Aging Sex Offenders

McKnights had an interesting article about America’s aging sexual predators being placed in nursing homes. The article highlights the growing challenge of providing long-term care for aging individuals on sex offender registries. Some nursing homes refuse to admit them, often due to stigma, liability concerns, or state laws that restrict where registrants can live.

Advocates argue for individualized assessments that consider a person’s age, health status, and actual risk level rather than automatic denial based on decades-old offenses.

One case described a man who was denied by over 200 facilities and died in transitional housing despite being medically stable and dependent on care.

With nearly 800,000 people on registries in the U.S., many of whom are aging into greater health needs, the lack of federal guidance leaves nursing homes to create their own, often blanket exclusion policies. Many end up in for-profit assisted living facilities with little oversight.