Who to and how should I report nursing home abuse?
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Although variations exist from state to state, most states have laws that include criminal penalties for different types of elder abuse. Nursing homes are not exempt from these laws.
Although variations exist from state to state, most states have laws that include criminal penalties for different types of elder abuse. Nursing homes are not exempt from these laws.
Often, the reason nursing home abuse is not reported is because the individual homes do not take elderly abuse seriously. Residents are afraid they will be embarrassed, or hurt or rendered incapacitated if they tell.
In order for more abuse to be reported, it is important that citizens who have an elder in nursing home care, or citizens who just have concern for the elderly begin to hold perpetrators, administrators and nursing home employees accountable.
Any nursing home that is being considered for the new residence of an elderly person should be investigated thoroughly. Families of elderly residents must be aware of the signs of abuse and neglect so that any suspected residences can be reported. The only way to prevent more instances of abuse to other residents is to stop it immediately when it is suspected.
The main reasons abuse exists in nursing homes are:
- Undervalued employees
- Underpaid employees
- Untrained employees
- High employee turnover rate
These employees are not properly trained or paid to even bother to care about the residents, let alone challenge authority if they suspect abuse. They are afraid to risk their jobs when they do care.
In many cases, employees who have been charged with multiple incidents of abuse do not receive punishment and remain employed at the nursing home.
Who to Report Abuse to
If you or someone you love has been the victim of nursing home abuse, contact legal counsel to find out what your rights are. If someone is in immediate, life-threatening danger, call 9-1-1 immediately.
If the danger is not immediate, but abuse is suspected, you must tell someone. Contact:
- A doctor
- A friend
- A family member you trust
- Local adult protective services
- Eldercare Locator (1-800-677-1116) between 9:00am-8:00pm Monday-Friday Eastern Time
- Long-term care ombudsman for the appropriate state
- Local police
How to Report Abuse
It is each and everyone’s personal responsibility to report any suspected case of elderly abuse. When making a call to report abuse, you should be ready to give the elder’s name, address, contact information and details about your concerns.
Some questions you may need to answer include:
- Does the elderly person have any known medical problems? This includes confusion or memory loss.
- What kinds of family or other social support system does the elderly person have?
- Have you witnessed any incidents of hitting, yelling or other abusive behavior?
You will need to provide your name, address, phone number and how you can be contacted concerning the abuse report.
If you are reporting abuse but are not related to the victim, calling a nursing home abuse hotline is your smartest choice. Each state has organizations that monitor these hotlines and can offer help.
If you are making a formal complaint against a specific nursing home or staff member, you should find a sitter to monitor them in your absence or remove them from the nursing home. It is not uncommon for these elderly residents to be retaliated against once word of your report is out.
In Ohio, call or email <a href=http://www.rwklaw.com/>Robert W. Kerpsack Co., L.P.A.</a>, to schedule your free personal consultation.
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