--- title: "Nursing Home Sexual Abuse | 4 Key Statistics for 2025" url: "https://www.nursinghomeabusecenter.com/blog/4-nursing-home-sexual-abuse-statistics/" description: "Understanding sexual abuse in nursing homes can help protect loved ones and demand accountability from facilities. Get the facts now." --- **Blog** **Nursing Home Abuse Center Blog** 4 Min Read Posted on [September 17, 2025](https://www.nursinghomeabusecenter.com/blog/4-nursing-home-sexual-abuse-statistics/) # 4 Key Statistics on Sexual Abuse in Nursing Homes [Sexual abuse in nursing homes](https://www.nursinghomeabusecenter.com/elder-abuse/types/sexual-abuse/) 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. Get help now with a **free legal case review.** ## 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](https://www.nursinghomeabusecenter.com/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](https://www.nursinghomeabusecenter.com/elder-abuse/types/)** 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](https://www.nursinghomeabusecenter.com/elder-abuse/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. Get help seeking legal justice after nursing home sexual abuse. **Call our team at [(855) 264-6310](tel:+18552646310) or Click to Live Chat** to connect with experienced nursing home abuse lawyers. ## 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**. **Did You Know** The Minnesota Department of Human Services has found that **70% of elder sexual abuse cases** occur in nursing homes. 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](https://www.nursinghomeabusecenter.com/nursing-home-abuse/reporting-nursing-home-abuse/). ## 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](https://www.nursinghomeabusecenter.com/legal/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](tel:+18552646310) or get started with a [free case review now](https://www.nursinghomeabusecenter.com/legal-case-review/). Posted in [Elder Sexual Abuse](https://www.nursinghomeabusecenter.com/blog/category/elderly-sexual-abuse/), [Nursing Home Abuse](https://www.nursinghomeabusecenter.com/blog/category/nursing-home-abuse/)Tagged [Nursing Home Abuse](https://www.nursinghomeabusecenter.com/blog/tag/nursing-home-abuse/), [reporting nursing home abuse](https://www.nursinghomeabusecenter.com/blog/tag/reporting-nursing-home-abuse/), [Sexual Abuse](https://www.nursinghomeabusecenter.com/blog/tag/sexual-abuse/), [Sexual Abuse in Nursing Homes](https://www.nursinghomeabusecenter.com/blog/tag/sexual-abuse-in-nursing-homes/) **Nursing Home Abuse Support Team**Last modified: October 3, 2025 **Reviewed by:**__[Julie Rivers, MBA, CSA](https://www.nursinghomeabusecenter.com/contributors/julie-rivers-mba/ "Julie Rivers, MBA, CSA")__ Eldercare Advocate & Certified Senior Advisor - Fact-Checked - Editor Julie Rivers is an eldercare advocate with over 25 years of experience focused on nursing home resident safety. She began as a case manager at a nursing home law firm, working with families in crisis. She is a Certified Senior Advisor and also cared for her mother through Alzheimer’s. Her business training deepens her understanding of how for-profit facilities operate. **Written by:**__[The Nursing Home Abuse Center Team](https://www.nursinghomeabusecenter.com/about/ "The Nursing Home Abuse Center Team")__ The Nursing Home Abuse Center (NHAC) was founded to bring justice to those affected by nursing home and elder abuse. Our mission is to educate and empower victims of abuse and their families to take a stand against this unlawful mistreatment. We work to return dignity back to those who have been broken down by nursing home abuse and neglect. View Sources 1. Administration for Community Living. (2023). Preventing and addressing sexual assault of people with I/DD. Retrieved from [https://acl.gov/news-and-events/acl-blog/preventing-and-addressing-sexual-assault-people-idd.](https://acl.gov/news-and-events/acl-blog/preventing-and-addressing-sexual-assault-people-idd) 2. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024). About sexual violence. Retrieved from [https://www.cdc.gov/sexual-violence/about/.](https://www.cdc.gov/sexual-violence/about/) 3. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024). Preventing sexual violence. Retrieved from [https://www.cdc.gov/sexual-violence/prevention/index.html.](https://www.cdc.gov/sexual-violence/prevention/index.html) 4. CNN. (2017). Sick, dying and raped in America’s nursing homes. Retrieved from [https://www.cnn.com/interactive/2017/02/health/nursing-home-sex-abuse-investigation/.](https://www.cnn.com/interactive/2017/02/health/nursing-home-sex-abuse-investigation/) 5. Minnesota Department of Human Services. (n.d.) Elder sexual abuse in care facilities. Retrieved from . 6. National Consumer Voice for Quality Long-Term Care. (2025). NORS data. Retrieved from . 7. Truong, C., et al. (2019). Disclosure among victims of elder abuse in healthcare settings: A missing piece in the overall effort toward detection. Retrieved from . 8. World Health Organization. (2024). Abuse of older people. Retrieved from [https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/abuse-of-older-people.](https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/abuse-of-older-people)