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The Detection and Prevention of Sexual Assault of LTC Residents

This training session aims to increase awareness, reduce risk, and provide staff with tools to handle disclosures of sexual assault in nursing homes. Learn about the signs, symptoms, and appropriate response to sexual harassment and assault, as well as risk reduction and safety planning strategies.

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The Detection and Prevention of Sexual Assault of LTC Residents

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Presentation Transcript

  1. The Detection and Prevention of Sexual Assault of LTC Residents

  2. “It is tempting to take the side of the perpetrator. All the perpetrator asks is that the bystander do nothing. He appeals to the universal desire to see, hear and speak no evil.The victim, on the contrary, asks the bystander to share the burden of the pain.The victim demands action, engagement and remembering.” Judith Herman, MD Trauma & Recovery

  3. RIGHT TO BE FREE FROM ABUSE

  4. Rape Crisis Centers 1-800-656-HOPE

  5. Goals of Sexual Assault Education • Increasing awareness • Reducing risk • Giving staff tools to handle disclosures • Reducing prevalence of sexual assault in nursing homes

  6. Sexual Assault Research A study of Medicaid Fraud Reports revealed that almost 10% of nursing home abuse cases involved sexual assault. People with disabilities are 1.5 to 5 times more at risk of suffering a sexual assault than members of the general population. Residents in long-term care settings are especially vulnerable to abuse, neglect, and exploitation, as they often present with dementia

  7. Goals of Sexual Assault Education • Increasing awareness • Reducing risk • Giving staff tools to handle disclosures • Reducing prevalence of sexual assault in nursing homes

  8. Education • Define Sexual Harassment and Assault • Signs and Symptoms • Responding • Risk Reduction • Safety Planning

  9. Sexual Harassment • Unwanted attention that is sexually based • Can be physical, verbal or visual • The TARGET gets to decide what attention is wanted or unwanted • Can include obscene comments, comments about sexual orientation, dirty jokes, touching, or comments about sexual experiences (or lack of), unwanted flirting or other romantic attention.

  10. Sexual Assault Range of Behaviors • Hands-on offenses • Hands-off offenses • “Harmful genital practices” • term developed by Holly Ramsey-Klawsnik, Ph.D.,

  11. Why aging clients do not report Some things just aren’t talked about No one will believe me anyway I might be kicked out of the nursing home if I tell I might get hurt worse of I tell I’m not sure if what’s happening to me is sexual abuse If I tell, no one will be able to do anything about it I’m totally dependent on this person (abuser). I like them and can’t understand why this is happening.

  12. Responding to Disclosure • I believe you • Control your emotions • Let the survivor describe the assault in their own words and go at their own pace • Validate feelings • Give options • Medical attention v. Evidentiary exam • Make sure they understand what you are asking and why • Stress confidentiality

  13. Everyone is responsible for making nursing homes and other living environments for seniors safe • Staff to resident ratio is important • Check references and don’t hire individuals with a criminal background • Investigate changes in resident/client behavior • Encourage “whistle blowing” • Supervisors should have clear presence

  14. “It was so helpful to finally learn what we could do to help residents. “ ADirector ofNursing

  15. Developing a Staff Safety Plan • Who will I tell if I suspect a resident is being sexually assaulted/abused? • What will I do if the abuser is still in the building? • What if I am a part of a resident’s safety plan? • What if my facility is not adequately staffed with workers to monitor residents? • What if I know of a coworker who has lied about their references, work history, credentials, or criminal history? • What if I notice that a resident is sexually acting out toward other residents? • Who should I report suspicious visitors to?

  16. What was the most useful information gained from today’s training session? • Awareness that this can happen and that there are people who can help • How to detect sexual abuse and how to report the behavior • How to react if someone discloses sexual abuse • Residents have rights and shouldn’t have to worry about being abused • The importance of developing a safety plan • That anyone can be raped regardless of age • That a resident has the option of obtaining an evidentiary exam • Phone numbers to call and procedures to follow when abuse is suspected • THAT SEXUAL ABUSE IS TAKING PLACE IN NURSING HOMES

  17. Sherry Culp KY State LTC Ombudsman sherryculp@ombuddy.org

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