Nursing home abuse at the hands of residents who are prior sex offenders
NBC’s Today Show featured a report last week about a disturbing reality in many nursing homes. Sexual offenders and other elderly residents are often placed together in nursing homes, with no additional monitoring, warning or separation to help reduce the risk of abuse. The Today Show highlighted the story of an elderly woman who was raped in a nursing home by a man with a long record of sexual abuse.
NURSING HOME SEXUAL ABUSE
Nursing homes are required to perform background searches on potential employees, but most states do not require any inquiry into residents to help idenfity potential treats to those living at the facility. A government report in 2006 found that registered sex offenders living in nursing homes are generally younger than other residents, and most facilities do not impose different supervision or separation requirements to reduce the risk of nursing home abuse by those who are prior offenders.
Families who place their trust in nursing homes to care for and protect their loved ones have good reason to be concerned about the risk of nursing home abuse from known sex offenders. According to NBC, only California and Minnesota nursing homes are currently required to determine when criminals with a prior sexual offense are placed in a facility. Legislation has been introduced in Oklahoma to require separate nursing homes for registered sex offenders, and this will hopefully lead to similar bills in other states. However, today, most residents have no way of knowing whether a violent criminal or sexual predator lives with them at a nursing home.
The Today Show report featured several recommendations to help families reduce the risk of nursing home sexual abuse by others living at the facility:
- Ask the facility if they are doing behavioral and physical assessments of all residents to identify potential threats to others living at the home
- Check how the nursing home responds when residents do show signs of violent behavior or aggression, and whether they are separated from other residents living there
- Observe your loved one for any symptoms or signs of nursing home abuse, which could include bruises, changes in behavior or fear of other residents or staff
NURSING HOME ABUSE LAWYERS
A nursing home has a duty to reasonably protect residents from threats that they know about or should know about. Placing sexual offenders or individuals with a history of violence or abuse among other residents without any warnings, additional monitoring or other forms of security should not happen.
The nursing home abuse lawyers at Saiontz & Kirk, P.A. investigate potential claims against facilities for negligently allowing dangerous conditions to exist which lead to injuries for a resident, regardless of whether the injury comes at the hands of an employee or another resident. If you, a friend or family member have suffered an injury while a nursing home resident, determine if compensation may be available by requesting a free consultation and claim evaluation.
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