Choose a link to jump to that section or scroll down: What is Elder Abuse? Elder abuse includes a wide variety of abusive behaviors, including physical abuse, emotional/psychological abuse, unreasonable confinement, sexual abuse, neglect by a caregiver, self-neglect, abandonment, and financial abuse, in which older people are targeted.
WHAT CONSTITUTES ELDER SEXUAL ABUSE? Situations in which an older person is forced, tricked, coerced, or manipulated into unwanted sexual contact. It also includes sexual contact with elders who are unable to give informed consent or sexual contact between service providers and their elderly clients. IS IT ALWAYS IMPROPER FOR SERVICE PROVIDERS, HELPERS, AND ATTENDANTS TO HAVE SEXUAL CONTACT WITH CLIENTS? WHAT IF THE CLIENT IS COMPETENT AND CONSENTING? Service providers have a responsibility to meet their client's mental and physical needs and so it is never acceptable for them to use clients to meet their own needs. Guidelines are needed because it is very easy for persons in positions of authority to take advantage of elderly clients. Most licensed professionals would lose their licenses for it. WHEN OLDER PEOPLE DO NOT TELL OTHERS THEY HAVE BEEN SEXUALLY ABUSED, ARE THERE NON-VERBAL INDICATORS? Sometimes the older person acts stressed, fearful, or combative when a particular caregiver approaches to bathe or dress them, or take them to the bathroom, or care for an injury or wound. Genital irritation, injury, redness, or infection, particularly if it is recurrent and there are no other explanations, may suggest sexual assault. Sometimes evidence of physical abuse, e.g. rope burns on wrists or ankles, indicate that a person has been tied up. Thumb or finger prints on genitals, thighs, buttocks, or breasts could be indicators of either physical or sexual abuse. WHAT ARE THE MOTIVES ASSOCIATED WITH SEXUAL ASSAULT AGAINST ELDERS? Perpetrators of sexual assault, as perpetrators of other types of family/domestic violence, may be a family member, acquaintance, or a service provider. Perpetrators of sexual assault tend to be (1) persons with abusive personalities who are unhappy, frustrated, easily angered, or who feel entitled to lash out at others with less power and (2) sadistic persons who enjoy inflicting harm and terrifying others. ARE ELDER SEXUAL ABUSE CASES FREQUENT? Sex abuse is probably the most under-reported type of elder abuse. Fewer than 20 cases were substantiated in the Commonwealth of Virginia last year with family members being the most frequent perpetrators. Virginia
Coalition for the Prevention of Elder Abuse Hotline Virginia
Family Violence & Sexual Assault Hotline In other
states, consult your phone book for your local |
