If you have a family member who resides in an assisted living facility, it is important to check up on them and look for any warning signs of mistreatment. Sometimes, abuse occurs in these facilities and in some instances it is very hard to identify mistreatment. Some abuse is physical, verbal or financial, while other residents suffer sexual abuse.
Sexual abuse is often very hard to detect, especially if a victim does not recognize the abuse or they are afraid to come forward. However, there are warning signs to look out for, such as the presence of unexplained sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).
STDS and identifying sexual assault
According to the National Center on Elder Abuse, there are multiple signs of sexual assault among older adults, such as the presence of new sexually transmitted diseases. Victims of sexual assault face the risk of various sexually transmitted infections, which pose a number of health concerns. Sometimes, STDs become evident shortly after the incident(s), while in other instances an infection does not show any physical signs or symptoms.
Sexual assault and older adults
Sexual assault targeting older adults is especially concerning for multiple reasons. For example, some older adults have difficulty remembering abuse, which can pose challenges with respect to holding perpetrators accountable, while others have shame and do not tell anyone. Moreover, older adults who suffer due to sexual assault are particularly likely to sustain injuries during the attack due to frailty. Moreover, some victims of sexual abuse do not show any physical signs of mistreatment, which can make it more difficult to pinpoint that abuse occurred.
