4 Key Statistics on Sexual Abuse in Nursing Homes

Sexual abuse in nursing homes is one of the most devastating forms of elder abuse. It shatters trust, strips residents of dignity, and can even cost lives.

Yet cases are often underreported, allowing abusers like staff, residents, or visitors to exploit vulnerable people inside licensed care facilities.

If your loved one has suffered sexual abuse while in long-term care, the Nursing Home Abuse Center can help your family demand justice and hold facilities accountable.

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What Is Nursing Home Sexual Abuse?

Nursing home sexual abuse is any unwanted sexual act forced on a resident in long-term care facilities. Older adults are especially at risk because disabilities or cognitive decline can make it impossible to consent or resist.

When this abuse happens, it is a profound betrayal of trust and proof that the facility failed in its most basic duty — keeping residents safe.

Nursing home abuse of any kind can leave lasting harm. Families should never have to question whether their loved one is protected inside a licensed care facility.

Warning signs of possible sexual abuse include:

• Bleeding or bruising around the genital area or thighs
• Resistance to being bathed, changed, or physically examined
• Sudden depression, anxiety, or withdrawal
• Torn, stained, or missing undergarments
• Unexplained sexually transmitted infections (STIs)

To expose how serious this crisis is, the Nursing Home Abuse Center has gathered 4 key statistics on sexual abuse in nursing homes.

1. Sexual Abuse Is the Least Reported Type of Abuse

Sexual assault is one of the most hidden types of elder abuse in nursing homes. Fear, shame, dependence on abusers, and the inability to communicate often keep victims silent, allowing abuse to continue unchecked.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO):

• 0.7% of nursing home staff members reported sexually abusing residents
• 1.9% of nursing home residents (or their guardians or loved ones) reported sexual abuse
• Sexual abuse was the least reported type of nursing home abuse

Sadly, only about 15% of elder abuse victims in health care settings ever connect with formal support services, according to research in the Journal of Elder Abuse & Neglect, confirming how rarely cases are disclosed.

2. Thousands of Sexual Abuse Complaints Are Reported in Nursing Homes

In a recent 3-year period, more than 16,000 complaints of sexual abuse in nursing homes and assisted living facilities were reported to the Administration for Community Living (ACL). This shows that reports are still coming in at a staggering pace.

In 2024 alone, the National Ombudsman Reporting System received 1,816 complaints of sexual abuse in long-term care facilities — a 60% increase from 2017. Despite these numbers, the true scope of the problem remains hidden because many cases are never reported.

Complicating matters further, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) still groups sexual abuse under broader abuse categories, making it harder to track the full extent of this crisis inside nursing homes.

3. Female Residents and Dementia Patients Run a Higher Risk of Sexual Abuse

Female nursing home residents and those living with Alzheimer’s or other dementias face the highest risk of sexual abuse.

Research shows that about 60% of nursing home sexual abuse victims have dementia or another cognitive impairment, leaving them especially vulnerable to exploitation.

In general, women have a higher risk of sexual abuse than men. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that 1 in 4 women has been raped or experienced an attempted rape, compared to 1 out of 26 men.

People with disabilities are also at greater risk. The U.S. Department of Justice reports that individuals with disabilities are 7 times more likely to experience sexual abuse.

Communication challenges and difficulty recognizing abuse often prevent them from seeking help or reporting abuse in nursing homes.

4. Nursing Homes Fail to Investigate Sexual Abuse, With Deadly Consequences

Even when abuse is reported, too many nursing homes try to cover it up. A CNN investigation found that more than 1,000 facilities mishandled sexual abuse cases.

These mistakes include:

• Failing to investigate allegations
• Hiring staff with past sex crime records
• Ignoring mandatory reporting requirements

This means residents face a 6.7% chance of entering a nursing home where sexual abuse has already occurred and gone unaddressed.

The impact is devastating. Research published in The Gerontologist shows that nearly 50% of nursing home sexual abuse victims die within one year of the assault.

For families, these alarming statistics highlight the urgency of demanding accountability and protecting vulnerable residents.

Protecting Loved Ones Against Sexual Abuse in Nursing Homes

If you notice any possible signs of sexual abuse of a loved one at a nursing facility, make sure that you take action.

To get started, you can call:

• 911 or the local police department
• Adult Protective Services (APS)
• Local Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program
• State licensing and certification agency (this agency handles nursing home inspections and complaints)

You can also report the abuse to nursing home administrators, so there is a record of the incident on file. By reporting sexual abuse, you can help your loved one begin the recovery process and ensure that other residents will not suffer.

Finally, family members may want to pursue a nursing home abuse lawsuit on behalf of their loved one to get justice and compensation. Our team at the Nursing Home Abuse Center can determine if you have a strong case and connect you with trusted legal help.

Contact us at (855) 264-6310 or get started with a free case review now.