U.S. flag
      An official website of the United States government, Department of Justice.
        Here's how you know
      Here's how you know**Official websites use .gov**
            
            A **.gov** website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
      **Secure .gov websites use HTTPS**
            
            A **lock** (
            A locked padlock
            ) or **https://** means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. Menu

      
        close

            
            
                                              About NIJ
        
                    
  
          About NIJ
      
    
          The NIJ Director
          How NIJ Is Organized
          Mission and Guiding Principles
          Research and Development Process
          Strategic Framework
          Assessments of NIJ
          Annual Reports & Reports to Congress
          Staff Directory
          Funding & Awards
        
                    
  
          Funding & Awards
      
    
          Current Funding
          Forthcoming Funding
          Expired Funding
          Awards: Listing of Funded Projects
          Guidance for Applicants and Awardees
          Fellowship & Student Programs
          Travel Scholarships
          NIJ Challenge Program
          Library & Multimedia
        
                    
  
          Library & Multimedia
      
    
          NIJ Journal
          Podcasts
          Publications Listing
          Multimedia Listing
          Rated Practices on CrimeSolutions
          Rated Programs on CrimeSolutions
          Software & Databases
          Datasets
          Patents
          Topics
        
                    
  
          Topics
      
    
          Article Listing
          Corrections
          Courts
          Crime Prevention
          Crimes
          Drugs and Crime
          Equipment and Technology
          Forensic Sciences
          Youth Justice
          Justice System Reform
          Law Enforcement
          Tribal Crime and Justice
          Victims of Crime
          Events
        
                    
  
          Events
      
    
          NIJ 2024 Research Conference
          Scheduled Events
          On-Demand Events
          Research Meetings & Workshops
          NIJ-Hosted Online Training

                            
                                About
          Contact Us
          Subscribe
          Topics A-Z
                  Share
FacebookXLinkedInRedditPinterestEmail Home
                            Library & Multimedia
 Sexual Abuse and Dementia in Older People
NCJ Number
              241079
Journal

*Journal of the American Geriatrics Society* Volume: 54 Issue: 7 Dated: 2006 Pages: 1154-1155
Author(s)
          Ann W. Burgess
Date Published

2006
Length
              2 pages
Annotation
              Findings are presented and conclusions drawn from a study of 284 cases of suspected elder sexual abuse that were referred for disposition to law enforcement for investigation, to adult protective services for consultation, to a forensic nurse examiner for a rape examination, or to a prosecutor's office for charges.
Abstract
              Of these 284 cases, 60 percent of the suspected victims were diagnosed with some form of dementia. Data analysis indicated that older people with dementia were abused more often than those without such a diagnosis. Suspected perpetrators were most often persons known to the elderly victims (family member, caregiver, or another nursing home resident). Elderly persons with dementia presented behavior cues of distress rather than verbal disclosures of their victimization; and they were easily confused, verbally manipulated, and often beaten. Suspects in cases investigated for the sexual abuse of an elderly person with dementia had less chance of being arrested, indicted, or entering into plea bargaining. Based on these findings, the authors note the importance of behavioral signs of distress in older people who are cognitively impaired as being evidence of sexual abuse. The fact that the demented elderly victim is unable to provide a verbal account of the abusive events reduces the likelihood of a fair and impartial assessment and applications of the law by the current judicial system. 1 reference
      
  
          Additional Details
Grant Number(s)
        2003-WG-BX-1007


  
  
        
  Agencies
        NIJ-Sponsored


  
  
        
  Publication Type
        Report (Study/Research)


  
  
        
  Award
        Elderly Victims of Sexual Abuse and Their Offenders
    
  
  
Date Published: January 1, 2006
    
          Downloads
        
                      HTML

Side navigation
  

        

  
  
              NIJ Journal
    
      
            
            
            
      Podcasts
    
      
            
            
            
      Publications Listing
    
      
            
            
            
      Multimedia Listing
    
      
            
            
            
      Rated Practices on CrimeSolutions
    
      
            
            
            
      Rated Programs on CrimeSolutions
    
      
            
            
            
      Software & Databases
    
      
            
            
            
      Datasets
    
      
            
            
            
      PatentsRelated Topics
        
                Case processing
        Crimes against the elderly
        Dispositions
        Elder abuse
        NIJ Grant-related Documents



  
Similar Publications
        
                      A Diagnosis of the Primary Difference between EuroForMix and STRmixTM
                  Technical Note – Direct Analysis In Real Time Mass Spectrometry (DART-MS)
                  Technical Note – Gas Chromatography Vapor-Phase Infrared Spectroscopy (GC-VIR)
 Top

      National Institute of Justice

        
        
                        About NIJ
                    About NIJ
      
    
                  How NIJ Is Organized
      
    
                  NIJ Director
      
    
                  Research Disclaimer
      
    
                  Funding & Awards
                    Funding & Awards Home
      
    
                  Awards Listing
      
    
                  Current Funding
      
    
                  Guidance for Applicants and Awardees
      
    
                  Resources
                    Events
      
    
                  Podcasts
      
    
                  Publications
      
    
                  Topics
      
    
                  Multimedia
      
    
                  Reuse Policy
      
    
                  Contacts
                    Contact NIJ
      
    
                  Staff Directory
      
    
                  Submit a FOIA Request
      
    
                  File a Civil Rights ComplaintFacebook
          
                      X
          
                      YouTube
  

      810 7th St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20531
      
              Secondary Footer link menu
            Accessibility
              Plain Language
              Privacy Policy
              Legal Policies and Disclaimer
              No FEAR Act
              Freedom of Information Act
              USA.gov
              Justice.gov