TALLAHASSEE, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Florida Council Against Sexual Violence joined with Families for Better Care today to demand that a Volusia County nursing home cease their deliberate blockade of local law enforcement officials so that an alleged rape could be fully investigated for the safety of all residents.
Local news outlets reported last week that the Daytona Beach Health and Rehabilitation Center, located at 1055 3rd Street, and its parent company, NHS Management, LLC, impeded a criminal investigation after a 75-year-old resident’s daughter reported that her mother was sexually assaulted.
“Actions by this nursing home and its owners are potentially endangering the dozens of other residents who call Daytona Beach Health and Rehabilitation Center home,” said Brian Lee, executive director of Families for Better Care. “We plead with this nursing home to do the right thing for the sake of the residents and their families, allow the police to get in there and do their jobs, to determine if a crime was committed, and to arrest any and all perpetrators,” said Lee.
Low staffing levels during evening and weekend shifts can make nursing homes an easy target for violent sexual offenders.
“Sadly, the risk of sexual violence in nursing homes is a grim reality for the more than 150,000 residents who live Florida’s 680 nursing homes statewide — most of whom are women,” said Jennifer Dritt, executive director of Florida Council Against Sexual Violence. “The medically frail condition of nursing home residents, coupled with an inadequate number of overworked caregivers, make residents especially vulnerable to sexual violence.”
“And while nursing homes are required to conduct federal background checks on all workers, sometimes these checks are neglected,” Dritt continued. “That’s why families should always take special note of who is living around and working with their loved ones, even checking Florida’s sex offender database to make sure no sex offenders or predators live in or work at the nursing home.”
“If anyone ever suspects that a nursing home resident is being abused or neglected, call 9-1-1 immediately and then call Adult Protective Services at 1-800-962-2873,” said Lee.
“If we’re going to put an end to sexual violence against our parents and grandparents living in nursing homes, those who run such facilities have to stop pretending it doesn’t happen, take measures to prevent it, and cooperate with investigations when crimes occur,” said Dritt.
About The Florida Council Against Sexual Violence
The Florida Council Against Sexual Violence is the statewide nonprofit advocacy organization working to improve the response to victims of sexual assault, support local sexual assault crisis programs, and create safe, just communities. More information about Florida Council Against Sexual Violence is available at http://www.fcasv.org.
About Families for Better Care
Families for Better Care is a national nonprofit advocacy group dedicated to creating public awareness of the conditions in our nation’s nursing homes and other long-term care settings and developing effective solutions for improving quality of life and care. More information about Families for Better Care is available at http://familiesforbettercare.com.
