Orange County Elder Sexual Abuse Lawyer

Most of us can’t comprehend an act as deplorable as the sexual abuse of a senior citizen. It is a personal violation of the highest order. Unfortunately, it does occur, and more often than we would imagine. If your loved one has been a victim of sexual abuse in a nursing home, contact a dedicated Orange County elder sexual abuse lawyer. The legal team at Siegel Law has nearly two decades of experience handling elder abuse claims.

Like children, the elderly are highly vulnerable to sexual predators. It is our duty to protect them. If you have an elderly loved one that you suspect is being sexually abused, you need to take action to see that it ends and his or her dignity is restored.

Elder Sexual Abuse Statistics

Elder sexual abuse is one of the least-reported, least-studied, and least-understood forms of senior citizen abuse. For years it was not talked about or acknowledged. This is why so much isn’t known about this disturbing phenomenon.

What we do know is:

• Females are six times more likely to experience senior sexual abuse than males.
• Only 30% of sexual assault victims over the age of 65 report their abusers to authorities.
• About 83.3% of elderly sexual abuse victims live in nursing homes or adult care facilities.
• About 76.2% of cases of elder sexual abuse have at least one witness.
• In 81% of cases of elder sexual abuse, the perpetrator was the actual caregiver of the victim.
• About 67% of perpetrators of elder sexual abuse are family members of the victim.

Signs of Elder Sexual Abuse

Because the victims of elder sexual abuse are often targeted because they are heavily medicated, prone to memory lapses, suffer from dementia, unable to communicate, or feel they have no one to confide in, you’ll only know the victim is suffering sexual abuse if you look for the following certain signals. If your loved one is showing any of the following signs, speak with an Orange County elder abuse attorney experienced in elder sexual abuse immediately.

Some of the telltale signs include:

• The emergence of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs)
• Sudden difficulty with sitting or walking
• Pelvic injuries
• Bruising around the genital area or inner thighs
• Pain, bleeding, or irritation in the genital or anal area
• Torn, stained, or bloody undergarments
• An elevated level of agitation in the patient
• Depressed, embarrassed, or frightened mood
• Social withdrawal
• Panic attacks or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• Inappropriate or unusual sexual behavior
• Suicide attempts

In many ways, elderly people in assisted living facilities are the perfect victims of sexual predators. Many of them are in the latter stages of dementia and aren’t always sure what’s going on. In other cases, the victim may be aware of what is happening, but unable to communicate information about the assaults to his or her family. Some predators will use threats and intimidation to keep their victims quiet.

Free Consultation With an Orange County Elder Sexual Abuse Attorney

If you have loved ones in a nursing home or assisted living facility it’s important that you pay close attention to their moods and physical condition when you visit. If you notice any signs of sexual abuse, you need to consult a seasoned elder sexual abuse lawyer in Orange County right away.

Attorney Travis Siegel of Siegel Law cares deeply about the plight of the elderly and will fight to get you or your loved one fair compensation. Call Siegel Law at (562) 645-4145 today for a free case evaluation with a skilled Orange County elder sexual abuse attorney.