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Hundreds of Sex Offenders in
Americas Nursing Homes
Six are in their 90s, one convicted at
86
July 12, 2004 A shocking study reveals hundreds
of registered sex offenders living in nursing homes in 37 states across
America, according to findings released yesterday by the non-profit
disability and elder rights group, A Perfect Cause.
The study documents 380 registered sex offenders
residing in 289 nursing homes. The report shows 44.5% are under 60 years
of age, according to the online profiles of 346 offenders. Of the six
offenders in their 90s, one had no date of conviction listed, one was
convicted when he was 78, and the other four were convicted in their 80s
the oldest being 86.
Our study dispels the myths that only old
offenders are being placed in nursing homes and that just because they
are old, they no longer pose a threat to others, states Wes Bledsoe,
president of A Perfect Cause.
Cases of rape and assault are also documented in
the study. In the course of this study A Perfect Cause secured
information about the rape of a 78-year-old female resident, alleged
against a 43-year-old double amputee. Another case documents the rape of
a 73-year-old female resident by a convicted child molester, also in his
40s. Both alleged assailants were residents in the nursing homes.
A Perfect Causes study also documents care issues
in those facilities housing sex offenders. 145 facilities had more
deficiencies than the national average, there were 156 neglect and abuse
citations, and staffing in over 80% of the facilities was less than the
national average for resident care hours per day.
This is just the tip of the iceberg, says
Bledsoe. This does not include all sex offenders, prison and county
jail inmates, parolees, or violent offenders found incompetent to stand
trial who are being housed in nursing homes, by state and county
agencies across our nation.
The study, Predators in Americas Nursing Homes,
Registered Sex Offenders Residing in Nursing Homes Analysis, includes
the names of sex offenders and nursing homes housing these offenders.
The study is posted on A Perfect Causes website at
www.APerfectCause.org.
A Perfect Cause is a non-profit, disability and
elders rights advocacy group founded after the death of Bledsoes
grandmother, Eunice Allen, an Oklahoma City nursing home victim. |
