Nursing Home Sexual Abuse Lawyer

Understanding Sexual Abuse in Nursing Homes

Sexual abuse in long-term care facilities often stems from systemic failures like understaffing, poor hiring practices, lack of training, and inadequate supervision. Many cases involve nursing home staff exploiting their authority and access to vulnerable residents.

Sexual Abuse in Nursing Homes at a Glance

• In 2024, the National Ombudsman Reporting System received 1,816 complaints of sexual abuse in nursing homes and other long-term care facilities, a more than 60% increase from 2017.
• Nursing home sexual abuse is far more likely in facilities that fail to screen employees, investigate complaints, or monitor residents properly.
• Residents can be subject to sexual abuse from staff, fellow residents, family members, and visitors.
• Many cases of nursing home sex abuse aren't reported due to fear of retaliation, feelings of shame, or a resident's inability to communicate what happened.

Even more troubling, many nursing homes put profits ahead of residents’ safety. Facility owners may hide cases of sexual abuse, protecting their bottom line instead of vulnerable residents.

"There are some situations where they don't realize it's happened, and they don't want to believe it. They just don't understand it. There are other cases where they try to cover it up. They blame the victim."
– Ann Burgess, Boston College Nursing Professor

If you or someone you love suffered sexual abuse in a nursing home or assisted living facility, we may be able to help you work toward healing and hold those responsible for the abuse accountable.

Types of Nursing Home Sexual Abuse

Elder sexual abuse in nursing homes includes any unwanted or forced sexual contact. These acts are often carried out by people in a position of trust, like nursing aides, janitorial staff, and other facility staff members.

Sexually inappropriate behavior in nursing homes includes:

• Coerced sexual activity
• Fondling or unwanted touching
• Forced nudity
• Sexual assault or rape
• Unwanted sexual contact

Nursing home sexual abuse violates the dignity, safety, and human rights of residents. If your loved one was harmed, you may be eligible for compensation to help cover costs for medical expenses, therapy, transfer to a safer facility, and more.

Signs of Sexual Abuse in Nursing Homes

Sexual abuse in nursing homes can be difficult to spot. Many residents live with conditions like dementia, which may prevent them from speaking up. Others may feel too ashamed, frightened, or dependent on their abuser to report what happened.

Possible warning signs of nursing home sexual assault include:

• Bruising, bleeding, or swelling around the genital area or thighs
• New or unexpected sexually transmitted infections (STIs)
• Resistance to being bathed, changed, or physically examined
• Sudden fearfulness, withdrawal, or reluctance to be alone with certain staff or residents
• Torn, stained, or missing undergarments
• Unexplained physical injuries like scratches or marks

“Soft signs of abuse are any time you see the resident changing from how they were behaving before. They maybe can’t put words to it. We know something is wrong."
– Dr. John Brose, Gerontologist

Sadly, the lasting physical and emotional trauma of nursing home sex abuse can cause serious health complications — and, in some cases, even lead to wrongful death.

Signs of potential sexual abuse in a nursing home should never be ignored. If you notice any of these red flags, take action right away to protect your loved one by reporting the abuse and contacting a nursing home attorney.

Sexual Abuse in Nursing Homes Statistics

While nursing home abuse as a whole has been studied extensively, sexual abuse in these facilities has rarely been the focus of large, federally funded research efforts.

The limited data we do have highlights a troubling pattern that demands greater advocacy, resources, and attention. Without deeper study, the true scope of this issue remains hidden.

Find out more about statistics on sexual abuse in nursing homes:

• Only 30% of elder sexual abuse cases are reported due to factors like fear, embarrassment, and mental impairments, according to a study published in Nursing Research and Practice.
• More than 1,000 facilities were cited for mishandling sexual abuse claims or failing to prevent assaults, a CNN investigation revealed. With approximately 15,000 nursing homes in the U.S., that means about 1 in 15 facilities have failed to safeguard residents.
• Put another way, prospective residents face a 6.7% chance of entering a nursing home where sexual abuse has occurred and was not reported.
• In one 3-year period, over 16,000 complaints of sexual abuse in nursing homes and assisted living facilities were reported, according to the Administration for Community Living.
• About 60% of nursing home sexual abuse victims suffer from a form of dementia or cognitive impairment, like Alzheimer’s disease.
• In sexual abuse cases involving older adults, 70% occur in nursing homes, according to the Minnesota Department of Human Services.
• An estimated 50% of nursing home sexual abuse victims pass away within 1 year of being assaulted, as noted by The Gerontologist.

This upward trend underscores a systemic breakdown in how facilities, management, and staff respond to sexual abuse in nursing homes.

Beyond physical injuries, sexual abuse can cause long-lasting trauma, depression, anxiety, and a deep loss of trust in caregivers. Families may also face the financial strain of relocating their loved one to a safer facility and securing medical or psychological care.

“I still feel the guilt of not being able to take care of her myself, having to entrust her care to others only to have her subjected to this unthinkable assault."
– Maya Fischer, Daughter of a Nursing Home Sexual Assault Survivor

Filing a Lawsuit for Sex Abuse in Nursing Homes

The primary goal of a nursing home is to provide a safe, caring environment for residents. When sexual abuse occurs, the facility has failed in their duty to protect residents from harm. Families have the right to hold these facilities accountable by filing a nursing home abuse lawsuit.

At Sokolove Law, our nursing home sexual abuse attorneys can handle every step of the legal process for you, so you can focus on caring for your loved one.

Our nursing home sexual abuse lawyers can:

• Provide a free case review to determine whether you may be able to take legal action
• Gather evidence like medical records, witness testimony, and facility reports to build a strong case
• File a nursing home sexual abuse lawsuit before any legal deadlines
• Pursue a nursing home settlement, which may allow you to get compensation faster
• Fight for your family in court and seek compensation from a trial jury verdict if a settlement is unable to be reached

A nursing home sexual abuse settlement can help with medical bills, therapy, emotional distress, and more. Taking legal action is also a powerful way to demand accountability and work to bring lasting change to unsafe facilities.

Statute of Limitations for Nursing Home Sexual Abuse Cases

Each state has laws called statutes of limitations, which set strict deadlines for filing a nursing home sexual abuse lawsuit. This is often 2 to 3 years from the date of the abuse or from when it was discovered to take legal action.

In many states, the countdown starts when the abuse is discovered or reasonably should have been discovered, especially in cases involving residents with cognitive impairments like dementia or Alzheimer’s.

A nursing home abuse law firm can explain the statute of limitations in your state and make sure your case is filed on time.

Risk Factors for Sexual Abuse of the Elderly in Nursing Homes

Some older adults may be more vulnerable to sexual abuse in nursing homes due to a combination of physical, mental, and social factors.

These risks often overlap, making residents even more susceptible to mistreatment when facilities fail to provide proper protection.

Risk factors for nursing home sex abuse include:

• Cognitive impairments: Conditions like Alzheimer’s disease or dementia can limit a resident’s ability to recognize, resist, or report abuse.
• Facility issues: Understaffing, poor training, or weak oversight can create environments where abuse is more likely to occur.
• Gender: Female residents are statistically at greater risk of experiencing sexual abuse.
• Physical dependence: Residents with mobility issues or who rely on staff for daily care are more vulnerable to exploitation.
• Social isolation: Limited family involvement or infrequent visits can reduce oversight and increase the risk of abuse going unnoticed.

“Abusers target elderly people because they believe the elderly are vulnerable and are often too afraid or too ill to ask for help. The abusers may see the residents as easy targets and think that no one will believe them.”
– Elder Sexual Abuse in Care Facilities Training Manual

Understanding these risk factors can help families stay vigilant and hold facilities accountable for failing to protect their most vulnerable residents.

We are compassionate with those who turn to us — and relentless with those who’ve done them wrong. Let us fight for your family.

Why Sexual Abuse Happens in Nursing Homes

Sexual abuse in nursing homes is often the result of systemic failures within the facility, rather than just an isolated incident.

When nursing homes cut corners on staffing, fail to properly train employees, or ignore warning signs, residents are placed at greater risk.

Common reasons for nursing home sexual abuse include:

• Failure to investigate complaints: When nursing homes dismiss or cover up allegations, abusers can continue harming residents unchecked.
• Housing dangerous residents: Facilities that accept sex offenders or residents with a history of violence without safeguards can put others in harm's way.
• Lack of training: Staff who are not trained to identify, respond to, or report abuse may miss warning signs or fail to act quickly.
• Poor hiring practices: Skipping background checks or ignoring red flags in an employee’s history increases the likelihood of abuse.
• Understaffing: With too few staff members on duty, residents may be left unsupervised and unprotected for long periods of time.
• Vulnerability of the population: Many residents live with cognitive impairments, mobility issues, or are heavily medicated. These factors may make it difficult for them to recognize abuse, object to it, or report what happened, especially when they depend on staff or guardians for daily care.

When nursing homes fail in their duty to provide a safe environment, vulnerable residents and their families often pay the price.

Get Help from Our Nursing Home Sexual Abuse Attorneys

Nursing homes have a responsibility to keep residents safe. Yet when these facilities fail to do so and allow sex abuse to occur, that trust is broken — and they must answer for their failures.

At Sokolove Law, our nursing home sexual abuse attorneys have the resources to fight for families and hold negligent care facilities accountable. We've recovered over $318 Million total for those impacted by abuse and neglect in nursing homes.

Our nursing home abuse lawyers:

• Can help families in all 50 states
• Have decades of experience
• Never charge any upfront costs or hourly fees

Call (800) 995-1212 right now or get a free case review to take the first step toward the justice your family deserves.

Sexual Abuse in Nursing Homes or Assisted Living Facilities FAQs