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| Elderly & Disabled Victims |
What If the Survivor Has a Disability?
Sexual assaults against individuals with physical, visual, mental or emotional disabilities are very common. People who commit these assaults perceive people with disabilities as easy targets. People who commit these crimes are often family members, caretakers or family friends who repeat their abuse because their victims are not able to report the crimes against them.
Strangers may also target individuals who have developmental and physical disabilities and live alone. They are less able to physically defend themselves, less able to hear a perpetrator enter the home and less likely to have anyone in the home to interrupt the assault. Individuals who are mentally challenged have an added vulnerability to assaults because they are so trusting of others.
Those with disabilities will experience many of the same feelings as other survivors. It is not uncommon for the assault to increase their feelings of helplessness. Seeking emotional support and other assistance from local agencies that advocate for persons with disabilities is recommended. It is not uncommon for family and friends of the survivor to become overprotective and limit the survivor’s ability to live independently.
When medical personnel treat a survivor who is mentally, physically or developmentally challenged, medical personnel are mandated to report the assault to a law enforcement agency. Referrals to specialized support services are available and necessary for those who may need protection, physical assistance and transportation for follow-up treatment and counseling.
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What If the Survivor Is Deaf?
Survivors who are deaf or have difficulty hearing face specific issues. The most significant is communication accessibility. Some survivors may experience a tendency for people to ignore them. This is not uncommon when people do not know how to respond to those who do not hear well or are deaf.
Law enforcement, hospitals, and prosecuting attorneys are all required by law to provide sign-language interpreters and other auxiliary aids as needed. It can be very helpful to have an advocate work with the survivor to be sure that the needed services are delivered.
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What If the Survivor Is Elderly?
Elderly survivors of sexual assault, as well as most other victims, may experience extreme humiliation, shock, disbelief and denial about what has happened. Often the full emotional impact of the assault may not be felt until after the initial contact with medical, police, legal and advocacy groups. Fear, anger or depression can be especially severe in survivors who are elderly who many times are isolated, have no confidant or family and live on meager incomes.
These are normal feelings and talking with someone can help. Elderly survivors are physically more fragile and injuries from an assault are more likely to be life threatening. In addition to possible pelvic injury and sexually transmitted disease, elderly survivors may be more at risk for other tissue or skeletal damage. The assault may exacerbate any existing illness or vulnerabilities. Thus, the recovery process for elderly survivors tends to be longer than for younger survivors.
If the sexual assault took place in a health care facility, a law enforcement agency (city, county or state) must be notified. The law enforcemenbt agency is responsible for reporting the incident to the Department of Health and Human Resources, Adult Protective Services (1-800-352-6531).
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What Are The Emotional Effects Of Sexual Assault?
Survivors of rape may experience many feelings. These emotions are normal responses to a traumatic event. There is no “right way” to feel.
No two people react in exactly the same way. Emotions may be very frequent and strong for one person, less intense for another. Some survivors may go through a period of strong emotions for a short time after the rape. Others will seem to have put the rape behind them, only to have the feelings return at a later time.
Immediately after a rape, survivors may feel:
- numb
- disorganized and confused
- unable to talk about it
- they want to forget it ever
- happened
- emotionally upset and tearful
- very calm
- distrustful of others
Later, survivors may feel:
- helpless
- depressed
- angry—suspicious of others
- afraid
- irritable
- guilty
- apathetic
- alone, isolated
- vulnerable
- nervous
- impatient
Some survivors may wonder if they are going crazy because of the strong feelings they have. Survivors may swing from one emotion to another, thinking that they have lost control. It is important to remember that this is a common response to a very stressful event.
Survivors may also have nightmares, insomnia, changes in eating habits, nausea, stomach pains and flashbacks. It may seem that they are reliving the rape all over again. Remember that recovery takes time. It can be helpful for them to talk to someone who will understand and support them through this difficult time.
Survivors may ask “Why me?” or “What did I do to cause this to happen?”. It is important to remember that the responsibility for the rape lies with the rapist. Rape has nothing to do with the way someone looked, walked or dressed. Sexual assault is a crime of aggression, humiliation and power.
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