The risk of being a victim of sexual assault doesn’t cease when we reach a certain age; anyone can become a victim at any stage of his or her life. Unfortunately, as a society, we are often misled to believe that sexual assault is only attributed to younger populations, which is far from the truth.
“People usually don’t associate sexual assault with older adults because they often don’t think of them as sexual beings,” said Nicole Kirstein, senior director of Prevention and Empowerment Services at YWCA McLean County. “But sexual assault is one of the most underreported crimes against older adults.”
Perpetrators know no age boundaries; in fact, they most often target groups that are vulnerable in some way, which includes older adults. This population is seen as an easier target because they often rely on others to care for them and can sometimes be limited in their physical capabilities to protect themselves. But, this does not mean that older adults are less intelligent or less able to make an informed decision. No matter the age, voluntary consent is necessary for any sexual activity to take place.
There are two common obstacles to overcome when working with an older adult sexual assault victim; the first being that victims can be prohibited by physical, cognitive, or functional limitations when it comes to traveling to sexual assault centers to receive counseling services.
“We understand some people might face barriers that don’t allow them to leave their homes or nursing homes,” said Kirstein. “Counselors from Stepping Stones can come to them instead. We can’t meet in their own private homes, but there are often private rooms in apartment buildings or care facilities where we could sit down to talk with them. Another option is for clients to use YWCA McLean County’s Transportation Services. Vehicles are ADA compliant and the driver will get out of the van to accompany the rider to his/her destination, making sure the client arrives safely. ”
A second barrier to overcome when dealing with elderly victims is one of a generational issue. In this day and age, our society as a whole is more open to discussing sexual matters than it was in previous years. But many older adults come from social climates where openly discussing such things was not deemed acceptable. Sexual activities were seen as a very private event that should not be aired in public. On top of that, rape victims were blamed even more frequently than they are now, and advocacy services were few and far between. It is difficult to overcome the stigma the older adult population has attached to sexual assault because of the communities and eras they grew up in.
“We understand there may not have been support back then like there is now,” said Kirstein. “That’s why we are always here to believe and listen to victims, never to question them.”
It is important to realize that some older adults might also have to deal with past traumas. Some people might not have realized what happened to them when they were younger until much later in life; or they might have grandkids who are now around the same age they were when they were assaulted, which can bring forth repressed memories; or maybe their perpetrator passed away and they finally feel safe to come forward.
“It’s essential to know that it’s never too late to talk about sexual abuse,” said Kirstein. “We have to recognize that people do have the ability to recover from the past.”
Stepping Stones is YWCA McLean County’s sexual assault program. It provides free 24-hour assistance for sexual assault and sexual abuse victims and their families throughout McLean County. If you need to reach a sexual assault advocate, call the 24-hour PATH hotline at 309-827-4005, or call the YWCA at 309-662-0461.