Knowing how to report nursing home abuse is essential to protecting vulnerable aging and disabled people living in long-term care facilities.
If you believe your loved one is suffering abuse or neglect in a nursing home, there are several options for reporting the abuse that should spur an investigation and protect all residents in the facility. When your family member was hurt, you should also consider discussing your legal options with an Annapolis nursing home abuse lawyer. They can help you build a case and seek justice for your loved one.
Steps to Take If You Suspect Nursing Home Abuse in a Facility Near You
If you see signs of abuse or suspect that your loved one or another resident is a victim of any type of nursing home abuse (neglect, physical abuse, psychological abuse, financial abuse, or sexual abuse), gather as much evidence as possible to support your suspicions. Document what you observed. Take notes and photograph injuries when possible. Write down the dates and details of what you saw.
Next, it is time to report the abuse. This is where you have several options to choose from. They include:
- The Facility Administrators: When you report concerns about abuse or neglect to the nursing home management, they must investigate your allegations. However, many people feel this is an ineffective way to address concerns or have already tried to talk to the administrators and received unsatisfactory results.
- The Department of Aging: The local or state department of aging or adult protective services can be a key resource in these cases. Most state offices have elder abuse reporting online or via an abuse hotline.
- The Long-Term Care Ombudsman: The long-term care ombudsman program advocates for residents of nursing homes. They can direct you to the best place to file a complaint and ensure your loved one and other residents receive appropriate care and support.
- State Licensing Authorities: In many states, the state regulatory agency that oversees nursing homes has a system for taking complaints and investigating misconduct, neglect, or abuse.
- Call 911: If the abuse is severe, residents are in immediate physical danger, or you believe the abuser is engaging in physical or sexual abuse, dialing 911 immediately is the best way to protect your loved one and other residents.
It is also a good idea to contact an experienced nursing home lawyer near you as soon as possible. Some people opt to hire a lawyer before reporting the abuse.
Your lawyer will help you through this process. In addition, they will investigate the abuse and gather evidence, building a strong case to hold the nursing home accountable and recover compensation for your loved one.
Your priority must be the safety of your loved one and other vulnerable residents in the facility who may not be able to protect themselves. Reporting the abuse is critical. However, you also want a strong advocate on your side who can help your family get justice.
For a free legal consultation, call,
(888) 585-2188
What Is Nursing Home Abuse?
When we trust a long-term care facility to provide care and support to aging or disabled loved ones, we want to believe that staff and administrators have the residents’ best interests in mind. However, this is not always the case.
Neglect or intentional abuse can cause serious harm and even fatal injuries.
What Is Nursing Home Neglect?
Neglect is one of the most common forms of senior abuse, both inside long-term care facilities and in private homes. It occurs when the individual’s needs are not being met, and this leads to injuries.
This could include missing meals, skipping medication doses, not having help to go to the bathroom, staying in bed all day, and having dirty clothes and bedding.
In nursing homes, common causes of neglect include overcrowding, being understaffed, and not having properly trained or certified staff. While the workers typically do not intend to harm residents through neglect, the administrators must ensure all residents receive the appropriate level of care.
How does Nursing Home Abuse Occur?
While neglect can be unintentional, abuse always occurs intentionally. A staff member, volunteer, or visitor causes harm through physical, emotional, financial, or sexual abuse.
The severity of the abuse and injuries it causes can vary widely. Victims may need medical treatment for physical injuries or emotional distress.
What Are the Signs of Nursing Home Abuse?
Nursing home abuse is shockingly common. The best way to protect your family member living in a long-term care facility is to keep your eyes open for any indications of abuse. According to the National Institute on Aging, some of the signs you should watch for when visiting your loved one’s nursing home include:
- Physical Abuse: Physical abuse causes unexplained injuries. This could include bruises, scrapes, burns, and other injuries that do not fit the explanation of their cause. Be especially wary of possible signs of punishment or unnecessary restraint, such as bruising around the wrists.
- Emotional Abuse: Emotional abuse can cause depression, anxiety, and changes in behavior. Your loved one may act scared of a particular staff member or suddenly be unwilling to discuss certain parts of their day.
- Neglect: Neglect often leads to preventable health problems, such as bedsores, dehydration, and side effects from missed doses of medicine. Unclean living conditions are another clear sign of neglect.
- Sexual Abuse: Signs of sexual abuse include sudden changes in mood, social isolation, becoming unwilling to talk about their day, and physical injuries such as bruising on the breasts or around the genitals.
Click to contact our personal injury lawyers today
Talk to a Nursing Home Abuse Attorney About Your Loved One Today
Jenner Law provides free consultations for families whose loved ones experienced nursing home abuse. We can assess your family’s legal options based on the details of your case. We will help you report the abuse to authorities and fight for justice for your loved one.
Contact us today to get started.
Call or text (888) 585-2188 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form