Report Nursing Home Abuse

How to Report Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect

Nursing home abuse is a serious crime that can quickly worsen and even turn deadly if not stopped. There are many ways that you can report nursing home abuse, from local agencies to national organizations.

Nursing home abuse can also be reported by:

• Calling a nursing home abuse hotline
• Connecting with an ombudsman (representatives for residents)
• Contacting Adult Protective Services (APS) in your state
• Working with doctors and other medical personnel

By reporting suspected abuse, you can open an investigation into an older person’s overall well-being while they are living in a facility. You may even be able to hold nursing facilities legally accountable if they harmed your loved one.

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Nursing Home Abuse Reporting Options

It’s key to know about your options to report nursing home abuse so you can find the best resources that will help your loved one.

Below, find some of the most important people and groups that you can report nursing home abuse to.

Ombudsmen

A nursing home ombudsman protects the rights of nursing home patients and resolves issues concerning their health and safety. Ombudsmen serve as a middleman between long-term care facilities and residents.

All states and several U.S. territories were granted a long-term care ombudsman program under 1972’s Older Americans Act.

Ombudsmen are responsible for:

• Addressing resident complaints of poor treatment, neglect, or abuse
• Educating older people about their rights and available resources
• Recommending changes based on their experiences with older Americans

You can find your state’s ombudsman through the National Long-Term Care Ombudsman Resource Center. From there, your concerns and complaints can be addressed through an investigation.

Local Authorities

You can report nursing home abuse through local authorities such as the police or your state’s Adult Protective Services (APS) branch.

The police can help you take immediate action if an elder has been seriously harmed or died due to abuse.

Law enforcement can file criminal charges for:

• Assault or homicide
• Emotional abuse or harassment
• Sexual or financial coercion

Call your local APS branch if you believe an older loved one might be suffering from abuse or neglect. A social worker can take note of your concerns and launch an investigation into the elder’s well-being.

To find phone numbers for local branches of the APS, visit the National Adult Protective Services Association website.

Eldercare Locator

The Eldercare Locator is a federal service sponsored by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). It connects seniors to housing, health care, and other government resources.

Learn more by calling the toll-free elder and nursing home abuse complaint hotline at 1-800-677-1116. Operators are standing by Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern time. You may also visit eldercare.acl.gov.

National Center on Elder Abuse

Established in 1988, the National Center on Elder Abuse (NCEA) is a hub of information and resources. This advocacy group works to make it easier to spot and report nursing home abuse through education and training. It also lobbies for policy changes to improve the quality of life for elders.

Through the NCEA, you can learn how to:

• Connect with local elder support resources
• Identify and report nursing home abuse
• Spread awareness about elder abuse

Doctors and Medical Experts

It can be hard to know the difference between symptoms of normal aging and mistreatment. Problems like bruised skin, frequent falls, bedsores, and dehydration are not always evidence of neglect or abuse. This is where a medical expert’s opinion can help.

“[Doctors] are in a unique place to be able to comprehensively look at a patient. They have an opportunity to identify elder abuse and to reach out to the community or make appropriate referrals to break the cycle of violence or neglect.”

Doctors can examine nursing home residents for physical and emotional signs of abuse or neglect.

Confidential Reporting

Every state has regulations so people can file confidential elder abuse reports, according to the National Adult Protective Services Association (NAPSA). All calls to NAPSA are confidential.

Under state rules, those who report nursing home abuse will have their identities kept safe unless they agree to reveal it or a court orders them to do so. They are also protected from retaliation or legal action.

Staff members are obligated both by law and internal policies at assisted living facilities to report nursing home abuse and neglect. Nursing home staff can report abuse without facing disciplinary action from their employer or legal liability.

Ignoring abuse carries serious penalties. Nursing home abuse may only worsen if left unchecked, meaning your loved one could continue to suffer.

Further, staff members and home care providers who ignore abuse may be fired, lose their medical license, or get arrested. Caregivers also can face civil lawsuits for abuse or negligence.

Reporting Nursing Home Abuse Types and Warning Signs

Although many people may think nursing home abuse is only limited to physical harm, there are many ways that older adults can suffer. Nursing home residents can also experience emotional mistreatment, neglect, and sexual abuse.

Reporting the different types of nursing home abuse can be a challenge since the signs of each may vary greatly. However, one common thread is that abuse or neglect will lead to negative changes in your loved one’s physical or emotional health.

Reporting possible signs of any type of abuse can help to stop problems before they worsen. Warning signs of nursing home abuse are listed below.

• Changes in behavior or sleep patterns
• New onset of depression, fear, or anxiety

• Broken bones
• Bruises and welts
• Cuts, burns, or sores

• Lack of good hygiene (soiled clothes, unclean hair)
• Missing medical devices (hearing aids, glasses, medications)
• Poor nutrition and dehydration

• Bruising and/or bleeding around the genitals
• Development of STDs
• Stained or torn clothing or bedding

Was your loved one abused or neglected? Get a free case review — compensation may be available.

Documenting Warning Signs of Nursing Home Abuse

If you suspect a loved one is being harmed, note any possible signs the moment your suspicions are raised.

Keeping track of the signs of nursing home abuse and neglect can make it easier to report them later on. It can also strengthen the case if it results in a criminal case or nursing home abuse lawsuit.

To start, write down when you first noticed negative changes in your loved one and include as much detail as possible of when, where, and how the abuse occurred.

It may also be helpful to take photos as evidence if you think your loved one is suffering from neglect or physical abuse.

Next Steps to Report Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect

By reporting nursing home abuse, you and your family members can begin to heal from this awful trauma. Reporting abuse also helps bring those responsible to justice and prevents them from harming others.

If you have questions or concerns about reporting nursing home abuse, connect with our team. Our Patient Advocates can assess possible cases of nursing home abuse or neglect and recommend next steps for you to take.

You can also learn if financial compensation is available to cover medical treatments and other expenses.

Get started today with a free case review.