If a loved one is being abused at their nursing home, you may notice warning signs like:
- Unexplained bruising on their body
- Increased anxiety or depression
- Bedsores and an appearance of malnutrition
- Other physical changes
In some cases, your loved one may directly tell you about the abuse. No matter how you discover the abuse, you want to report it as soon as possible. It can be hard to navigate the different pathways available for reporting abuse, so here are four recommended avenues:
1. Contact The Authorities
One proactive way to report nursing home abuse is by contacting your local police or reaching out to your state’s Adult Protective Services branch. Officers can act if your loved one has obtained injuries or if they have died from the effects of abuse. They will press charges in instances of:
- Physical abuse
- Homicide
- Neglect
- Emotional abuse
- Sexual abuse or misconduct
- Harassment of any kind
If you’d like to report elder abuse from a nursing home, contact your local police office or the National Adult Protective Services Association.
2. Reach Out to a Nursing Home Ombudsman
If your loved has been abused at a nursing home, you can reach out to a citizen’s representative, also called an ombudsman, through the Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program. Your ombudsman works on behalf of your loved one by:
- Reporting the abuse for you
- Following up on reports of neglect, poor treatment, or abuse
- Providing education about proper nursing home care and resident’s rights
- Creating organizations that center around residents and their families
If you’d like to submit a report, reach out through the National Long-Term Care Ombudsman Resource Center. Your ombudsman will gather your information and investigate your loved one’s situation.
Make a Report to the National Center on Elder Abuse
The National Center on Elder Abuse provides educational courses and training on eldercare, creating an environment that spots nursing home abuse quickly. The NCEA can:
- Connect you to elder support resources in your community
- Show you how to detect and report abuse
- Equip you to help shine a light on nursing home abuse
Utilize the Eldercare Locator
The Department of Health and Human Services is available to connect you and your elder to governmental resources for housing, healthcare, programs for elder rights, and more. By utilizing the Eldercare Locator, you can file a nursing home abuse complaint.
At Clark, Smith & Sizemore, we will fight for your older loved one in a case of nursing home abuse. Call us: 478-254-5040
Stay tuned for our six-part series on elder abuse in a skilled nursing facility, also called nursing home abuse:
- FAQs – Abuse in a Skilled Nursing Facility
- Types of Physical Abuse & Neglect in Long-Term Care Facilities
- Risk Factors that May Contribute to Nursing Home Abuse
- What to do if You Suspect Elder Abuse in Long-Term Care Facilities
- How to Report Abuse in a Skilled Nursing Facility
- When is a Nursing Home Abuse Lawsuit Necessary?