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File a report with the nursing home and gather as much evidence as possible. Contact an experienced San Antonio nursing home abuse attorney at Janicek Law. This can be due to the social stigma around sexual assault, or fear of retribution by the perpetrator.
Most people like to believe that their older relatives stop having sex after a certain age, but research proves otherwise. It may be embarrassing to have “the talk” with your parents or grandparents, but this information is important. Having a conversation about safe sex etiquette and condom use can be life-saving.
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Links to third-party websites are only for the convenience of the reader; A Place for Mom does not recommend or endorse the contents of the third-party sites. Are engaging and supportive environments that offer seniors the opportunity to enjoy activities and hobbies with people in their same stage of life. For some, including divorcees and widowers, these communities also offer a chance to experience love again. Incredibly talented and knowledgeable attorneys that will fight negligent nursing homes and bring Justice to the elderly and their families. Medicare for my parents and life insurance for me and my husband.
The nursing home failed to have a program that investigates, controls and keeps STDs and other infection from spreading. STDs can be very serious and are not always treatable with a simple course of antibiotics — in fact, 27 percent of new AIDS diagnoses in the US in 2013 were among people age 50 or older. Pressure Sores & Ulcers The elderly nursing home population is very susceptible to developing pressure ulcers, also known as bedsores, pressure sores and decubitus ulcers. There are likely a variety of different factors that can put an older person at risk for STDs. One factor is that they no longer have to worry about pregnancy. Because of this, when older people have sex, they’re less likely to use a condom.
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Also, residents with mental or physical disabilities may not be able to recount their experience and tell the authorities. Below, the Nursing Home Abuse Justice team has compiled four important statistics on sexual abuse in nursing homes to help families understand this problem. Regardless of how much we want to dismiss thoughts of our parents and grandparents engaging in sexual activity of any kind, it happens…more frequently than you may even imagine. Growing numbers of cases involving STDs plague nursing homes and assisted living communities, for a variety of reasons. STDs among nursing home residents can be a sign of sexual abuse. Sexual contact that is forced, tricked, threatened, or otherwise coerced upon an elder, including anyone who is unable to grant consent may be considered sexual abuse.
Clothing hides many of these physical signs, but there are behavioral changes with sexual abuse as well. Sudden depression, lack of appetite, crying, and hostility are all signs of abuse to look out for. Educating your elderly family members about what abuse is can help them.
Reasons Why STD Rates in Nursing Homes Are on the Rise
Lack of knowledge and education, health problems, and increased availability of drugs for sexual issues are all reasons for this. Although safe sex campaigns have been on the forefront for the past three decades, most are geared towards young people and the sexual health of seniors is often overlooked. Awareness and protection for seniors is increasingly important as sexually transmitted infections amongst this demographic are on the rise. This combination of factors adds up to a whole lot of unprotected sex. In fact, what goes on in nursing homes, assisted living facilities or other large residential congregations of elderly people is a lot closer to what goes on in spring break hotels than most people would ever imagine. The reality is your college-aged daughter on spring break and your grandmother in the nursing home should each be equally worried about catching chlamydia from the guy next door.
Older men in skilled nursing facilities can get prescriptions for erectile dysfunction drugs. Post-menopausal women can get hormone treatment to treat low libido and vaginal dryness. Health care providers don’t ask about sexual activity among seniors the same way they would among younger adults.
Sexually Transmitted Infections and Other Signs of Sexual Abuse
Every day, thousands of people in nursing homes and assisted living facilities are abused. Our team helps educate seniors and their loved ones on the common causes, signs and preventions of nursing home abuse. We report on real-world studies and current events from respected news outlets to expose this national problem. Additionally, between 2015 and 2016, the U.S. population age 45 and over experienced a 20% jump in the number of reported cases of STDS — a higher rate of increase than in younger age groups. One common problem in nursing homes and assisted living facilities is the myth that STDs are for the young. Many seniors grew up in a time when venereal diseases were very rare among the general population.
Seniors Mutual is an independent insurance agency that works with all of the top insurance companies to find the best deal and product for you. By reporting sexual abuse, you can help your loved one begin the recovery process and ensure that other residents will not suffer. Over 500 of the facilities were also cited for failing to investigate and report allegations of sexual abuse — or for not screening employees for past sex crimes. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that 1 in 5 women have been either raped or suffered an attempted rape, compared to 1 out of 38 men. Home Helpers of Clearwater provides non-medical in-home care services for seniors, the disabled and the suffering. Our caregivers do light housework, run errands, shop for groceries, prepare meals, assist with transportation, offer medication reminders, and so much more.
Slides with selected figures, data points, a five year summary table, and technical notes are available. Preliminary CDC data suggest STDs in the U.S. continued to increase in 2021. Eric graduated Summa Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Arts from Appalachian State University in North Carolina and received his Juris Doctorate from Gonzaga School of Law, concentrating in taxation and estate planning.
He was able to find the right deal for us and tailor it to fit our needs. Very professional and knowledgeable and answered all my questions! CDC data, there were 3,100 new HIV infections in 2019 for people aged 55 and older. Signs and symptoms of HIV include fever, muscle aches, rash, and chills about two to four weeks after the initial infection. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, STD rates for populations aged 55 and over are rising sharply, with no signs of slowing.
We offer a free, no-obligation legal consultation to help you understand your rights and the value of your case. Our personal injury law firm takes cases involving elder abuse and neglect. We offer legal service to clients in Massachusetts, Rhode Island and New Hampshire. The elderly are particularly vulnerable to both neglect and abuse, especially if they have suffered any form of diminished mental capacity. They may become easily confused about who is abusing them, or manipulated into thinking it was their own fault, or even forget that the abuse has taken place.
In honor of the Center for Disease Control having designated April "STD Awareness Month" I'll share a relevant experience from a recent PTA sponsored social gathering at my daughter's school. Currently, 4.5% of the elderly live in nursing homes, according to the National Library Of Medicine. Approximately 82% of staff and 87% of nursing home residents are vaccinated against COVID-19 currently. Women make up the majority of nursing home residents, with 64.6% of residents being women and 35.4% men. Kelly found the best life insurance rates I’ve seen, helped me save hundreds a year. Doctors recommend getting tested every 3 months even if you are using protection.
Talk to Your Loved One About Sexual Health and Sexual Abuse
Healthcare clinics often have free condoms available for patients. Likewise, nursing homes should make condoms available to the residents and ensure they know how to use them properly to help reduce STD rates in seniors. From 2013 to 2016, more than 1,000 nursing homes in the U.S. were cited for sexual abuse. A 2017 CNN report found that nearly 100 of these facilities received multiple citations. Unwanted romantic or sexual conduct may be considered sexual abuse. Seniors living in nursing homes are more vulnerable to sexual abuse because they may be living with physical or mental disabilities.
Condoms can prevent the transmission of the human immunodeficiency virus . While HIV is no longer the death sentence it used to be, treatment is necessary. Since many doctors don’t ask seniors about their sexual activity, they are less likely to test for life-threatening STDs like HIV. This can mean that your relative doesn’t get the life-saving treatment necessary. It also means they can continue spreading that disease in their care facility.
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