• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Parman & Easterday

Oklahoma Estate Planning Attorneys

Call Now: (405) 843-6100 |
(918) 615-2700

Attend an Education Program-Oklahoma City Area Attend An Education Program in the Tulsa Area
  • Home
  • Our Firm
    • About Our Firm
    • Attorney and Staff Profiles
    • What Our Clients Say
  • Estate Planning
    • Asset Protection
    • Business Succession Planning
    • Estate and Gift Tax Figures
    • Estate Planning Services
    • Family-Owned Businesses & Farms
    • Financial Planning Assistance
    • IRA and Retirement Planning
    • Legacy Planning
    • LGBTQ Estate Planning
    • Pet Planning
    • Powers of Attorney
    • Probate
    • SECURE Act
    • Special Needs Planning
    • Trust Administration and Probate
    • Young Families
  • Elder Law
    • Coping With Alzheimer’s
    • Elder Law
    • Emergency Medicaid
    • Guardianship & Conservatorship
    • Hospice Care
    • Medicaid Planning
    • Veteran’s Benefits
  • Resources
    • Asset Protection Worksheet
    • DocuBank
    • Elder Law
      • Elder Law & Medicaid Definitions
      • Elder Law Reports
      • Elder Law Resources
        • Edmond Elder Law
        • Oklahoma City Elder Law
        • Overland Park Elder Law
        • Yukon Elder Law
      • Medicaid
      • Nursing Home Resources
    • Estate Planning
      • An Overview of Estate and Gift Taxes
      • Estate Planning Checkup
      • Estate Planning Definitions
      • Estate Planning Reports
        • Advanced Estate Planning
        • Basic Estate Planning
        • Estate Planning for Niches
        • Trust Administration
      • Incapacity Planning Definitions
      • Is Your Estate Plan Outdated?
      • Top 10 Estate and Legacy Planning Techniques
    • Free Estate Planning Worksheet
    • Frequently Asked Questions
      • Alzheimer’s FAQs
      • Asset Protection Planning
      • Estate Planning
      • Elder Law
      • Frequently Asked Questions for Families Without an Estate Plan
      • Inheritance Planning for Minors
      • Legacy Wealth Planning
      • LGBTQ Estate Planning
      • Medicaid Planning
      • Nursing Home Asset Protection
      • Probate
      • Trust Administration
      • Trust Administration & Probate
      • Wills and Trusts
    • Newsletters
    • Probate and Trust Administration
      • Bereavement Resources
      • How to Know if You Need Extra Help With Your Grieving
      • Loss of a Loved One
      • Probate Checklist
      • The Mourner’s Bill of Rights
      • Things You Need To Do When a Loved One Passes Away With a Trust
      • Things You Need To Do When a Loved One Passes Away With a Will
      • Trust Administration & Probate Definitions
    • Probate Resources
      • Midwest City Probate
      • Moore Probate
      • Oklahoma City Probate
      • Overland Park Probate
    • Published Books
    • Pre Consultation Form
  • Communities We Serve
    • Edmond
    • Midwest City
    • Moore
    • Norman
    • Oklahoma City
    • Yukon
  • Reviews
    • Our Reviews
    • Review Us
  • BLOG
  • Contact Us
Home » Elder Law » Could Your Parent Be a Victim of Elder Sexual Abuse?

Could Your Parent Be a Victim of Elder Sexual Abuse?

June 13, 2019 by Larry Parman, Attorney at Law

Oklahoma City elder law attorneys

When most of us worry about the possibility that an elderly parent might become the victim of elder abuse, we tend to focus on the risk of physical and/or emotional abuse. Sadly, both physical and emotional abuse of the elderly occur at an alarming rate; however, there is another type of elder abuse that isn’t discussed as frequently – elder sexual abuse. The Oklahoma City elder law attorneys at Parman & Easterday explain how to spot signs that a parent may be the victim of elder sexual abuse and what you can do if you do.

What You Need To Know About Elder Sexual Abuse

At its core, sexual violence is a crime motivated by a desire to control a victim. Consequently, perpetrators of sexual assault often seek out victims who appear vulnerable. Most of us know this, which is why we take such care to protect children from predators.  What many people fail to consider is that the very old make attractive victims for sexual predators because they are often just as vulnerable as young children.

Elder sexual abuse is defined as the initiation of physical or sexual contact with an elderly person, when that contact is non-consensual or unwanted. Often, the victim of elderly sexual abuse is an elderly person who is confused or unable to give consent. Whether or not the contact is a mere touching or a completed rape, if it is sexual in nature and non-consensual, it is considered sexual abuse. Some examples of elder sexual abuse include:

  • Unwanted touching
  • Sexual assault and battery
  • Sexual photography
  • Rape
  • Forced nudity

How Often Does Sexual Abuse of the Elderly Occur?

Experts agree that elder abuse occurs far more often than most people realize.  Accurate figures are very difficult to come by for several reasons. Elderly victims are often embarrassed to have been victimized and don’t report the abuse. Many elderly victims of abuse are dependent on their abusers for everything from food and shelter to medical care. Consequently, victims often fear reprisals if they report the abuse. Nevertheless, conservative estimates regarding elder sexual abuse in the U.S. indicate that:

  • 70% of reported abuse occurs in nursing homes
  • Only 30% of victims of elder sexual abuse report it to authorities
  • The abuser is the primary caregiver 81% of the time
  • Elderly women are six times more likely than men to be sexually abused

Signs that a Parent Might Be the Victim of Elderly Sexual Abuse

Because the victims of elder sexual abuse often remain silent, loved ones need to be extra vigilant in watching for signs of abuse. Some common signs to look for include:

  • Unexplained STDs and infections
  • Bruises in genital areas, thighs, and breasts
  • Unexplained vaginal bleeding
  • Clothing that is torn, stained, or covered in blood
  • Increased difficulty walking or sitting
  • Depression or withdrawal
  • Anxiety or excessive fear around caregiver
  • Agitation and abrupt change in mood
  • Changes in a senior’s demeanor, such as showing fear or becoming withdrawn when a specific person is around
  • Evidence of pornographic material being shown to a senior with diminished capacity
  • Blood found on sheets or linens

What Should You Do If You Suspect Your Parent Is a Victim?

If you spot signs that your parent might be the victim of sexual abuse, try and discuss your concerns with him or her. This might be awkward and meet with resistance so stress to them that elder abuse, in any form, is not something to be embarrassed about or ashamed of and that you only want to protect them – just as they protected you when younger.  If the suspected abuse is occurring in a long-term care facility, sit down with an administrator and share your suspicions. You should also consult with an experienced elder law attorney. Elder abuse is a crime, and it can also be the basis for a civil lawsuit. Finally, you may consider petitioning for guardianship of your parent so you have the authority to move him or her or replace a caregiver if you decide your suspicions about abuse are well founded.

Contact Oklahoma City Elder Law Attorneys

For additional information, please join us for an upcoming FREE seminar. If you are worried that your parent is the victim of elder sexual abuse, contact the experienced Oklahoma City elder law attorneys at Parman & Easterday by calling 405-843-6100 to schedule your appointment today.

  • Author
  • Recent Posts
Larry Parman, Attorney at Law
Larry Parman, Attorney at Law
Founder and Owner at Parman & Easterday
After helping his own family deal with a lengthy probate and the IRS following his father’s untimely death in a farm accident, Larry Parman made a decision to help families create effective estate plans designed to reduce taxes, minimize legal interference with the transfer of assets to one’s heirs, and protect his clients’ assets from predators and creditors.
Larry Parman, Attorney at Law
Latest posts by Larry Parman, Attorney at Law (see all)
  • Why Do You Need an Elder Law Attorney? - January 31, 2023
  • Inheritance Planning for Blended Families - January 26, 2023
  • 4 Things Trusts Do That Wills Can’t Do - January 24, 2023

Filed Under: Elder Law

Other Articles You May Find Useful

Why Do You Need an Elder Law Attorney?
Medicaid planning
6 Things You Should Know About Long-Term Care for Seniors
Medicaid planning Medicare limitations
Don’t Expect Too Much From Medicare
long-term care insurance
Is Long-Term Care Insurance Recommended?
Medicaid spousal allowances elder law
Is My Spouse Left With Nothing If I Use Medicaid for Nursing Home Expenses?
elder law aging in place
Consider the Benefits of Aging in Place

Primary Sidebar

Parman & Easterday, LLP

DOWNLOAD OUR FREE ESTATE PLANNING CHECKLIST

SUBSCRIBE TO OUR BLOG

Follow Us

  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Where We Are

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK
13913 Quail Pointe Drive, Suite B
Oklahoma City, OK 73134
Phone: (405) 843-6100
Fax: (405) 917-7018

MAP

parman_sidbr_map

Where We Are

TULSA, OK
Memorial Place 7633 E. 63rd Place
Tulsa, OK 74133
Phone: (918) 615-2700

MAP

parman_sidbr_map

Office Hours

Monday9:00 AM - 5:30 PM
Tuesday9:00 AM - 5:30 PM
Wednesday9:00 AM - 5:30 PM
Thursday9:00 AM - 5:30 PM
Friday9:00 AM - 12:00 PM

Footer

footer-logo

The information on this Oklahoma Law Firm website is for general information purposes only. Nothing on this or associated pages, documents, comments, answers, emails, or other communications should be taken as legal advice for any individual case or situation. This information on this website is not intended to create, and receipt or viewing of this information does not constitute, an attorney-client relationship.

Oklahoma City Estate Planning Attorneys at Parman & Easterday offer estate planning services in the Oklahoma City, Oklahoma and surrounding areas. Contact us for help today.

Privacy Policy | Contact Us | Disclaimer | Site Map | Powered by American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys


© 2023 American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys, Inc.
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter
  • YouTube