◀ Anchor ▶
It has been confirmed that a sexual assault incident occurred at a nursing home in Ulsan, where suspicion of elder abuse recently arose.
Four months ago, a report was received that an elderly male sexually abused an elderly female, but the agency specializing in the protection of the elderly did not notify the police, and it turned out that the family members were notified of this fact only following several months.
Reporter Lee Yong-ju covered the story exclusively.
◀ Report ▶
A nursing home in Ulsan.
A report has been received that seniors with dementia were abused, such as being tied to their beds all day, and an investigation is underway.
However, in mid-July, a report was received by the Ulsan Senior Protection Agency that an elderly male at the nursing home had touched or exposed his body to several elderly women for four months.
An official from a nursing home who worked at the time testified to reporters that he had witnessed an elderly male lying in the bed of an elderly female several times.
It is said that most of the elderly victims suffered from dementia and might not resist properly.
However, the problem arose following the report was received.
Although there was a report of sexual assault, the police did not investigate.
[울산동구청 관계자]
“(Elderly protection agency) said that at the time. Actually, it’s a bit difficult to report things like this to the police. Since the elderly with dementia do it to the elderly with dementia. Even if you report the police investigation, it’s actually a big deal…”
The nursing home only took measures to move the elderly female victims to another floor, and the elderly male was discharged following being in the nursing home for a month and a half.
Even the guardians of the elderly victims were not informed of this fact.
Two months later, when the supervising agency, Ulsan Dong-gu Office, learned regarding the occurrence of sexual violence, it turned out that only then did they contact the guardians.
The agency specializing in protection of the elderly replied, “It is not their responsibility to contact the guardians” for not immediately notifying the guardians of the damage of sexual violence.
[노인 보호 전문기관 관계자]
“We are an agency that investigates reports of elder abuse… so it’s not something we can say or do.”
Even if a sexual assault incident occurs in a nursing home, it is difficult for the elderly or family members to know regarding it, let alone legal protection.
[홍정련/울산 장애인인권복지협회 대표]
“Especially for those who cannot express their opinions, I think that this is the basic thing that the family should know regarding these judgments first.”
In September, two months later, the agency specializing in the protection of the elderly made a judgment of ‘negligence and abuse’ by only asking the nursing home for management responsibility.
This is Lee Yong-ju of MBC News.
Video coverage: Choi Chang-won, Jeon Sang-beom (Ulsan)
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