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Tampa Nursing Home Sexual Abuse Lawyers
Compassionate, strong advocacy when nursing homes fail to prevent sexual abuse of their residents
No resident of a nursing home should ever have to experience sexual abuse. The combination of physical harm (including the risk of disease) and emotional trauma can haunt victims for the rest of their lives. At MattLaw, we hold nursing homes accountable when they fail to implement policies and procedures to prevent sexual abuse and to respond immediately as soon as they learn of abuse. Sadly, many of the victims cannot report sexual abuse due to fear or because they’ve lost their cognitive abilities.
Our Tampa nursing home sexual abuse attorneys demand compensation for the devastating trauma that unwanted sexual assaults and abuse cause seniors and other nursing home residents. Call us now to demand justice and compensation for your loved one.
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How we can help you
- What conduct qualifies as sexual abuse in Tampa?
- When should I suspect my nursing home relative is being sexually abused?
- What are the causes of sexual abuse in Tampa nursing homes?
- Why should nursing homes be held accountable for sexual abuse in Tampa?
- What is the value of a nursing home sexual abuse claim in Florida?
- Do you have a Tampa nursing home sexual abuse lawyer near me?
What conduct qualifies as sexual abuse in Tampa?
According to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), sexual abuse is “non-consensual sexual contact of any type with a resident.” The victims and perpetrators can be female or male.
Sexual abuse includes, but is not limited to:
- Unwanted intimate touching of any kind, especially to the breasts or genital area.
- Rape.
- Oral or anal sex.
- Forced nudity.
- Forced observation of masturbation and/or pornography.
- Taking sexually explicit photographs or audio/video recordings of a resident and distributing them online or in-person. This includes pictures or recordings of residents who are not fully clothed while they are being cared for (bathing, dressing, etc.).
Many nursing home residents are not able to provide consent to sexual contact because they have dementia, Alzheimer’s, or other cognitive disorders. Many cognizant residents who suffer sexual abuse are too afraid to report the abuse. All residents are generally less able to resist sexual contact than people who are in relatively good health.
When should I suspect my nursing home relative is being sexually abused?
According to the National Center for Elder Abuse, nursing homes, family, and friends should be aware of the following signs of sexual abuse of Tampa nursing home residents:
Physical indicators
- Unexplained venereal diseases or genital infections
- Unexplained vaginal or anal bleeding, pain, or irritation
- Bruises of the breasts, genital areas, or inner thighs
- Underclothing that has tears, blood, or stains
- Difficulty walking or sitting
- A report of sexual assault or rape
Social indicators
- Extreme agitation
- Nonparticipation in social activities
- Post-traumatic stress disorder or panic attacks
- Attempts at suicide
- Fear or avoidance of the alleged perpetrator
Other signs of sexual abuse include pelvic injuries and unusual sexual conduct.
All nursing home residents who suffer sexual abuse require physical care and psychological care to help treat their physical injuries, preserve evidence of rape or other sexual contact, and learn to respond to the trauma of sexual abuse. At MattLaw, we work with medical professionals who can provide these types of medical, forensic, and mental health care.
What are the causes of sexual abuse in Tampa nursing homes?
Nursing homes need to understand who the likely abusers are, who the likely victims are, and why sexual abuse happens so they can implement preventive measures.
The abusers may be staff members and anyone with access to the rooms of nursing home residents. The abusers can also be the residents, especially residents who have dementia. Generally, older people and people with disabilities are often targets because they are not able to resist.
Some of the contributing factors to sexual abuse include the following:
- Alcohol or drug abuse
- High stress levels
- Cognitive impairment (by residents with cognitive disabilities)
- A criminal history
- The opportunity to commit sexual abuse
- A prior history of being sexually abused
Why should nursing homes be held accountable for sexual abuse in Tampa?
At MattLaw, we file personal injury claims against nursing homes when nursing homes fail to protect their residents from sexual abuse. We also coordinate the resident’s civil case with any criminal charges against the abuser.
Generally, nursing homes in Tampa can be held civilly liable if they fail to protect residents from sexual abuse by an owner or manager of the nursing home, an employee or contractor of the nursing home, visitors to the nursing home, and another resident.
Our Tampa nursing home sexual abuse lawyers hold long-term care facilities liable if they fail to:
- Identify the people in the nursing home who are most likely to suffer sexual abuse.
- Conduct background checks of their employees.
- Educate the staff members about identifying the signs of sexual abuse and the process for reporting these signs.
- Implement a system to report abuse that includes family, friends, and the residents themselves.
- Take steps to limit access to the rooms of the residents, including residents with cognitive difficulties.
- Investigate and respond to complaints of sexual abuse.
- Discipline anyone who commits sexual abuse.
- Provide immediate physical and mental healthcare for any resident who suffers sexual abuse.
- Provide security systems to monitor sexual abuse.
- Take other proactive steps to stop sexual abuse before it occurs.
What is the value of a nursing home sexual abuse claim in Florida?
At MattLaw, we work with gerontologists and many other medical professionals to verify the harm to your loved one, the medical treatments they need, and every way that sexual abuse affects their lives physically and emotionally. Many nursing home residents who suffer sexual abuse never come close to making a full recovery.
Our law firm has obtained more than $250 million in recoveries, including several million-dollar-plus nursing home recoveries. We demand compensation for all the following on behalf of your loved one:
- Medical expenses, including emergency care, forensic help, hospitalizations, doctor visits, psychological counseling, physical therapy, medications, and other medical devices
- Physical pain
- Emotional trauma, which may include PTSD, depression, loss of confidence, suicide attempts, and other mental health injuries
- The inability to enjoy life
- Loss of dignity
Sexual abuse of the elderly and disabled residents is unconscionable. For that reason, we often seek punitive damages too.
Do you have a Tampa nursing home sexual abuse lawyer near me?
Yes. At MattLaw, our lawyers meet clients at our Tampa, Florida office, located at 304 S Plant Ave., Tampa, FL 33606. When necessary, we also speak with clients and family members at family homes, nursing homes, and other convenient locations. We also communicate with clients and family members by phone and through online applications such as FaceTime and Zoom.
Our lawyers will answer all your questions and explain all your rights and the rights of your loved one.
Contact MattLaw today to hold nursing homes liable for sexual abuse
Sexual abuse of nursing home residents is unconscionable. It’s devastating. At MattLaw, our nursing home abuse lawyers hold nursing homes accountable when they engage in, allow, fail to prevent, or fail to respond to sexual abuse of any resident – whether they are cognizant of the abuse or not. Our sexual abuse lawyers fight for your loved one’s physical and mental health by demanding full compensation for their trauma. Please call us or use our contact form to schedule a free consultation. We handle nursing home sexual abuse claims on a contingency fee basis.