Has your loved one been the victim of sexual assault in a nursing home? If so, Atlanta sexual assault lawyers can set you on the road to filing a negligence claim and potentially receive monetary compensation.
Nursing home residents quite often have mental conditions that render them confused, forgetful, or noncommunicative, making it less likely that they will report the abuse or that nursing home staff will believe them if they do. They are also commonly physically incapable of deterring or preventing such an incident. The term “sexual abuse” is used to describe any unwanted touching, as well as rape, sodomy, nudity, and other sexually inappropriate behaviours.
Reporting cases of sexual abuse in nursing homes
You should report the instances to the police and any regulatory organisations that have the authority to investigate the nursing home for sexual abuse of an elderly person in a nursing home is a particularly serious felony.
Online reports for concerns, including abuse, can be submitted to the Georgia Department of Community Health. Moreover, you can also file reports with the nursing home and the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman’s Office, who will both look into any allegations of sexual assault. You can report a loved one’s sexual abuse to Adult Protective Services (APS), which is part of the Division of Aging Services.
Signs of sexual abuse
It is a given that administrators of nursing homes no matter where are expected to safeguard the people under their care from sexual violence, harassment, and coercion. So, before being recruited, each staff should have their background checked to make sure they have no history of sexual offences or abuse.
Some signs of sexual abuse may include:
- Pelvic bruises or discomfort
- Anal or genital bleeding
- Unexpectedly distant or depressed
- Aggressive attitude
Since the victims cannot give consent, any sexual acts with persons who are mentally incompetent or verbally incapable are prohibited by Georgian law.
Final thoughts:
Families should routinely visit the nursing facility to check for behavioural patterns or outward indications of sexual abuse. Residents in nursing homes frequently lack the willingness or desire to report the abuse by themselves. So, if there is even the slightest indication that your loved one may be abused should be reported to the nursing home and the relevant law enforcement agency. Contact a lawyer right away if you believe your loved one has been abused or neglected in a long-term care facility in Atlanta, Georgia.