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Nursing Home Abuse Resources

Understanding Resources Available to You

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Julie Rivers, MBA Eldercare Advocate & Expert
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Nursing home abuse can leave families shattered, but there are ways to pick up the pieces. National organizations, programs, and groups strive to keep nursing home residents safe and provide immediate assistance to victims. By accessing nursing home abuse resources, families can reduce the risks of nursing home abuse and rebuild if it takes place.

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Top Elder Abuse Resources for Victims of Nursing Home Abuse

Nursing home residents deserve high-quality care, yet far too many get less than the best. Some residents may get inadequate care that leads to serious injuries or suffer from nursing home abuse when staff members behave improperly.

Thankfully, there are plenty of resources available to help nursing home residents.

For all life-threatening emergencies: call 911 – it can save a life.

Other resources for elderly victims of abuse include:

  • Adult Protective Services
  • Long-term care ombudsmen
  • Medicare’s Care Compare tool
  • The National Council on Aging
  • State and local elder advocacy groups

If you or a loved one might have suffered from nursing home abuse, don’t wait. Nursing home abuse and neglect can lead to serious injuries or even death. Explore resources to protect your loved ones and pursue justice if they were harmed.

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Resources for Reporting Nursing Home Abuse

Reporting nursing home abuse is key to keeping your loved one from suffering further harm. Report abuse or neglect to 911 if an older person’s life is in danger or a crime has been committed.

You can also report nursing home abuse to Adult Protective Services, long-term care ombudsmen, and elder abuse attorneys in your area.

Adult Protective Services

Adult Protective Services (APS) investigates cases of potential elder abuse. Investigators can check in with nursing home residents and older people getting in-home medical care, or those living with adult caregivers. Each state has its own APS branch.

You can contact the APS branch in your state if you believe an older person has suffered from nursing home neglect, abuse, or mistreatment. From there, a member of the APS can start an investigation to keep the senior safe.

Long-Term Care Ombudsmen

Long-term care ombudsmen in each state are responsible for investigating elder abuse in nursing homes and other living facilities. Nursing home ombudsmen also work with residents and their loved ones to resolve disputes or complaints related to senior care.

The long-term care ombudsman program is run by the Administration on Aging (AoA). Currently, over 7,300 staff and volunteers work across the country to keep older adults safe.

Nursing Home Abuse Attorneys

Reporting nursing home abuse to attorneys is important. Nursing home lawyers work to hold abusers responsible for their wrongdoings.

Further, attorneys can pursue financial compensation so you can cover medical expenses that stem from abuse or neglect. They also can file cases before deadlines called statutes of limitations run out which put time limits on taking action and getting compensation.

Nursing home abuse lawyers are standing by to help you right now. Get a free case review to find out your eligibility.

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Helpful Websites

List of National Nursing Home Resources for the Elderly

Nationwide programs are in place to help nursing home residents stay safe as they age. Learn about national elder abuse resources below.

AARP

The American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) is a nonprofit organization that spreads awareness about issues older people face.

AARP offers a wide range of resources to help older people, including financial tips, well-being and caregiving advice, and how to spot signs of elder abuse.

Care Compare

Medicare’s Care Compare tool allows people to check the ratings of every nursing home in the country that receives government funding.

It ranks nursing homes on a five-star scale in categories like staffing, quality measures, and more. It also provides reports on recent health inspections and citations for each home.

Eldercare Locator

This national service helps with finding elder abuse resources. The Eldercare Locator can be reached by phone from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. EST, Monday through Friday. Call 1-800-677-1116. The Eldercare Locator is also available online 24/7.

Meals on Wheels

Meals on Wheels is a national organization where members deliver food to older Americans. Meals are tailor-made to address any health conditions the older person may have.

Further, Meals on Wheels representatives can perform wellness checks to make sure the older person is staying safe, happy, and healthy.

National Center on Elder Abuse

The National Center on Elder Abuse (NCEA) is the official hub for violence and exploitation against seniors.

It includes key information on this national problem and additional resources and support services to access if you or someone you love is being abused.

National Council on Aging

The National Council on Aging (NCOA) was established in 1950 to help older people age with dignity. The NCOA’s official site provides tips on healthy aging, preventing falls, getting Medicare benefits, and much more.

The NCOA also offers financial tips and a tool to check for benefits that older people may qualify for.

National Domestic Violence Hotline

This 24/7 hotline is available for all victims of domestic violence, including older people. Call 1-800-779-7233 to reach this hotline. A teletypewriter (TTY) line for people who are deaf or have a hearing impairment is also available at 1-800-787-3224.

Nursing Home Resources for the Elderly by State

Each state has its own elder abuse resources, agencies, and community-based services. If you think elder abuse is occurring, you can get in touch with agencies in your area to report your concerns.

Alabama

Alaska

Arizona

For nursing home and living facility complaints, contact the local Area Agency on Aging in your county:

Arkansas

Colorado

Florida

Kansas

Louisiana

Mississippi

New Mexico

North Carolina

Wyoming

Accessing Elder Abuse Resources

Nursing home resources for the elderly are important, especially in cases of abuse or neglect.

These resources can help older people and their families take action and stay safe. Some resources (such as nursing home abuse lawyers) can even hold abusers accountable and secure financial compensation for victims.

Remember: older people deserve the utmost respect. Nursing home and elder care resources are in place so vulnerable seniors can live out their golden years with the highest quality of life possible.

Contact our team to learn more about accessing nursing home resources and legal help after abuse or neglect has occurred.

FAQs on Nursing Home Resources for the Elderly

What resources are available for elderly patients in my area?

It’s likely that there are many resources for the elderly available near you. To get started, you can find Adult Protective Services branches by state.

You can also ask a long-term care ombudsman that visits your nursing home about local resources.

Are nursing home resources for the elderly free?

It depends on the service being offered, but many are free. For example, it costs nothing to work with a long-term care ombudsman or to contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline.

For best results, make sure to ask if there’ll be any costs when looking into resources for the elderly.

What resources may be used to prevent elder abuse?

Calling 911, the APS, the National Domestic Violence Hotline, and/or long-term care ombudsmen are all great ways to prevent elder abuse.

By contacting these resources, elder care advocates and/or law enforcement can step in to protect the vulnerable adult in question.

Who can help me find nursing home resources for the elderly?

Long-term care ombudsmen can help you find community resources for the elderly and address complaints of older people in nursing homes, whether it’s the quality of food or a possible case of abuse or neglect.

Our team can also help you find legal and financial resources if nursing home abuse or neglect has taken place. Get started with a free case review now.

Nursing Home Abuse Support Team
Julie Rivers HeadshotReviewed by:Julie Rivers, MBA

Eldercare Advocate & Expert

  • Fact-Checked
  • Editor

Julie Rivers is an eldercare advocate with over 15 years of dedicated service to victims of nursing home abuse and neglect. Her journey in this field became deeply personal when she assumed the role of an unpaid caregiver during her mother’s battle with Alzheimer’s disease.

NHAC LogoWritten by:

The Nursing Home Abuse Center (NHAC) was founded to bring justice to those affected by nursing home and elder abuse. Our mission is to educate and empower victims of abuse and their families to take a stand against this unlawful mistreatment. We work to return dignity back to those who have been broken down by nursing home abuse and neglect.

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