The following Virginia agencies can help you file a complaint against a nursing or long-term care facility, as well as provide you with additional information and support regarding senior neglect and abuse: Virginia Adult Protective Services Virginia Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services 1-800-552-5019
Full Answer
How do I report abuse and neglect in Virginia?
Report Adult Abuse to Adult Protective Services (APS) To report suspected financial exploitation or other kinds of abuse to the elderly or adults with a disability, call your local department of social services or the Virginia Department of Social Services' 24 …
Where can I report nursing home abuse in my state?
if you or someone you know is in immediate danger, call 911. Child Protective Services. Hotline (800) 552-7096. For more information. Adult Protective Services. Hotline (888) 832-3858. For more information. Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault. Hotline (800) 838-8238.
How do I report abuse to Adult Protective Services?
Inpatient rehabilitation facilities (IRFs) are hospitals, or part of a hospital, that provide intensive rehabilitation services using an interdisciplinary team approach. Admission to an IRF is appropriate for patients with complex nursing, medical management, and rehabilitative needs. There are nine freestanding IRFs and 18 rehabilitation locations within other hospitals in Virginia.
What should I do if I see evidence of neglect or abuse?
Have a case against an abusive rehab center? Learn what you can do to prove their fault and obtain your entitled compensation. Tell Us About Your Case 818-922-8544
How to report child abuse in Virginia?
To report suspected abuse and/or neglect, contact your local department of social services or the Virginia Department of Social Services' 24/7, toll-free Child Protective Services (CPS) hotline at (800) 552-7096.
What does APS do?
Adult Protective Services. APS has jurisdiction to investigate in community and institutional settings with the exception of state correctional facilities. APS does not have jurisdiction to investigate suspicious deaths of older or incapacitated adults.
What happens when a facility is understaffed?
In addition, different forms of abuse can take place if facilities do not abide by ethical or safety standards. Sadly, because many patients are not in completely healthy states of mind during treatment, negligent and reckless employees can easily take advantage of patients.
What are the forms of abuse?
1. Physical Forms of Abuse: 1 Hitting 2 Shoving or pushing 3 Confinement 4 Inappropriate use of medication or drugs
Who is required to report abuse in a nursing home?
Long-Term Care Ombudsman. Confidential Reporting. Doctors, nurses, social workers, and other health care professionals are required by law to report nursing home abuse. That being said, families do not need to wait for a professional to issue a report.
What is nursing home abuse?
Nursing home abuse is an all-too-common problem that leaves elders badly injured, financially broken, and emotionally scarred. In extreme circumstances, it can also contribute to their death.
Why do nursing homes go unreported?
Sadly, nursing home abuse often goes unreported due to fear, embarrassment, or because a resident is unable to communicate.
What is an eldercare locator?
Through the Eldercare Locator, families can access senior advocacy services in their area and protect the rights of elderly loved ones. By simply entering a ZIP code, the Eldercare Locator locates the closest resource centers and government agencies related to senior safety.
What is the NCEA?
Established in 1988, the NCEA connects seniors to resources that can help them if abuse occurs. Did You Know. While the NCEA does not investigate reports of abuse itself, it does offer advice on how to file reports and provides guidance for eight different scenarios of possible abuse and neglect.
What is the role of an ombudsman in a nursing home?
Ombudsmen serve as advocates for nursing home residents by helping them address their complaints with the facility and/or its staff. A long-term care ombudsman: Informs residents about new changes in nursing home laws. Listens to the concerns of the patient and their family members.
Why do you call 911?
The National Center on Elder Abuse (NCEA) and NIA both recommend calling 911 if a senior is in life-threatening danger. 911 provides an immediate response to the problem, which is crucial for two reasons. First, it allows medical authorities to treat a victim of nursing home abuse as quickly as possible.
What are the requirements for a nursing home?
A Medicare and / or Medicaid-certified nursing home must post the name, address, and phone number of state groups, like these: 1 State Survey Agency 2 State Licensure Office 3 State Ombudsman Program 4 Protection and Advocacy Network 5 Medicaid Fraud Control Unit
What is a grievance in Medicare?
grievance. A complaint about the way your Medicare health plan or Medicare drug plan is giving care. For example, you may file a grievance if you have a problem calling the plan or if you're unhappy with the way a staff person at the plan has behaved towards you.
What is a medicaid supervisor?
The director of nursing. The administrator. Your doctor. The Medicare and/or. Medicaid. A joint federal and state program that helps with medical costs for some people with limited income and resources.
Why are care facilities required to maintain living conditions that are adequately clean and sanitary in resident rooms and common areas?
Care facilities are required to maintain living conditions that are adequately clean and sanitary in resident rooms and common areas to prevent the injury or illness of patients in their care. They can be held liable in a civil lawsuit if a person in their care becomes sick or dies because they failed to maintain a clean facility.
What happens when a facility follows a medical standard of care?
When sub-standard medical care results in harm to a resident, it may be appropriate to bring a medical malpractice case against the facility, or against the medical professional who treated the resident.
Why is it so difficult to prove negligence?
Proving negligence can be particularly difficult because it requires the patient to prove their care facility deviated so far from the accepted standard of care and treatment that the law would consider them to have been negligent.
What happens if you don't honor your duty to care?
If the people tasked with this duty, primarily medical professionals, don’t honor their duty to care, significant negative consequences can result. This is especially true for seniors who require higher levels of care. Many older Americans and their families trust care facilities and their staffs to keep them safe and healthy.
Who can be held vicariously liable?
Facilities which hire an employee who ends up neglecting, abusing or otherwise harming a patient or resident can be held vicariously liable. An employer who fails to properly train and supervise its employees can also be held liable in these cases.
Why are elderly people unable to communicate with family?
At nursing homes, elderly residents are often unable or unwilling to communicate with family members about incidents of abuse. Due to physical or mental infirmities, a pervasive sense of helplessness may force them to minimize the level of mistreatment, believing there is no acceptable alternative.
Who should I report assisted living problems to?
In the event that you or your loved one encounter problems in assisted living, be sure to reporting those problems to the facility management, but also know that you should report those problems to the state licensing agencies that oversee assisted living.
What is physical abuse?
Physical abuse - behavior that produces pain or injury and is not accidental. Verbal abuse - behavior or conduct that produces mental or emotional stress. Sexual Abuse - violation of criminal, sexual conduct or prostitution statues.
What are the types of complaints?
Some examples of complaints that you should report immediately are: 1 Physical abuse - behavior that produces pain or injury and is not accidental 2 Verbal abuse - behavior or conduct that produces mental or emotional stress 3 Sexual Abuse - violation of criminal, sexual conduct or prostitution statues 4 Exploitation - illegal use of the person or property through undue influence, duress, deception or fraud 5 Absence of financial management that might lead to exploitation 6 Neglect - failure to provide necessary food, clothing, shelter, health care, or supervision
What is exploitation in law?
Exploitation - illegal use of the person or property through undue influence, duress, deception or fraud. Absence of financial management that might lead to exploitation. Neglect - failure to provide necessary food, clothing, shelter, health care, or supervision. It is also important to record details of the complaint.