Elder sexual abuse or abuse of those later in life is considered in Pennsylvania the sexual assault of a person over the age of 60.

Only 30% of rape/sexual assault victims age 65 or older reported to the police.

Klaus, Patsy A. Crimes Against Persons Age 65 or Older, 1992-97. January 2000. U.S. Department of Justice. Bureau of Justice Statistics. http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/pub/pdf/cpa6597.pdf

In one study of suspected elder sexual abuse, females were assaulted six times as much as males.

Holt, Malcolm G. Elder Sexual Abuse in Britain: Preliminary Findings. Journal of Elder Abuse and Neglect. 5(2): 63-71. 1993.

During a three year study of elder sexual abuse, it was more common for there to be at least one witness to the sexual abuse (76.2%) than for it to occur without being witnessed (23.8%).

Teaster, Pamela, Roberto, Karen, Duke, Joy, and Myeonghwan, Kim. Sexual Abuse of Older Adults: Preliminary Findings of Cases in Virginia. Journal of Elder Abuse and Neglect. 12(3/4): 1-16. 1993.

During a three year study of elder sexual abuse, 16.7% of elder sexual abuse victims lived with family members while the majority (83.3%) lived in a nursing home or other adult care facility.

Teaster, Pamela, Roberto, Karen, Duke, Joy, and Myeonghwan, Kim. Sexual Abuse of Older Adults: Preliminary Findings of Cases in Virginia. Journal of Elder Abuse and Neglect. 12(3/4): 1-16. 1993.

In the same study, 12.2% of elder sexual abuse victimizations occurred at the victim’s home, 73.1% occurred in a nursing home or adult care facility and 14.6% occurred at the perpetrator’s home.

Teaster, Pamela, Roberto, Karen, Duke, Joy, and Myeonghwan, Kim. Sexual Abuse of Older Adults: Preliminary Findings of Cases in Virginia. Journal of Elder Abuse and Neglect. 12(3/4): 1-16. 1993.

In one study of elder sexual abuse (that did not screen for institutional sexual abuse), 81% of the suspected offender were caregivers, and 78% were family members (primarily husbands and sons). Over one-third (36%) of the suspected offenders were themselves elders.

Ramsey-Klawsnik, Holly. Elder Sexual Abuse: Preliminary Findings. Journal of Elder Abuse and Neglect. 3(3): 73-90. 1991.

A study of older rape victims (age range of 55-87; mean age of 68.8) it was found that:

•    79% were attacked by strangers;
•    Most attacks were in the victim’s home, after the perpetrator broke in or got in under false pretenses;
•    9.4% of the victims reported the rape to the police, compared to 24.5% of a control group of women aged 18-43;
•    50.9% of the older women sustained genital injuries, compared with 13.2% of the control group. Of the women who suffered genital injuries, 37% were severe enough to require surgical repair.

Muram, D., Miller, K. & Cutler, A. “Sexual Assault of the Elderly Victim.” Journal of Interpersonal Violence, March, 1992, pp. 70-76.

For more information on Elder Sexual Abuse please visit PCAR’s page on Diversity.