It’s devastating to find out your loved one is being abused or neglected in their nursing home. You may be unsure of your next steps during this upsetting and confusing time, including how to properly report the mistreatment, get your loved one any necessary medical treatment, and hopefully protect other residents from becoming victims as well.
Thankfully, many resources are available for mistreated nursing home residents and their families in Ohio. These resources can make the days, weeks, and months after discovering abuse or neglect much easier for families by taking some of the stress and uncertainty off their shoulders.
If your family is dealing with nursing home abuse, the links and information in this blog may be helpful for you while you help your loved one recover.
Families dealing with nursing home abuse in Ohio have access to several resources to seek help, report incidents, and get support. These include:
- Ohio Department of Health (ODH): The Nursing Home Complaint Unit handles complaints about nursing home abuse, neglect, and violations of resident rights. Families can file complaints online or call the ODH Complaint Hotline at 1-800-342-0553.
- Ohio Attorney General’s Office: The Patient Abuse and Neglect Unit investigates allegations of elder abuse, neglect, or financial exploitation in nursing homes. You can report abuse by calling 1-800-282-0515 or filing a complaint through their website.
- Ohio Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program: This program advocates for residents of nursing homes, helping them resolve issues related to care, abuse, and rights violations. Ombudsmen can mediate disputes and help families navigate the complaint process. Visit their website or call 1-800-282-1206 to learn more.
- Adult Protective Services (APS): Each county in Ohio has an APS office that helps protect vulnerable adults, including elderly nursing home residents, from abuse, neglect, and exploitation.Families can report suspected abuse to their local APS or call the statewide hotline: 1-855-OHIO-APS (1-855-644-6277).
- Ohio Coalition for Adult Protective Services (OCAPS): OCAPS raises awareness about elder abuse and offers resources for families dealing with abuse or neglect.
- National Center on Elder Abuse (NCEA): The NCEA provides information, resources, and referrals to state-specific agencies that can help families address elder abuse in nursing homes.
- Legal Assistance: Families may also seek help from Ohio personal injury or elder abuse law firms that handle nursing home abuse cases. These firms can help families seek compensation for damages and hold the negligent nursing homes accountable.
What Should You Do in an Emergency?
Abuse and neglect can sometimes put nursing home residents in immediate danger. For example, residents may be in danger of suffering serious or even fatal injuries due to abuse, or they may be in such poor health due to neglect that they need prompt medical intervention.
In these cases, you should:
- Call 911 Immediately: If the situation poses an immediate threat to your loved one’s health or life (such as physical abuse, medical emergencies, or life-threatening neglect), dial 911 to get emergency medical help.
- Remove the Resident from Danger: If possible and safe to do so, try to move the resident to a secure area or remove them from the nursing home to protect them from further harm. You can do this while waiting for emergency services to arrive.
- Contact Local Law Enforcement: If calling 911 didn’t dispatch a police officer to the nursing home, contact local law enforcement to report the abuse or neglect. They can start an investigation of any criminal acts such as physical abuse, sexual abuse, or severe neglect.
Who Can Help Me Find a New Nursing Home for My Loved One?
It can be difficult to find nursing homes with room for new residents. But if your loved one was abused or neglected in their current nursing home, you may want to move them to a new facility. Resources available to help you do this include:
- Medicare’s Nursing Home Compare Tool: The Nursing Home Compare tool provided by Medicare.gov allows you to compare nursing homes across the U.S. based on health inspections, quality of care, and staffing levels. This tool offers detailed star ratings and reports on individual facilities.
- Area Agencies on Aging (AAA): Ohio’s AAA provides local services for older adults, including assistance with finding long-term care facilities. They can offer guidance on nursing home options in your region, answer questions, and help you find the right fit for your loved one’s needs. Call 1-866-243-5678 to be connected to your local AAA office.
- Eldercare Locator: The Eldercare Locator is a public service by the U.S. Administration on Aging that helps families find resources, including nursing homes and assisted living facilities, in their area. Visit the Eldercare Locator website or call 1-800-677-1116 for assistance.
Our Ohio Nursing Home Abuse Lawyers Are Ready to Help
Protecting your loved one’s health and removing them from danger is your top priority after discovering abuse or neglect. Once you’ve ensured their safety for the moment, you can utilize the legal system to seek compensation for your loved one’s pain and suffering, as well as their financial losses related to their injuries or need to be removed from the nursing home. Holding negligent care homes accountable via a lawsuit can also help reduce the risk that other residents will be abused or neglected in the future.
At Nurenberg, Paris, Heller & McCarthy, we’re proud to represent mistreated nursing home residents and their families, and we work hard to get them the compensation they deserve. Tell us what happened to your loved one by contacting our firm today. Our Ohio nursing home abuse lawyers will review the facts and start building your family’s case right away.
