Reporting Elder Abuse

Nursing home abuse includes abusive acts toward and inadequate treatment of individuals at long-term residential care facilities. Often involving elder abuse, nursing home abuse also includes the maltreatment of disabled people residing in such facilities.

Nursing home patients may be particularly susceptible to abuse because of physical limitations, social isolation, and/or mental disability. Nursing home abuse can take many forms, including physical, sexual, mental, and financial abuse.

Reported statistics show that nursing home abuse is already a serious problem in the United States. The actual figures are probably significantly higher than reported, however, because many abusive incidents go undocumented. All too often, victims are afraid, unwilling, or unable to report nursing home abuse.

Who Is Responsible for Reporting Elder Abuse?

There are several groups of people that, by law, must report elder abuse to the proper authorities:

• Law enforcement officers
• Adult Protective Services employees
• Health care providers
• Dependent care custodians - this includes nursing home employees and hospice care employees

Elder abuse can be reported to Adult Protective Services and other law enforcement agencies. If elder abuse is not reported, a $1,000 fine or six months in jail can be imposed.

If you or a loved one has been a victim of elder abuse or nursing home abuse or neglect, contact a nursing home abuse attorney for more information.

Talk to a Nursing Home Abuse Attorney

Elder abuse is projected to increase as the United States continues to shift demographically towards an older population. If you think that your loved one has been the victim of nursing home or elder abuse, a lawyer may be able to help you hold the responsible party accountable.