legal options.
Source:
leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0400-0499/0400/0400.html
cnn.com/interactive/2017/02/health/nursing-home-sex-abuse-investigation/
