What You Should Know About Elder Abuse

Do you have a family member living in a nursing home or other assisted living facility?  If so, you need to be aware of the various laws and agencies that protect your elderly family member from elder abuse.

Most instances of elder abuse are considered crimes, according to federal and Virginia laws.  Elder abuse has been defined as “a single, or repeated act, or lack of appropriate action, occurring within any relationship where there is an expectation of trust which causes harm or distress to an older person.”  Abuse can come in the forms of physical, emotional, verbal, sexual or financial.

Nursing homes are not immune from elder abuse.  Sometimes the employees will engage in some type of abuse or neglect of the nursing home residents.  There was a recent story of an employee being fired from her job, because it was discovered that she was verbally abusing residents at an assisted living facility.  Four different residents gave the state inspector their accounts of the verbal abuse imposed by this female employee.

Different laws and federal and state agencies have been established to help protect the elderly from neglect and abuse, whether it occurs at a nursing home, assisted living facility or by a family member.

The Federal Older Americans Act clearly defines elder abuse and authorizes the use of federal funds to increase the awareness of elder abuse in the United States.  There are also established Adult Protective Services Laws that provide protection from elder abuse.  In Virginia, Adult Protective Services has the authority to investigate reports of abuse, neglect and exploitation of adults aged 60 and over. 

The Long Term Care Ombudsman program provides protection for the elderly who are living in long term care facilities.  Complaints against nursing homes are usually handled by the Long Term Care Ombudsman who acts as an advocate for the nursing home resident.

Elder abuse should not be tolerated.  If your family member has been the victim of nursing home neglect or abuse, you need to contact a Virginia nursing home abuse attorney immediately.  Call Weisberg & Zaleski, P.C. today at (757) 622-7740 or (800) 690-0235. 

The article, Elder Abuse is a Crime, has more information on this topic.