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Sexual Abuse of the Elderly

Sexual abuse is one of the most understudied aspects of elder mistreatment. An NIJ-sponsored study that examined elder sexual abuse found that: [1]

• Elderly sexual assault victims were not routinely evaluated to assess the psychological effects of an assault.
• The older the victim, the less likelihood that the offender would be convicted of sexual abuse.
• Perpetrators were more likely to be charged with a crime if victims exhibited signs of physical trauma.
• Victims in assisted living situations faced a lower likelihood than those living independently that charges would be brought and the assailant found guilty.