Public views of sexual assault, and its prevention, in residential aged care facilities
| Published date | 01 March 2024 |
| DOI | http://doi.org/10.1177/26338076231207406 |
| Author | Madeline Lee,Emily Moir,Nadine McKillop |
| Date | 01 March 2024 |
| Subject Matter | Articles |
Public views of sexual assault,
and its prevention, in
residential aged care facilities
Madeline Lee , Emily Moir,
and Nadine McKillop
Sexual Violence Research and Prevention Unit, School of Law and
Society, University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia
Abstract
The prevalence of sexual assaults against older people in Residential Aged Care Facilities
(RACFs) is estimated to be more than double the incidents in the community, yet there is
a paucity of empirical research focused on this context. Considering significant revelations
and community concerns stemming from Australia’s recent Royal Commission into Aged
Care Quality and Safety, the current study sought to assess public knowledge of sexual assaults
in RACFs, specifically, the causes, delegations of responsibility, and possible solutions to limit
reoccurrences. Thematic analysis was conducted on 2,398 social media comments made in
response to posts concerning sexual assault in RACFs (n=27 sources). Results suggest sys-
temic factors frequently contributed to incidents (e.g., staffing insufficiencies, apathetic man-
agement, and meagre regulatory requirements), while improved guardianship, sanctions, and
regulation were expected to mitigate risk. Notably, the government was frequently blamed
for its role in establishing and maintaining conditions that manifest in abuse within RACFs,
with responsibility also delegated to family members. Importantly, public opinion strongly
coincided with prior empirical prevention recommendations, endorsing the implementation
of identified measures to limit sexual victimisation risk in RACFs.
Keywords
Sexual assault, aged care, social media, public views, guardianship, older people
Date received: 23 March 2023; accepted: 27 September 2023
Corresponding author:
Madeline Lee, Sexual Violence Research and Prevention Unit, School of Law and Society, University of the Sunshine
Coast, Queensland 4556, Australia.
Email: mlee3@usc.edu.au
Article
Journal of Criminology
2024, Vol. 57(1) 23–44
© The Author(s) 2024
Article reuse guidelines:
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DOI: 10.1177/26338076231207406
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Global ageing has seen increases in the number of older people requiring care in residential
aged care facilities (RACFs) (Smith et al., 2018), yet the cumulation of vulnerabilities in
these settings may heighten potential for abuse, specifically sexual assault. In fact, Yon
et al. (2018) estimates the prevalence of sexual victimisation in RACFs to be double than
that of incidents in the community (1.9% and 0.9%, respectively). Universally, sexual
assault against older people is a significantly under-researched phenomenon (Beauregard &
Chopin, 2021; Bows, 2018a, 2018b; Smith et al., 2018), perhaps consequential of the clandes-
tine nature of offences and ageist beliefs that older people are asexual beings and therefore not
targets for sexual violence (Burgess et al., 2000a; Goldblatt et al., 2022). The paucity of
research resulting from these influences has seen literature mainly pertaining to offence preva-
lence and characteristics (Yon et al., 2018), victimisation risk factors (Burgess & Phillips,
2006; Chopin & Beauregard, 2020; Smith et al., 2018), and the barriers older people face
when disclosing abuse (Bows, 2018b; Burnes et al., 2019; Cooper et al., 2013; Gill, 2022).
To date, no known literature has examined this issue through the lens of the public, who are
poised to guard against such abuse, presenting a unique opportunity to expand research in
this field.
It is recognised that older people often rely on others to act as guardians against abuse and
neglect, including sexual assault, or, when abuse has occurred, depend on them to formally
report alleged incidents (Burgess et al., 2000a; Radermacher et al., 2018). This dependency
is reflected in data from Australia’s Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission (2023),
which states that majority (58.7%) of RACF complaints are raised by resident representatives
or family members. Those who have, or know, someone receiving care in a residential facility
are evidently key advocates for ensuring the safety and wellbeing of residents, necessitating
exploration of what is known about the issue of sexual assaults in RACFs, perceptions of
responsibility, and possible opportunities for prevention. Further, it is important to assess
how these views align with current empirical knowledge to determine practical implications
that carry public endorsement (Richards & McCartan, 2018), therefore increasing likely
effectiveness.
Residential aged care facilities
The World Health Organization (2022) estimates that by 2050, the global proportion of people
aged 80 years and older will triple to 426 million individuals. This growth is likely to see
increasingly more older people requiring permanent care in a RACF as independence
diminishes. In Australia, where this study is conducted, the past decade has already seen an
8% increase in the number of older people accommodated in permanent residential care, result-
ing in approximately 180,750 residents nationally (GEN Aged Care Data, 2023). With an
ageing population, and a high proportion of people entering care in later life, it is crucial
that RACFs are equipped to provide appropriate care and safely meet diverse resident needs.
Significant concerns around aged care in Australia were subject to a Royal Commission into
Aged Care Quality and Safety (the Royal Commission) from 2018 to 2021 (Commonwealth of
Australia, 2021). This inquiry revealed that systemic failures, such as insufficient governance,
funding deficiencies, inadequate staff ratios, and unsatisfactory training procedures contributed
to a high prevalence of abuse in RACFs. Similar findings were identified by the European
Commission, with leniencies in regulatory enforcement seen as conducive to adverse aged
care outcomes throughout the OECD (OECD/European Commission, 2013). Collectively,
24 Journal of Criminology 57(1)
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