Introduction

Consider for a moment that most elder abuse cases are never reported. First, senior citizens usually do not want to discuss abuse that they may have experienced. Many seniors already feel lonely and they might feel resented by their family. This makes them feel strongly about not complaining about anything. Furthermore when an elder does mention that he or she is being abused, it is frequently overlooked and ignored. All cases of abuse need to be reported in order to help stop elder abuse from occurring.

The Strategy

Here is the basic strategy you should follow when reporting elder abuse:

Contact a Lawyer: This is the most essential step and before you do anything else make sure that you contact a lawyer. Lawyers are experts on the subject of elder abuse, and they will be able to tell you in great detail what your next action should be.

Talk to the Home: Depending on what your lawyer tells you the next step is to stop by the nursing home and have a discussion with them. It is quite possible that the incident was an isolated one and that the staff member has already been punished. If this is the case then the nursing home administration will be very apologetic and will attempt to placate you in any way possible. If not, they will likely become very uncooperative in which case it is time for you to move onto the next step.

Reporting to the Authorities: Within every state is a special organization that is in charge of regulating and enforcing the rights of senior citizens. You can find out more information about your specific one on the internet or in the Government section of your phone book. If the nursing home is not being cooperative then you have no choice but to report the incident to the proper authorities.

Lawsuit: If the incident was really serious then your lawyer might recommend a lawsuit. Listen to your lawyer’s advice whether they recommend a lawsuit or advise against it.