Nursing Home Abuse Reporting: What You Need to Know

Family members and loved ones should look for the common signs and symptoms of nursing home abuse. When visiting your elderly loved one, report any of the typical abuse symptoms.  

Some of the most common signs of abuse in long-term care facilities include: 

• Broken bones and fractures
• Bruising
• Cuts and scrapes
• Burns
• Financial changes or unexplained withdrawals
• Significant changes in the victim’s will
• Unexplained changes in behavior
• Unusual shifts in sleep schedule
• Unexplained fear and anxiety
• Sudden instances of depression
• Bedsores and untreated lesions 
• Lack of proper hygiene
• Unexplained weight loss

If you notice any of these telltale signs, your loved one may be suffering from abuse or neglect. It is important to report any instance of mistreatment to keep nursing home residents safe. 

Below, we will discuss several of the most important steps for reporting nursing home abuse and neglect.

It is vital to report any instance of suspected nursing home abuse or neglect. Although this is a concern of many residents’ families, many people are uncertain about the steps to take when they need to report such an incident. 

When you have seen evidence that abuse or neglect has occurred, consider taking the following vital actions:

Ensure the Safety of the Nursing Home Resident

The primary concern following the mistreatment of an elderly individual is the victim’s health and safety. If the neglect or abuse constitutes an emergency, make sure to contact medical professionals by calling 911. 

Getting your loved one away from the dangerous environment is the most important action that you can take. Nursing home abuse reporting can wait until any immediate danger has been mitigated.

Documenting the Neglect or Abuse

Once any immediate hazards have been alleviated, make sure to thoroughly document the incidents and evidence of abuse. When you file a tort claim to recover financial compensation, this evidence will be invaluable. 

Some of the most common examples of relevant documentation in nursing home abuse cases include: 

• Notes detailing the nature of the abuse
• Notes detailing the location, dates, and times of the abuse
• Photographs of any physical harm or damage
• Names of any relevant witnesses
• Testimony of witnesses 

This type of evidence will be important when pursuing recovery for the costs and losses from an instance of nursing home abuse.  

It can also be difficult to convince the authorities to launch an investigation into abuse cases. Strong evidence is likely to encourage a serious inquiry into any wrongdoing. 

File a Complaint With the Relevant State Agency

In most cases, nursing homes and long-term care facilities are regulated at the state level. When you suspect abuse or neglect, it is important to file an official report with the relevant state agency. 

You may be unsure about which agencies oversee the activity of nursing homes and their staff. For help filing an official complaint or report, speak with a seasoned personal injury attorney.  

The compassionate team at Morgan & Morgan believes that nursing home abuse victims and their families deserve legal help. Our attorneys will walk you through the process of reporting nursing home abuse and seeking maximum compensation for the relevant losses.

Even if you are certain that you have a valid nursing home abuse case, you may be unsure about what types of compensation you can pursue. Like most civil claims, nursing home abuse cases usually involve two primary types of financial damages. 

These are known as economic and non-economic payments.  

Economic damages are meant to pay the victim back for the monetary losses resulting from the abuse or neglect. Some of the common examples of this type of payment include: 

• Current medical expenses
• Anticipated future medical costs
• Loss of income or wages
• Stolen money or assets from financial exploitation
• Associated property damage

Still, many of the most damaging outcomes from nursing home abuse do not involve monetary losses. Victims and their families can also pursue financial recovery for the mental, physical, and emotional harm that they sustained. 

Payments for this type of loss are called “non-economic” damages. The most typical examples of non-economic damages following instances of nursing home abuse are: 

• Physical pain and suffering
• Emotional distress and anguish
• Panic attacks, anxiety, and depression
• Post-traumatic stress disorder
• Loss of ability to enjoy life
• Embarrassment
• Partial or total disability

In some cases, victims can recover “punitive” damages. This type of payment is not meant to compensate the resident for their losses or expenses. 

Instead, punitive damages punish the at-fault party in a tort case. This type of payment is rare and only awarded when gross negligence or intentionally malicious actions were involved in the abuse. 

The attorneys at Morgan & Morgan will review the facts of your case to determine the value of your claim.

When pursuing a legal claim, victims are often concerned about the costs of legal representation. Fortunately, the team at Morgan & Morgan is compensated through a contingency fee payment structure. 

With this approach to legal fees, you will not pay a single penny unless our team recovers the money that you are rightfully owed. When you hire Morgan & Morgan, we will agree to a specific percentage of the recovery from your case. 

After our lawyers win or settle your claim, that portion of compensation will be used to cover attorneys’ fees. In short, we do not get paid unless you do.

If you or someone you love has experienced nursing home neglect or abuse, contact Morgan & Morgan today. Our nursing home abuse attorneys will build a powerful legal case on your behalf.  

To arrange a no-cost legal consultation, complete the simple contact form on the Morgan & Morgan website as soon as possible.