Sexually Transmitted Infections in Nursing Homes
- Reviewed By
Anthony C. Lanzone, Founding Partner
Table of Contents:
- How Do Sexually Transmitted Infections Occur in Nursing Homes?
- When Can STIs in Nursing Homes Be a Serious Indicator of Abuse or Neglect?
- Common Types of STIs Found in Care Facilities
- Legal Duties of Nursing Homes To Protect Residents from Sexual Harm
- Failures That Often Lead to Sexually Transmitted Infection Transmission in Nursing Homes
- Warning Signs Families Should Never Ignore
- What To Do if You Suspect a Nursing Home-Related STI Due to Neglect or Abuse
- How Our Team Investigates Nursing Home Abuse Cases
Sexually transmitted infections in nursing homes often point to lapses in resident care. Inadequate supervision, understaffing, or failure to protect residents with cognitive impairments can increase the risk of unsafe sexual interactions.
If your loved one has developed a sexually transmitted infection, or STI, at a California nursing home facility, Lanzone Morgan, LLP, can help. We will investigate to determine how it happened and seek accountability for the harm. Our firm has recovered over $250 million in settlements and verdicts for nursing home abuse victims and their loved ones, and we’re ready to put that track record to work for your family.
How Do Sexually Transmitted Infections Occur in Nursing Homes?
About 40% of adults aged 65 to 80 are sexually active, so some STIs in nursing homes arise from consensual sex between residents. However, many nursing home residents suffer from cognitive impairments and lack the capacity to consent to sexual activity. Thus, some STI cases are linked to sexual abuse. Research has found that 0.6% of older adults in the United States experience sexual abuse. In nursing home settings, this mistreatment may be perpetrated either by staff members or other residents.
Residents with cognitive impairments face higher risks, as dementia can limit a person’s ability to report misconduct. Without proper supervision, abuse may go unnoticed, meaning the true prevalence may be higher than the data suggests.
When Can STIs in Nursing Homes Be a Serious Indicator of Abuse or Neglect?
A sexually transmitted infection in a nursing home may raise red flags when the resident cannot reasonably consent to sexual activity. Residents who are particularly at risk include those with advanced dementia, those who are nonverbal, or those who depend on staff for most daily care. In these situations, an STI diagnosis may suggest inappropriate sexual contact involving another resident or a staff member.
Common Types of STIs Found in Care Facilities
Herpes simplex virus, gonorrhea, syphilis, and chlamydia are among the most commonly reported STIs in California nursing home facilities. The ways these infections present can vary, and the range of symptoms is wide.
The rates of these sexually transmitted infections in the elderly have risen sharply in recent years. Cases of chlamydia in adults 65 and older more than tripled between 2010 and 2023. At the same time, gonorrhea rates increased sixfold, and syphilis rose nearly tenfold.
Low condom usage due to the reduced risk of pregnancy in older age and limited STI awareness can contribute to transmission between consenting residents in nursing homes. In some situations, infections result from sexual abuse by staff members or the failure to protect vulnerable residents from non-consensual sexual contact with other residents or visitors.
Legal Duties of Nursing Homes To Protect Residents from Sexual Harm
The federal Nursing Home Reform Act grants residents the right to be free from abuse, neglect, and exploitation. Therefore, facilities must take reasonable steps to prevent harm. Nursing homes must also report suspected abuse to state authorities and take steps to prevent further harm while an investigation is underway.
California has enhanced these protections with the Skilled Nursing and Intermediate Care Facility Patient’s Bill of Rights, which also requires facilities to have an adequate number of qualified staff members to carry out all functions, including resident supervision.
Failures That Often Lead to Sexually Transmitted Infection Transmission in Nursing Homes
Many cases of STIs in vulnerable nursing home residents occur when facilities fail to supervise residents’ interactions. For example, a nursing home may fail to adequately supervise a cognitively impaired resident’s time with others. Understaffing or insufficient training on protecting residents from sexual abuse may also be responsible.
If a staff member commits abuse, it may point to inadequate screening during hiring. A facility’s failure to perform background checks can place residents at risk. Many nursing home red
Poor reporting practices can also increase the likelihood of sexual abuse. Preventable harm may occur when facilities fail to document prior incidents of inappropriate behavior, implement safety measures when residents exhibit sexual misconduct, or remove staff after complaints of mistreatment.
Sometimes, an STI diagnosis may reflect failures in medical oversight. Facilities are responsible for assessing risks and coordinating preventive care when indicated. They must evaluate sexually active residents and consider preventive measures, such as HPV or hepatitis B vaccinations, when appropriate.
Warning Signs Families Should Never Ignore
Sexually transmitted infections are often overlooked in nursing homes because symptoms can resemble common age-related health issues. However, it’s important to take sudden changes in your loved one’s health seriously.
Any of the following signs may suggest your loved one has developed an STI:
- Painful urination or bowel movements
- Lower back pain
- Pain or itching in the genital or rectal area
- Vaginal bleeding
- Unusual vaginal odor or discharge
- Ongoing fever
- Swollen lymph nodes
- Unexplained fatigue
- Bumps or blisters around the genitals or rectum
- Pressure or pain in the stomach area
- Yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes
- Loss of appetite or unexplained weight loss
- Clay-colored stool
- Rashes
A resident with a cognitive impairment may not be able to describe their symptoms, and behavioral changes may be the only indication that something is wrong. These changes can include increased agitation, social withdrawal, sleep disturbances, or resistance to bathing, toileting, or dressing due to discomfort. If you suspect that your loved one may have an STI, arrange a medical evaluation as soon as possible.
“People always ask me, ' How do you know when somebody's being neglected?’ Listen to your gut, number one. If your gut's telling you there's something wrong, act upon it. Call us. We'll check it out and make sure that your loved one's being taken care of appropriately.”
What To Do if You Suspect a Nursing Home-Related STI Due to Neglect or Abuse
If you suspect your loved one has developed a sexually transmitted infection in a nursing home, taking prompt action can help protect their health and preserve important evidence. Here’s what you can do:
- Document your observations. Write down what you notice, including new symptoms and behavioral changes.
- Get immediate medical attention. Explain your concerns to your loved one’s health care provider, and ask them to test for common infections.
- Speak with the nursing home’s management after a diagnosis. Notify supervisors, and request a formal investigation into how the infection may have occurred.
- Report any concerns to authorities. For complaints against a nursing home, you can contact the California Department of Health at (800) 554-0354. If you’re concerned about current neglect or abuse, contact the California Department of Aging Long-Term Care Ombudsman CRISIS Line at (800) 231-4024.
How Our Team Investigates California Nursing Home Abuse Cases
If your loved one has developed a sexually transmitted infection in a nursing home, our firm can investigate to determine whether abuse or neglect played a role. When you turn to us for help, our team will review medical records, incident reports, staffing documents, security footage, and facility policies to determine how the infection may have occurred. We may also review prior complaints to identify patterns that may point to broader safety failures.
Once we determine what happened, our attorneys will seek compensation for medical expenses, ongoing care needs, pain and suffering, emotional trauma, and other losses related to your loved one’s infection. In cases involving extreme misconduct, punitive damages may also be available. Beyond financial recovery, our advocacy can help expose systemic issues and prevent others from suffering similar harm in the future.
You’re not alone in your fight for accountability. Lanzone Morgan, LLP, is here to guide your family on a path forward. Call 888-887-9777 or contact us online for a free consultation.
- Fact-Checked
This content has been legally reviewed and approved by nursing home abuse attorney, Anthony Lanzone. Anthony holds notable memberships with professional organizations including the American Association for Justice and Consumer Attorneys of California.
VIEW SOURCES
- 42 U.S. Code § 1395i-3 – Requirements for, and assuring quality of care in, skilled nursing facilities. (n.d.). Legal Information Institute. https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/42/1395i-3
- California Code, HSC 1599.1. (n.d.). https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=HSC§ionNum=1599.1
- Malmedal, W., Iversen, M. H., & Kilvik, A. (2015). Sexual Abuse of Older Nursing Home Residents: A Literature Review. Nursing Research and Practice. https://doi.org/10.1155/2015/902515
- Sexually transmitted disease (STD) symptoms. (n.d.). Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/sexually-transmitted-diseases-stds/in-depth/std-symptoms/art-20047081
With STIs on rise among older adults, here’s what doctors can do. (n.d.). American Medical Association. https://www.ama-assn.org/public-health/population-health/stis-rise-among-older-adults-here-s-what-doctors-can-do
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- Fact-Checked
This content has been legally reviewed and approved by nursing home abuse attorney, Anthony Lanzone. Anthony holds notable memberships with professional organizations including the American Association for Justice and Consumer Attorneys of California.
VIEW SOURCES
- 42 U.S. Code § 1395i-3 – Requirements for, and assuring quality of care in, skilled nursing facilities. (n.d.). Legal Information Institute. https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/42/1395i-3
- California Code, HSC 1599.1. (n.d.). https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=HSC§ionNum=1599.1
- Malmedal, W., Iversen, M. H., & Kilvik, A. (2015). Sexual Abuse of Older Nursing Home Residents: A Literature Review. Nursing Research and Practice. https://doi.org/10.1155/2015/902515
- Sexually transmitted disease (STD) symptoms. (n.d.). Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/sexually-transmitted-diseases-stds/in-depth/std-symptoms/art-20047081
- With STIs on rise among older adults, here’s what doctors can do. (n.d.). American Medical Association. https://www.ama-assn.org/public-health/population-health/stis-rise-among-older-adults-here-s-what-doctors-can-do