Bronx Nurse Arrested on Sexual Elder Abuse Charges
A nurse at a nursing home in the Bronx neighborhood of New York City has been arrested on charges of sexual elder abuse after another attending found him raping a resident with dementia.
The 64-year-old female resident was unable to speak and suffered advanced dementia, according to reports.
The sexual elder abuse took place around 1 AM on Tuesday, February 18th, according to police reports. The perpetrator, Nanic Aidasani, was found by another employee on top of the woman. The employee immediately reported the incident, and administrators contacted authorities. In a statement administrator Uri Schwartz explained, “Manhattanville Health Care Center contacted the police department and the Department of Health to report an alleged sexual abuse complaint. Our residents are our number one priority and we will continue to assist authorities in their ongoing investigation.”
The vicitm’s children were notified of the sexual elder abuse incident around 4 AM that same day. They were both stunned to learn of the attack.
Daughter Loida said, “She was at the nursing home because my brother and I thought it was a safe haven for her, a safe place for her, that she would be protected, but she wasn’t protected, she was assaulted.”
It is unclear how long Aidasani worked at the home before the sexual elder abuse took place.
How to Spot Sexual Elder Abuse
Many forms of abuse are unfortunately common for elderly patients. Caregivers and family members can become frustrated with the elderly person and physically or emotionally abuse them. The elderly person could be neglected, either because they are unable to communicate their needs to family members, or their legal caregivers refuse to do their jobs. Greedy family members or friends could use the elderly person’s failing memory to exploit money from them, leaving the patient without resources.
Sexual abuse is one of the most emotionally difficult types of elder abuse. Residents of nursing homes or assisted living facilities could face sexual abuse from other residents, or from staff members. These people could take advantage of the patient’s dementia or worsening physical condition.
Perpetrators of sexual abuse against the elderly can use this embarrassment to their advantage. They could use mental and physical incapacity in the victim to claim that they were elsewhere, or that the victim gave consent and simply forgot. They could also claim that they did not know about the victim’s incapacity.
Changes in behavior, unexplained bruises, depression, dehydration and malnutrition, and fear around certain people are all signs of abuse. In South Carolina, you can contact the Department of Social Services’ Adult Protective Services Division by phone at (803) 898-7318 or visit their website: https://dss.sc.gov/
The Strom Law Firm Prosecutes Perpetrators of Sexual Elder Abuse
If your loved one is a resident of a skilled nursing facility, long term care facility, assisted living, or independent living facility, and has faced sexual elder abuse from employees or fellow residents, you do not have to suffer in silence. The attorneys at the Strom Law Firm fight a variety of elder abuse and neglect cases, because it is very important that we hold these facilities to the highest possible standard. We offer free, confidential consultations, so you can discuss the facts of your case with impunity. Contact us today for help. 803.252.4800.
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