In Pennsylvania, nursing homes should be places where residents can feel safe and taken care of, which makes it all the more upsetting when something feels off. Abuse can be difficult to detect, but the repercussions can be painful and long-lasting.
To prevent the problem from escalating and to save your loved ones from people who intend to harm them, it is important to take action. However, this raises one important question: what exactly should you do?
Spot the red flags and act immediately
Before taking action, you must first identify the warning signs that your loved one is a victim of nursing home abuse. This means watching out for common indicators, which include:
- Unexplained bruises
- Fall injuries with vague explanations
- Sudden weight loss
- Poor hygiene
- Bedsores
- Missing money
- Fearfulness around certain staff
- Sudden changes in behavior
If there is no concrete evidence, you can still document signs of abuse and report your concerns to the nursing home’s administrator. Federal law requires facilities to protect residents from abuse and neglect, and to investigate and report any allegations of these problems.
However, if you can confirm that someone you love is in danger, you need to take action immediately. Call 911, and if it is safe to do so, remove the resident from the nursing home and request a medical evaluation. This way, you can determine if they require medical attention or if their injuries are possible signs of abuse.
If you plan on filing a lawsuit, it is essential to ask for evidence and a doctor’s diagnosis. You can present medical records, observations, and notes from health care providers as evidence in court.
Report your suspicions
In Pennsylvania, the mistreatment of residents in a nursing home is a reportable offense. Adults who cannot defend themselves and are at imminent risk of abuse, neglect, exploitation or abandonment are protected by law.
After guaranteeing the immediate safety of your loved one, you can report the situation to the relevant authorities. You can report suspected abuse through the following channels:
- Pennsylvania Department of Health for nursing home complaints and facility oversight
- Local Area Agency on Aging for elder abuse reports
- Pennsylvania Long-Term Care Ombudsman for advocacy and complaint assistance
- Law enforcement for criminal matters such as assault, theft or sexual abuse
By filing a report, you can potentially prevent the same problem from happening to other families.
How vigilance can save the people you care about
Depending on the severity of your loved one’s symptoms, taking prompt action can make the difference between life and death. Taking a resident out of a nursing home and filing a report for abuse can be extremely stressful, but doing so helps protect their safety. This also allows you to seek justice for harm inflicted by those who owed them care, holding those responsible accountable.