Sexual abuse of nursing home residents a growing problem

The details about John R. Riems’ alleged assaults against nursinghome residents seem grimly familiar to social workers.  They sayassaults against mute and helpless victims fit a pattern.  Thevictims of sexual abuse in nursing homes tend to be people who “arejust not able to defend themselves because of physical disabilities orcognitive impairments or just general frailty,” said SharonMerriman-Nai, co-manager of the National Center on Elder Abuse.  “Wedo typically see if we have those kinds of complaints, the victim issomeone who is not generally a good reporter,” echoed Beverley Laubert,Ohio’s Long-Term Care Ombudsman. Laubert’s office investigatescomplaints about nursing home care in Ohio.  Riems, recently firedfrom his position as a nurse at Concord Care and Rehabilitation Center,is accused of raping a 55-year-old man unable to talk or see because ofa stroke.

Source: http://www.sanduskyregister.com/articles/2008/01/24/front/577647.txt