Reporting Nursing Home Abuse in Washington State
When you have suspicions of abuse or neglect in a Washington nursing home, swift and effective action is paramount to ensure the safety and rights of your loved one. Several protocols and resources are in place in Washington State to address these critical concerns.
This post aims to empower you with the knowledge and steps necessary to report nursing home abuse in Washington State. Reporting suspected neglect or abuse not only helps your family members but can contribute to the safety and dignity of everyone in nursing homes.
Need help amplifying your voice? Our Seattle nursing home abuse attorney can assist you in reporting nursing home abuse in Washington state. Simply call us now at 206-337-7828 for a free case consultation.
How to Identify and Document Signs of Abuse or Neglect
When you think a loved one is the victim of abuse or neglect, it’s important to gather as much evidence as possible to include in your report.
- Observe and record. Stay vigilant for any indicators of abuse, including physical injuries, emotional withdrawal, or sudden changes in behavior. Document every instance with precise dates, descriptions, and any relevant observations.
- Capture photographic evidence. Photos can be compelling evidence. Take clear images of injuries, poor conditions, or anything unusual. Make sure these images are dated to strengthen your documentation.
- Leverage technology for monitoring. With consent from the resident or their legal guardian, you may use video or audio recording devices in the resident’s room. Camera footage can be a crucial step in gathering undeniable evidence of misconduct.
While having as much evidence as possible is ideal, don’t let an absence of photos or in-room camera footage deter you from reporting nursing home neglect or abuse. It’s better to err on the side of caution than to let abuse continue.
Report Concerns to Nursing Home Management
Begin by addressing your concerns with the facility’s management. Give them a documented account of your observations and ask for an explanation or corrective action. Keep a record of all communications with facility staff and management regarding your concerns. That will be invaluable if further action is needed. Request a formal response or action plan from the nursing home. If the response is inadequate or issues continue, it’s time to escalate your concerns.
Report Elder Abuse to Washington State Authorities
Understanding the appropriate channels for reporting nursing home abuse in Washington is crucial. If your family member is in immediate danger or their life is at risk, call 911. Otherwise, you can use the resources listed here to make a formal complaint.
The Washington State Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) is the first main reporting option. This department regulates and oversees nursing homes and provides a hotline and online reporting system for concerns related to abuse or neglect. For cases involving vulnerable adults, Adult Protective Services (APS) also investigates reports of abuse, neglect, and exploitation. When you call the main reporting line, all reports will be screened by Residential Care Services and/or Adult Protective Services first.
What to Expect When You Report Elder Abuse in Washington
When reporting, include as much detail as possible. The clarity and specificity of your report can significantly impact the investigation’s effectiveness. You will be asked to provide the following:
- Victim’s name,
- Address,
- Contact information, and
- Details concerning the suspected abuse.
The person taking the report will ask for your name and contact information if the assigned investigator has follow-up questions. In general, your identity is not disclosed unless law enforcement has been called in, there’s a court action, or you agree to disclose it.
After filing a report, investigations may include:
- Visits to the facility,
- Interviews with staff and residents, and
- Reviews of the facility’s records.
These investigations aim to verify complaints and ensure compliance with state regulations.
The Importance of Reporting Abuse in Washington
Deciding to report nursing home abuse in Washington State is essential. If you have legitimate concerns that your family member is the victim of neglect or abuse, it’s very likely they aren’t the only one. Some benefits of reporting abuse include:
- Advocating for change. Each report contributes to a larger effort to improve nursing home care standards. You help protect current and future residents from harm by reporting abuse or neglect.
- Enhancing transparency and care. Reporting incidents prompt necessary investigations and actions, fostering an environment where quality care and safety are prioritized.
- Empowering residents and families. Your advocacy signals to residents and their families that they are not alone, encouraging a community-wide commitment to dignity and respect for the elderly.
The more people that come forward to report nursing home abuse, the more these facilities can be held accountable.
Elderly folks are flocking to Washington to retire, and of the places they choose, Seattle is the most common. Seattle is a massive city—the largest in both Washington and the entire Pacific Northwest—and is home to nearly four million people in its metro area. It has consistently ranked as the fastest growing city in America, and it’s no wonder: the beautiful landscapes and clean air draw people from around the country.
It should come as no surprise, then, that the area is a hotspot for nursing homes trying to keep up with the booming older population. The entirety of Washington state is home to just over 200 nursing homes, and a solid 25% of them are located with 25 miles from Seattle’s city center. Their quality ranges widely, from highly scored near-perfect facilities to those ranking so low that they have had to retry their inspections after abject failures and confirmed abuse cases.
In many ways, this divergence is caused by the difference in administration strategies between for-profit and nonprofit nursing homes. The nonprofits tend to be the ones with stellar scores, because they maintain fewer beds per facility, which ensures that staff are not overworked and are applied to do their jobs at the appropriate ratio. Patient care is best when staff are responsible for three to four individuals; compare this to for-profit’s ratio of one to 30 and you may see why care is lackluster in many of these locations.
In addition to contacting a legal representative and the state Ombudsman program, you should also reach out to a local resource if your loved one is being abused or neglected in the Seattle area. Pamela Williams is the ombudsman for King County, where Seattle is located, and you can reach out to the city’s resources via the Department of Social and Human Services (DSHS) Complaint Resolution Unit by calling 1-800-562-6078. You can also e-mail CRU@dshs.wa.gov or Report Concerns Involving Vulnerable Adults online. Adult Protective Services (APS) is also available to take reports of abuse, neglect, and exploitation of elders. This service can be reached at 1-866-END-HARM (1-866-363-4276).
How Do I Report Nursing Home Abuse in Spokane?
On the opposite side of the state from Seattle lies Spokane, the second most populous city in Washington. The “Lilac City” is home to more than 200,000 people, and about 12.5% of the population comprises individuals who are 65 years of age or older. Because such a large portion of the demographic is older folks, Spokane administers almost 20 nursing homes—or slightly less than half of Seattle’s number—for a fraction of the population size.
Unfortunately, Spokane has yet to discover how to properly manage its nursing homes, and of the ~20 within 25 miles of the city center, almost 30% have been directly cited and fined for confirmed cases of abuse or negligence. For this reason, Spokane’s elder abuse advocate scene is active and robust, so you will find no shortage of local help if you need to make a report in the area.
SNAP, a nonprofit in Spokane that serves Ferry, Pend Orielle, Spokane, Stevens, and Whitman counties, is available to offer guidance regarding nursing home abuse. They can be reached at (509) 456-7133 or 1-800-660-7133 (toll free). Aaron Riley is the point of contact and can be reached directly at riley@snapwa.org, or you can contact the organization’s long-term care unit at ltcop@snapwa.org. Should you need to send physical documents, you can direct them to 3102 W. Ft. George Wright Dr, Spokane, WA 99224.
How Do I Report Elder Abuse in Tacoma?
When people consider the most population-dense locations in Washington, Seattle and Spokane come to mind quickly, and the state’s third most populous city—Tacoma—tends to be forgotten. However, despite its smaller size at just under 200,000 people, the city is home to more nursing homes than its larger cousin Spokane. More than 10% of the population is age 65 or older, and so the city has established almost 40 nursing homes.
Unfortunately, much like Spokane, the number of nursing homes with confirmed cases of abuse remains high in Tacoma. Nearly 20% of locations have already been cited, and even the facilities rated the highest are not immune from scrutiny. Pierce county’s local ombudsman program remains robust as a result, employing two ombudsmen for the population instead of just one.
You can reach the general ombudsman program for Pierce county, where Tacoma is located, at pcccadrombuds@piercecountywa.gov. However, Kashmir Gavronski is an ombudsman also available to take your information at directly at kashmiri.gavronski@piercecountywa.gov. If you would prefer to call, you can use 253-798-3789 or their toll free number at 1-800-642-5769. You can fax any documentation required to 253-798-4415 or mail it to the ombudsman’s office directly at 3602 Pacific Ave, Tacoma, WA 98418.
While reaching out to local resources is always wise when you are considering how to proceed after discovering abuse or neglect in a nursing home, remember that you should also make complaints to Washington’s statewide resources as well. The statewide hotline for intakes of abuse complaints is 1-800-562-6028. Any information can be faxed to 253-815-8173 or sent directly to the office at PO Box 23699, Federal Way, WA 98093-0699. For more general information about which department to contact or for questions about the ombudsman program, you may use the resource’s online contact form at https://www.waombudsman.org/general-information-request-form/. However, remember that this form is primarily intended for generalized questions; you should submit your claim of abuse or negligence to the hotline or to the ombudsman’s direct email at ltcop@mschelps.org or stateombuds@multi-servicecenter.com (to reach ombudsman Patricia Hunter directly).
Monitoring Care to Prevent Nursing Home Abuse in Washington
The Department of Health is in charge of monitoring the quality of nursing homes in the state of Washington. Like every other state, Washington must abide by regulations regarding nursing home inspections and submit to regular visits by professionals who evaluate the facility based on dozens of criteria. Inspections typically occur annually, but facilities that have struggled to achieve adequate scores in the past—or those that have previously been fined for abuse or negligence—are examined more often.
Inspections generally occur without warning so that the nursing home has no time to prepare and inspectors can view the facility as it normally operates. Patient care is one of the primary areas inspected, but other considerations like how the location manages its documents and reports, as well as how many staff it employs and for what purpose, are also analyzed.
Fines for severe deficiencies can reach upwards of $100,000, especially if the failure was a repeat concern. If the nursing home cannot demonstrate significant improvement and provide adequate care to its residents, it may even have its license revoked, which would prevent it from continuing to do business.
Reporting Abuse in Long-Term Care in Washington
Whether you have visited your loved one in person and seen signs of abuse or have been informed by a witness that negligence or harm has occurred, you must act as soon as possible. Filing a lawsuit may be the last thing on your mind when your loved one’s health and possibly even life is in question, but you must remember that your decision to pursue legal action against a nursing home is one of the most powerful tools that you have.
No amount of money received from the case can heal the wounds that your family member endured, but the case can force the nursing home to amend its practices and create better health outcomes for all of the residents who live there. When a for-profit nursing home is forced to lose some of its profit to pay damages in a case, it is likely to change how it operates to avoid having to pay more in the future during more lawsuits. You can be a powerful force for positive change during this challenging time and prevent other families from suffering as you have.
Contact Senior Justice Law Firm
Do you need assistance to report nursing home abuse in Washington State? If so, Senior Justice Law Firm is here to guide you. Our firm has decades of experience handling elder abuse and nursing home neglect cases throughout the country. Please contact us to learn how we can help you get justice for your loved one at 206-337-7828.
