As parents and caregivers, we do our best to ensure that we are placing our children and our elders in safe environments. Despite our best intentions, however, children and the elderly remain at a heightened risk for becoming victims of sexual abuse. Institutions that should be safe havens for the vulnerable can transform into hellish environments when sexual predators are introduced.
While the elderly are primarily at risk for uninvited sexual contact in a long-term care setting such as a nursing home or assisted living facility, children are most at risk in settings where they remain outside the supervision of their parents, such as:
- Day care centers
- Churches and other religious facilities
- Foster care
- Pre-school
- Medical facilities
Although the impact of an episode of sexual abuse may not be outwardly apparent, studies repeatedly confirm that people who are sexually abused as children continue to suffer life-long problems in different areas of their lives.
In many of our cases involving sexual abuse, we use the services of psychiatrists, psychologists and other mental health experts both to help our clients personally cope with some of the emotional issues that they encounter and to help jurors understand the horrors that our client experienced.
Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers has experience representing victims of sexual abuse, and we are mindful of the emotional toll these cases have on victims when they are forced to re-live their experiences. All safeguards are used to minimize the emotional toll on the individual involved through the course of settlement or litigation of the case.
Related materials from Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers:
In many situations, a child may be unable or unwilling to report their own abuse or neglect. Therefore, it is important that the network of adults in a child’s life are vigilant advocates, giving abused children a voice. A child may not report abuse because they cannot talk, do not understand what is happening, are afraid, or have no one to talk to.
That is why there are mandated reporters, people and professions who have a legal requirement to report child abuse or neglect to the State. Many times, these people are in the best position to recognize signs of possible abuse (325 ILCS 5/4; 720 ILCS 5/11-20.2)….
Child abuse, especially sexual abuse, is a devastating event and can be difficult to discuss. This is especially true for clergy abuse because it involves the church and trusted priests. However, clergy abuse is a topic that needs to be discussed.
The more light shed on the topic, the better people can understand the problem, take preventative measures, provide therapy to victims, and attempt to right wrongs. The Catholic Church is at the center of the scandal, with numerous stories of abuse and expensive lawsuits. The Church has dealt with these cases for more than two decades, costing almost $2 billion in settlements. Many victims of clergy abuse want more than just money, they want validation that the abuse occurred, that it was wrong, and that it wasn’t their fault….
Concerned about their daughter’s health, the family of Violet Townsend immediately sought medical care for the 29-year-old woman when they noticed blood on the seat of her wheelchair while visiting her at Grande Oaks Nursing Home (Ohio). After receiving care at a nearby hospital, it was determined that Ms. Townsend’s injury was consistent with a sexual assault and tested positive for a STD.
What makes Ms. Townsend’s situation unique and her situation especially troubling is that a brain injury she sustained in 2006 has left her immobile and unable to communicate. An investigation into the incident by both officials at Grande Oaks and with the Ohio Department of Health provided no insight as to how or why the incident may have occurred….
In a world full of crazy people, some have managed to infiltrate the world of nursing homes. While occurrences involving the sexual abuse of nursing home patients are certainly not a common place occurrence, the incidents do occur— yet too often they are brushed aside by nursing home staff whom may attempt to hide the incident out of embarrassment or perhaps at the request of nursing home management.
Regardless of the underlying reason, failing to report mistreatment of nursing home patients is unacceptable– and illegal. Laws applicable to nursing homes require facilities to: 1) protect patients from harm and 2) to report allegations of misconduct to appropriate state agencies….
- Sexual Assaults In Nursing Homes, Not Exactly A Pleasant Topic– But Is An Issue That Needs Attention
A widely publicized Chicago Tribune investigation revealed that authorities have investigated at least 86 cases of sexual violence against elderly and disabled nursing home residents since July 2007, but only one case has led to an arrest. This casts doubt on whether nursing home residents are safe from sexual abuse.
While hardly an easy topic to discuss, the prevalence of sexual abuse amongst nursing home patients is a sad topic that must be addressed– if for nothing else than to spread awareness of this topic….
The shockwaves rippling through the Penn State community might only be small indicators of what’s to come.
According to ESPN.com, Penn State will soon face numerous civil lawsuits from the sexual abuse victims of former football coach Jerry Sandusky – now numbering at eight. The victims will likely sue several entities, including Penn State itself, its administrators, and the athletic department– for their failure to act on credible complaints regarding Sandusky’s sexual advances towards children participating in programs at the university….
Another sexual abuse lawsuit has been filed in Chicago on behalf of a teenage boy who was sexually abused by a priest over the course of several years at St. Agatha Catholic Church on the cities West Side.
In addition to alleging that the boy was abused by admitted sex offender Daniel McCormack, the lawsuit places blame on the Archdiocese of Chicago for allowing McCormack to remain at the church— and in direct contact with children— after similar allegations of sex abuse had surfaced….