A prime reason for many sex offenders’ actions are based on the fact that the victim is powerless. For them, it’s easier to attack the supposedly weaker sex rather than have to deal with a stronger man. This same logic is unfortunately applied in nursing homes. Some of these residents are unable to walk, eat, or bathe on their own, and must put in a great deal of trust for their caretakers and fellow residents. As such, it opens up room for these people to abuse them and their rights as human beings. The most shocking part of these cases is that it’s not. According to CNN, these acts have been committed for nearly decades now. But why aren’t we hearing of these horrendous news? Why aren’t assisted living facilities being called out, employees sent to jail?
One main reason this “epidemic” is being silenced has to do with the targeted population. Many residents in these facilities struggle with dementia or a form of a disease that disrupts the mind. The WHO found that approximately 55 million elderly have dementia. As such, many fail to take these elders seriously and assume that their stories are a result of their medical conditions. After all, it doesn’t seem likely that a young attendant, who is probably around the age of their grandchildren, would want to sexually assault the resident. But just because something sounds fake doesn’t mean it isn’t, and it shouldn’t devalue their accusations for such a serious crime.
In addition, because these acts are also committed by other residents, it makes it harder to fully evaluate the crime (allegedly). Especially if the perpetrator also struggles with an illness that deteriorates their cognitive abilities, such as dementia, no one can know if they committed an act they would have done with a clear mind. However, it is important to note that some of these residents had a history of sexual assault, and their behavior hasn’t changed with their age. Claiming that their cognitive abilities are an excuse for violating another person’s innate rights is the equivalent of saying that someone who was drunk and violated another is excusable, and an inmate on death row who cannot remember their crime is exempted from their punishment. These technicalities are ultimately too much for facilities to bear, which must retain good reputations so that families can trust their elderly with them.
It doesn’t have to be like this, where we stifle accusations because the cases are hard to deal with. Sexual assault in assisted living facilities is a hard to swallow pill, but leaving the situation as it is will only make the pill larger and more difficult to process. While whole solutions are not known yet, it can be useful to acknowledge the flaws of the system. For one, more legislation that requires the report of sexual assault, and mandating more transparency within the facility is important. Furthermore, more comprehensive training of the caregivers so that they understand privacy and personal space is just as crucial. While these steps cannot be implemented immediately, they can aid in achieving a safe environment for these elderly residents.
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