Nursing home facilities are meant to provide our most vulnerable elderly citizens with a safe, caring, and nurturing environment to live out their remaining golden years. However, not all nursing homes are created equal, and they are often understaffed and at total capacity, which can lead to resident abuse and neglect. If you suspect a loved one is being abused in an Indiana nursing home, contact Senior Justice Law Firm for guidance and advocacy.
How to Report a Nursing Home in Indiana
You should report nursing home abuse in Indiana to the appropriate authorities. Your first call should always be to the local police to make an official police report and open an initial investigation.
In Indiana, nursing homes are governed by strict laws. The Indiana Department of Health established the Health Care Facility Complaint Program, which receives, reviews, and processes complaints and concerns for nursing home facilities and entities licensed and regulated in Indiana.
Reporting a Nursing Home for Abuse to the Indiana Department of Health
You can report nursing home neglect in Indiana by submitting a complaint to the Indiana Department of Health (IDOH) through their website or over the phone.
To submit a complaint, you need the name and location of the facility, and if known, you should submit any additional information, including:
- Name of the victim resident or patient,
- Name of the offending staff member or facility involved,
- Date and time of the alleged incident, and
- A brief description of your concern.
The IDOH will usually respond to your complaint through a written response within 7-10 business days. The correspondence will confirm your complaint was received and is under investigation. Always report nursing home neglect in Indiana; do not ignore the signs.
What Is Nursing Home Abuse?
There are many types of nursing home abuse, such as:
- Physical abuse. Physical abuse is intentionally, recklessly, or negligently physically harming or injuring the resident. Examples include hitting, pushing, kicking, slapping, and physically restraining.
- Abandonment. Abandonment happens when the nursing home staff leave patients and residents unattended for a significant time, leading to physical and psychological harm.
- Neglect. Neglect can be similar to abandonment and is considered the failure to care for an individual correctly. It can include failure to provide meals and water, failure to administer required medications, failure to assist with hygiene, and failure to help with mobility.
- Emotional Abuse. Emotional abuse is the infliction of pain, distress, or anguish as a result of verbal assaults, threats, insults, isolation, and harassment. Emotional abuse is common in nursing homes and can include yelling, poking fun, and threatening residents with harm.
- Sexual abuse. Sexual assault happens in nursing homes more than most people might think and is one of the worst forms of abuse.
- Financial abuse. Nursing home residents often fall victim to financial abuse. Staff may steal their money or valuables and can be less noticeable than the physical taking of money out of their wallet but rather through deceptive means such as tricks and swindling.
These forms of abuse can range from minor to severe and persistent.
Signs of Nursing Home Abuse
If your loved one is an Indiana nursing home resident and you see signs of abuse such as:
- Bed sores,
- Fractures,
- Bruises,
- Poor hygiene and unsanitary living conditions,
- Unexplained weight loss, and
- Sudden anxiety and fearfulness.
Reporting nursing home abuse at the first sign of suspicious conduct is critical to preventing further harm.
Causes of Nursing Home Abuse
Three common causes of nursing home abuse often give rise to civil and criminal accountability. If you suspect abuse of a loved one, you may be able to initiate a civil lawsuit against the offending facility. We can help you through the investigation phase, negotiations, and civil case.
Understaffed Facility
If a nursing home is understaffed, each resident will receive less care.
If staff is spread too thin among too many residents, it leads to insufficient time to tend to resident needs. Understaffing appears most often in government-funded nursing home facilities.
Negligent Hiring
Nursing home staff are responsible for their residents’ care, well-being, and safety. If owners, directors, and hiring managers do not adequately screen potential new employees, it can lead to incompetent and dangerous employees being hired. Nursing homes must be thorough during the hiring process. Residents can be in danger if they fail to perform criminal background and reference checks.
Inadequate Training
Inadequately trained staff can lead to abuse and neglect toward residents. Even employees with clean backgrounds and adequate education can end up perpetuating abuse if they have not received proper training.
If you suspect your family member is the victim of nursing home abuse, you need a fierce and compassionate ally to advocate for you. The nursing home and staff may be liable for the injuries and harm your loved one suffered. Contact our team for a thorough assessment of the situation and whether you might be able to pursue legal recourse.
Get Help Reporting Nursing Home Abuse in Indiana
Senior Justice Law Firm is committed to helping nursing home abuse victims and their families seek the justice and compensation they deserve. We routinely achieve multi-million dollar verdicts and settlements for our clients. Contact us for a free consultation.
