NCJ Number
216314
Journal
Victims & Offenders Volume: 1 Issue: 2 Dated: April 2006 Pages: 193-204
Date Published
April 2006
Length
12 pages
Annotation
This study compared elderly victims of sexual abuse with and without dementia (mental deficiency or impairment) regarding the disclosure of sexual abuse, forensic markers for sexual abuse, and outcome of the legal case.
Abstract
Out of 194 cases, only one-third of the elderly victims reported their sexual abuse. Most often, other people reported the abuse, which included 35 cases of sexual abuse by family members, 67 by health professionals, and 39 by others such as neighbors or friends. Of the 77 elderly victims without dementia, 62 percent reported their abuse, compared to 12.8 percent of the 117 elderly victims with dementia. Elderly victims with dementia displayed more behavioral cues of distress from their abuse despite their difficulty in expressing their victimization verbally. These behaviors included a guarded response when asked about abuse and displaying fear or strong ambivalent responses to a suspected abuser. Strong reactions to frequent touching of the victim or overly intrusive personal care when bathing or changing the victim were other nonverbal signs of abuse. Observed markers of sexual abuse included a witness to the sexual abuse; bruises, abrasions, redness, swelling, and tears in the genital area; and signs of physical abuse on other parts of the body. Those suspected of the sexual abuse of elderly victims with dementia were less likely to be arrested, indicted, or plea bargained. The study involved a convenience sample of 284 sexual assaults of elderly victims known to a multidisciplinary group of professionals who had investigated, examined, or were consulted in cases of the sexual abuse of elderly victims. The Comprehensive Sexual Assault Assessment was used in analyzing data from the case files. 6 tables and 15 references