Reporting elder abuse or neglect
Blindsided family members oftentimes do not know where to start when reporting neglect or abuse of their loved one at a Sacramento nursing home or assisted living facility. This series walks you through the steps and considerations when reporting nursing home neglect.
Report Suspected Elder Abuse
Reporting elder abuse is a difficult but important step toward reducing senior physical abuse in nursing homes or assisted living facilities in Sacramento. You can report elderly abuse – or even gross neglect – yet too often it goes undetected or under-prosecuted. An estimated 4 million seniors are abused or neglected yearly, but according to the American Psychological Association, possibly only one out of 23 cases is reported. To stop senior abuse or neglect in elderly residential settings, report it yourself or ask an ombudsman for help.
Reporting elder abuse doesn’t have to be about an isolated incident. A report of elderly abuse may cover neglect of elderly health over a long period – for instance, continually failing to take a resident to the restroom on time, failing to turn and reposition a resident, failing to care plan for the resident. Elder abuse and neglect also may include emotional issues like threats or intimidation. Senior abuse help is needed in all these cases.
Contact Law Enforcement
For reporting elder abuse in an emergency, call 9-1-1. People often do not think about involving the police, but elderly abuse and neglect is a crime, even if it happens in a skilled nursing facility or memory care unit. To report elderly abuse in a non-emergency situation, contact local law enforcement such as the police, sheriff or Adult Protective Services (APS). Another way to stop senior abuse is to contact a long-term care ombudsman. The facility must provide you with the contact information of the ombudsman and the agency charged with oversight of the nursing home or assisted living facility. With allegations of elder abuse and neglect, the ombudsman’s office will open a case and contact the proper authorities.
Report To The Proper Regulatory Agency - DSS Or DPH
To report elder abuse or neglect at a Sacramento skilled nursing facility, contact Department of Public Health, commonly referred to as, “DPH”. To report elder abuse or neglect at a Sacramento assisted living facility or a “memory care facility,” contact Department of Social Services, also known as, “DSS.”
After reporting elder abuse, you probably will have questions about the outcome. If you report the elderly abuse to an ombudsman initially, that office welcomes your calls when you want an update. To help stop senior abuse, ombudsmen act as an interface between families or residents and government agencies. They also follow up on elder abuse and neglect as part of their responsibilities. To actually accomplish something and prevent it in the future, you will want to involve a serious Sacramento elder abuse attorney like Sean Laird.
Reporting elder abuse is essential for stopping neglect, protecting vulnerable seniors, and improving conditions inside nursing homes and assisted living facilities. Speaking up not only safeguards your loved one but can prevent future harm to other residents who may be unable to speak for themselves.
On the next page, learn why reporting even the smallest of concerns matters.,