Women

Anyone can be the victim of neglect and abuse in a nursing home. But, there are some people who have a higher risk of neglect or abuse than others. One group of people who are at a high risk for abuse are elderly women. There are many factors that lead to elderly women’s vulnerability in nursing homes and similar facilities. Here, I will discuss some of these factors as well as what you can do to protect your female loved one while they live in a nursing home.

Factors in Abuse

There are many reasons why women tend to get neglected or abused in homes more than men do. First of all, women make up a more significant portion of the elderly population than men do. So, from a practical standpoint, women might get abused more than men because there tend to be more women than men in nursing homes. Still, there are other factors involved in the abuse of elderly women.

Societal factors play a part in the abuse of elderly women. In general, people tend to think of women as easier targets than men. Abusers might think that elderly women are fragile and that they will not fight back to abuse. This could play a part in why women get abused more than men do.

A similar factor is the physical decline of many elderly women. While all elderly people become vulnerable to illness and disease, women can have a more difficult time than men healing from certain illnesses. In general, women tend to live longer than men do. This means that women in their 80s and 90s might live in a nursing home. These women can become easily disabled or weakened due to their age and other factors. Disabled women might be a target for abusers because they think that these women will not have the ability to fight back or report the abuse.

What to Watch Out For

Two common types of abuse that elderly women face are physical and sexual abuse. Women are more likely to experience these types of abuse than men. So, it is important to especially watch out for signs of physical abuse and sexual abuse. If your loved one experiences these issues, you should get them help as soon as you can.

Another thing to consider is the type of facility that your loved one lives in. For example, even though you might think that it is more likely for abuse to happen in nursing homes, this isn’t always the case. Abuse can happen right in your home or your loved one’s home while they are with an aide. So, remember that this abuse can happen anywhere and always remain vigilant in recognizing the signs.

If you have a female loved one who gets abused in a nursing home or a similar facility, it is important to get help. You should contact the police as soon as you can. Also, try to get your loved one out of the nursing home as soon as you can. Finally, contact a neglect and abuse attorney to consider the best way to protect your loved one legally.