The head of a national seniors’ advocacy organization says protecting nursing home residents from sexual abuse is an important but challenging issue.
Laura Tamblyn Watts, the CEO of CanAge, was responding to the Saint John police investigation into alleged sex offences at Loch Lomond Villa’s The Village involving at least a dozen victims, some into their 90s.
Long-term care homes typically have a variety of security measures, including video cameras, she said.
But it’s a “balancing act.”
“Long-term care homes are people’s homes, right? So they’re not supposed to be watched at every minute of every day. … Residents deserve their privacy.”
Laura Tamblyn Watts, CEO of CanAge, says sexual offences in nursing homes are rare, but any senior who reports abuse or expresses discomfort with someone needs to be taken seriously. The senior shouldn’t be dismissed by people thinking it’s a case of “cognitive impairment or frailty or paranoia.’’
The homes are also part of the community. People “should — and can — come in and out,” including relatives and other visitors, volunteers and sometimes people who are providing services, such as entertainment, said Tamblyn Watts, who is based in Toronto.
“We want to have a vibrant environment in long-term care,” she said.
The problem is that while employees and volunteers often go through “fairly significant screenings,” others do not.
“And because of the high-degree of dependency in people in long-term care, often with cognitive impairment, if sexual offences are occurring … it’s very hard for victims to say anything,” she said.
Suspect is ‘affiliated’ with the home
The Saint John Police Force announced the investigation Jan. 23 after being alerted by staff at the 100-bed nursing home on the city’s east side two days earlier.
The family protection unit has identified “over a dozen” victims so far, all in their 70s to 90s, Staff Sgt. Shawna Fowler has said.
Police have also identified a suspect, Fowler said. It’s not an employee or resident, but someone who is “affiliated” with the home.
Ashley King, the CEO of Loch Lomond Villa, has declined an interview with CBC News, citing the ongoing police investigation. But in an emailed statement she said impacted families have been informed and additional safety measures have been implemented, including on-site security.
Richard Losier, CEO of the New Brunswick Association of Nursing Homes, also declined to discuss security at the Villa — or any long-term care homes in the province.
The association “understands that Loch Lomond Villa is taking all necessary measures to ensure the safety and well-being of its residents, families, and staff, and is fully co-operating with law enforcement,” Losier said in an email.
“Given the ongoing police investigation, the New Brunswick Association of Nursing Homes will not provide comments or participate in interviews related to this matter, including broader discussions of security practices,” he said.
The Department of Social Development, which oversees long-term care, did not immediately respond to questions about safety requirements.
Security breaches can happen ‘pretty easily’
According to Tamblyn Watts, nursing homes are often older buildings and may not be making full use of modern technology for increased security.
Even with measures in place though, some breaches “can happen pretty easily,” she said.
It can be as simple as someone holding a locked door open for someone else, as sometimes happens at security apartment buildings, she noted.
In addition, while a criminal record check may be required for employees, contract workers or volunteers to deal with vulnerable seniors, if they’re from another province, any red flags could get missed, said Tamblyn Watts.
Staff shortages is also “always an issue,” she said.
“So more eyes are better. The more you have a person in a home who’s got a connection, a navigator, an advocate, a family member, someone who’s there and visiting, usually the safer that person is.”
Sexual abuse ‘quite rare’
Sexual offences at long-term care homes are “quite rare,” according to Tamblyn Watts.
“Families shouldn’t worry that it’s happening on a regular basis. This is an unusual incident.”
Sexual offences are the least common types of abuse that happen in long-term care, she said, and when they do occur, they tend to involve sexual touching or forced exhibitionism.
Having said that, the more vulnerable a person is, the more likely they are to be exploited. So any senior who reports sexual abuse needs to be taken seriously, she stressed.
“If you see someone saying that, ‘They’ve touched me,’ or that they’re really uncomfortable with somebody, believe them. Don’t dismiss them that it’s just cognitive impairment or frailty or paranoia,” she said.
“Take it for really what it is, which is an expression of concern, and make sure that you follow up on it.”
Counselling is crucial
It’s also important for elderly victims to get the proper counselling, said Tamblyn Watts.
There’s a common misconception that people with dementia or other cognitive impairments won’t remember if they’ve been sexually abused, she said.
“The evidence shows that it’s in the body as much as it’s in the mind and so while you may not remember the moment — and that could happen if anyone’s had a date rape drug or any other type of mind altering assault — we know that they will have physical responses and emotional responses,” she said.
“So we need to be looking out not just for the people that they’ve identified [as alleged victims at The Village] but for other residents or other people at the care home who may not yet have come forward or may not be able to come forward.”
Some of the signs to watch for, she said, are if people look scared, are shying away from a particular person, are flinching or withdrawn.
“These are all very natural ways of resisting any type of further invasion.”
Other residents and family members may also require counselling, Tamblyn Watts said.
“Many times people might want to sweep it under the rug … you know, ‘There but for the grace of God,’ or ‘It didn’t happen to my mom.’ But of course, people will feel quite insecure.
“Again, this is a rare instance. But it is a profound one, and that means we’re going to need some grief counseling as well as trauma counselling.”
Police have set up a dedicated phone line for affected families and are asking anyone with information to contact them at 506-648-3333 or anonymously through Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).
