STD in Nursing Homes

Nursing home residents face unique challenges. Although they move into these facilities to receive ongoing care and daily living activity assistance, exposure to additional health concerns can turn the nursing home experience into a nightmare. 

Older adults in nursing homes are often more sexually active than most people think. Unfortunately, this can lead to the spread of sexually transmitted diseases from resident to resident. Let’s discuss the problem of STDs in nursing homes and what can be done to minimize their impact on a resident’s livelihood. 

Vulnerability of Nursing Home Residents to STDs

Sexually transmitted diseases are easily spread when safe practices are not used. Older adults tend to care less about safe sex, especially in nursing homes. Often, their rationale is that it doesn’t matter because they only have so much time left anyway. Or, they are simply ignorant of the dangers of having multiple sexual partners without thought of the repercussions. 

Lastly, older adults in nursing homes are more vulnerable to STDs because their immune systems are weaker. Even if they practice safe sex, they could still contract sexually transmitted infections because their body is unable to fight off these diseases. 

Importance of Prevention and Management

Although sexual health is important, and residents have the right to be sexually active, STDs in nursing homes must be prevented and managed. A sexually transmitted disease could put multiple residents in danger of significant health concerns, potentially resulting in death. 

As a result, staff members in nursing homes should focus on protocols that help prevent the spread of STDs. STD rates in nursing homes are much higher than the general population, so it is a significant issue that nursing staff must handle. 

Common Sexually Transmitted Diseases in Nursing Homes

Seniors living in nursing homes are at an increased risk of some significant STDs that they may not be physically capable of overcoming. While some conditions are manageable, more severe STDs could result in debilitating symptoms or even death. Here are some common STDs found in assisted living facilities. 

Bacterial STDs

An STD that is a bacterial infection is usually not as serious as a viral infection. Bacterial STDs can typically be treated with antibiotics. Some can be cured entirely with treatment. Syphilis starts as small sores or a rash but can escalate into brain, heart, and nerve conditions if left untreated. 

Gonorrhea affects the reproductive tract, mouth, eyes, throat, or rectum and can lead to painful inflammatory issues if no antibiotics are used. Chlamydia is more common in younger adults, but it can still affect sexually active nursing home residents. 

Viral STDs

In most scenarios, a viral STD is much worse than a bacterial infection. Many can be treated, but only to reduce the impact of symptoms. Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is one of the most well-known STDs and can lead to AIDS. 

There is also the herpes simplex virus, which causes painful blisters or sores. Human papillomavirus can be as minor as warts or as severe as cancer. Sex education is critical to prevent the spread of these viral infections. 

Factors Contributing to STD Transmission

Many factors contribute to the spread of sexually transmitted diseases in skilled nursing facilities. These elements are also present outside the context of a nursing home, but they are often exacerbated due to the conditions of a facility and the older population living there. 

Sexual Activity

Sexual activity is widespread in nursing homes. Although it is often consensual sex, there are also high rates of sexual abuse in these facilities. Sometimes, older adults feel no concern for their sexual health, and as long as there are two consenting residents, sex will have no consequences. 

Inadequate Screening and Prevention

STD screening is an essential process for nursing home staff. It can be used to identify patients who may have STDs and pass them along to others through sexual activity. 

Prevention measures should also be prioritized, such as providing free condoms or other means of protecting people from STDs in nursing homes. While it is not entirely up to the staff to prevent sexual activity, they are responsible for protecting residents from additional health conditions. 

Staff Education and Training

Education is the most essential tool in safe sexual activity. It may be difficult to convince older adults to abstain from sexual activity entirely, but education can inform them of the dangers of STDs. Staff must be educated and trained to handle sex education among the residents. 

The more educated this age group is about safe sex etiquette, the less likely there are to be STDs in nursing homes. This is a crucial element of disease control that will preserve the health of all residents. 

Legal Implications of STD Outbreaks

Frequent STDs in nursing homes may be a sign of negligence. Although every resident is an adult and free to engage in an active sex life, a nursing home staff is still responsible for preventing diseases from affecting other patients. An STD outbreak that affects many seniors in a facility could open that nursing home up to legal consequences. 

Regulatory Violations

An STD outbreak is a sign of failed education and disease control. The nursing home may have insufficient screening practices, sexual education courses, or prevention measures in place to stop the spread of STDs. 

These facilities could be hit with violations from state or federal entities for failing to maintain a certain standard of care and protection for residents. These violations may lead to fines, license revocations, or facility closures. 

Liability

Nursing homes may be liable for allowing an outbreak among this age group. They are tasked with caring for residents and preventing diseases that can put their health at risk, so failing to prevent the spread of an STD would be a sign of negligent practices. 

Liability could open a nursing home up to a lawsuit if a victim of the STD suffers legal damages due to staff negligence. 

Resident Rights

All nursing home residents have the right to be protected from sexually transmitted diseases. Although these conditions are spread through sexual contact, education, screening, and prevention can reduce the risk of an outbreak that affects the physical health of a patient. 

Shortcomings in these areas may violate resident rights since the staff failed to protect them from diseases. 

Prevention and Control Measures for Sexually Active Nursing Home Residents

These sexual issues can lead to devastating consequences for residents. Chlamydia infections can escalate into scarier conditions like epididymis in male residents. HIV can have lifelong consequences or cause premature death. Prevention and control measures are essential to mitigate the impact of sexual behavior among the residents. 

Sex Education and Awareness

The primary tool to protect seniors from these risk factors is safe sex education. The nursing home can offer mandatory classes for residents to tell them about the dangers of unprotected sex with other residents. 

These classes will raise awareness about contracting STDs while also removing the social stigma around sexual activity in a nursing home. While education is needed to protect seniors, it can also be used to inform family members of the risks of STD rates in nursing homes. 

Screening and Testing

Regular screening and testing are essential to prevent the spread of these diseases as people age. They may be less likely to disclose their STD to a sexual partner, resulting in a higher chance of transmission. 

It is essential to test seniors regularly for STDs, especially if they lead sexually active lifestyles. These tests can ensure the staff knows more about each resident’s sexual history and what diseases they may be exposed to when engaging in sex. 

Safe Sexual Health Practices

Safe sex etiquette can have a positive impact on the risk of STDs in nursing facilities. Residents who are educated and safely practice sex are less likely to transmit diseases to others. Abstinence is the safest way to avoid contracting an STD, but this is unlikely to be a long-term solution. 

Residents should have access to condoms to protect themselves from many STDs. Staff and residents should report any misconduct or suspicion of sexual abuse. Disclosing STDs to potential partners is another way to practice a safe and healthy sex life. Refraining from sex with multiple partners also reduces the chances of contracting an infection. 

Infection Control Measures

Preventing the spread of infections is a priority for nursing staff. The facility could be liable for nursing home negligence if it fails to control diseases. There are several strategies to mitigate the spread of all infections, including STDs. Hand hygiene is essential for both staff members and residents. 

Nurses should wear protective equipment when necessary. Linens should be cleaned and replaced regularly. High-touch areas like doorknobs and faucets should be disinfected consistently. Those who contract an STD should be isolated for treatment and to prevent further transmission. All outbreaks or diagnoses should be reported for greater communication. 

What Can a Care Home Lawyer Do?

When nursing homes fail to protect residents from STDs, they could face legal repercussions. Victims of STDs in nursing homes may have a case if the staff were negligent in preventing the spread. 

For example, the staff may have known that a specific patient had an STD but failed to take action to protect other future partners from infection. Nursing home lawyers specialize in elder abuse and nursing facility negligence. 

Legal Representation

If a resident or their family wants to file a complaint or lawsuit against the nursing home for negligence or abuse, they will need legal guidance from an experienced lawyer. You want to ensure the proper steps are followed, especially if your goal is to seek compensation for damages. 

Your nursing home neglect and abuse attorney will represent you throughout the claims process to increase your chances of winning. They will also protect your rights under state and federal laws, ensuring you avoid any missteps that could undermine your case. 

Advocacy

Older adults in retirement communities and nursing homes are often the most vulnerable. They may not understand their rights as residents or be able to stand up for their interests. If staff take advantage of or abuse them, a lawyer could be the victim’s best advocate. They will protect the victim’s rights and preserve their health and safety within the nursing home. 

Investigating Allegations

Allegations of inadequate STD control and prevention are complicated. Plaintiffs must prove that the nursing home was negligent in protecting their health. This will require evidence to support that claim. 

Experienced nursing home lawyers know how to investigate the case and find compelling evidence to support your pursuit of compensation. Additionally, that attorney will assess all legal damages to determine a fair settlement amount. 

Protect Your Rights – Reach Out to a Nursing Home Lawyer Now

Residents and their family members should consider legal action if they suspect staff negligence caused the spread of an STD. Perhaps your loved one is suffering from an infection that the facility should have known if they used proper screening techniques. 

Whatever the case may be, if your family member has suffered from an STD in a nursing home, you should seek legal advice from an experienced professional. 

The Nursing Home Law Center team is ready to discuss your case and represent you during the claims process. We will hold the facility responsible for the actions that led to the suffering of your loved one. Call us today at 800-926-7565 or complete the online form for a free consultation about your case.