Resources for Reporting Elder Abuse
If you suspect that your loved one is experiencing nursing home abuse, reporting your concerns may prevent further injury and connect your loved one with important services.
Here are leading resources for common types of nursing home abuse:
- Neglect: Call your state’s Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program to learn about resident rights and how to file a neglect or abuse complaint.
- Physical and sexual: Report this type of elder abuse to local law enforcement agencies that can investigate and pursue criminal charges when appropriate.
- Self-neglect: File a report with your state’s Adult Protective Services (APS) program to have someone assess your loved one’s situation and coordinate care services.
- Emotional: Contact the National Consumer Voice for Quality Long-Term Care to access resources addressing emotional mistreatment and other kinds of elder abuse.
- Financial: Reach out to your state’s Adult Protective Services program for guidance on how financial exploitation cases are investigated and addressed.
You don’t need to have proof before contacting nursing home abuse resources. They can help families report concerns, connect with the appropriate agencies, and find support for a loved one.
Her Case Matters has partner lawyers who provide legal help for nursing home abuse victims and their loved ones. If you want to learn about filing a nursing home abuse lawsuit, reach out to us today for a no-cost conversation.
Nursing Home Neglect Resources
Getting help for nursing home abuse victims may be more challenging if they’re suffering from neglect. The warning signs can be hard to notice until the situation becomes dangerous.
If your loved one isn’t getting the medications they need, proper hygiene care, or consistent safety supervision, you may need to talk with someone about ongoing neglect.
Here are some nursing home abuse resources for people experiencing neglect:
- Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS): CMS sets and enforces federal nursing home standards, including inspections and penalties for neglect-related violations.
- Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program: This federal program has state-specific offices that investigate complaints involving inadequate staffing, poor hygiene, or unsafe conditions, and advocate for improved care.
- State survey agencies and licensing boards: These organizations investigate concerns such as untreated bedsores or malnutrition and can require that facilities correct violations.
You’re not alone while you’re figuring out what’s happening with your loved one. State and federal resources are available to help you pinpoint what’s going on and how you can help your family member.
Physical and Sexual Nursing Home Abuse Resources
Nursing home residents may experience physical or sexual abuse by staff members, other residents, or others who have access to the facility. A study in BMC Public Health found physical abuse happened in 7.9% of nursing homes across 35 countries. It also noted that sexual abuse happened in 1.5% of nursing homes.
Contact these sexual and physical elder abuse resources for help:
- Local law enforcement agencies: Your local police can investigate active abuse or threats of abuse against your loved one and pursue criminal charges if applicable.
- Primary care physicians or geriatric specialists: Doctors and geriatric specialists can evaluate your loved one’s injuries, document signs of abuse, and coordinate their medical care.
- State survey agencies and licensing boards: Often called the Department of Health or Health and Human Services Commission, state agencies can investigate physical or sexual abuse complaints and issue fines or revoke licenses.
These resources for elder abuse could help you get clarity about your loved one’s situation or report nursing home abuse. Physical and sexual abuse are never acceptable. Residents with conditions like dementia may be especially vulnerable because they can have difficulty reporting abuse or advocating for themselves.
You may also be eligible for a nursing home abuse settlement if your loved one has experienced physical or sexual assault. Contact our compassionate team to share your story and learn about your legal rights.
Self-Neglect Nursing Home Abuse Resources
Self-neglect happens when a nursing home resident is unwilling to meet their daily needs. Let the nursing home staff know if your loved one’s hygiene or nutrition is declining so they can adapt their daily care routine.
You can also get your loved one help by contacting your state’s APS program. Depending on the situation and state, APS may assess the resident’s needs, investigate concerns, or connect the family with appropriate support services.
Emotional Nursing Home Abuse Resources
The signs of nursing home abuse can also indicate emotional abuse. Staff members and other residents might threaten, bully, or isolate your loved one, causing them to suffer in silence.
If you’ve noticed your family member’s mental health or personality changing, don’t hesitate to ask what’s happening or call resources for elderly abuse.
These organizations may be able to help:
- National Consumer Voice for Quality Long-Term Care: This organization can help with questions about verbal and emotional mistreatment before referring callers to their state’s long-term care ombudsman.
- National Domestic Violence Hotline: Call this 24/7 hotline at (800) 799-7233 or the organization’s TTY line at (855) 812-1001, which is available to older victims who are hard of hearing, deaf, or speech-impaired.
- NIH National Institute on Aging: Visit this website for general information resources on elder abuse that could clarify what your loved one is experiencing.
Reporting emotional abuse is just as important as reporting any other kind of elder mistreatment. Contacting nursing home abuse resources could help you get answers and figure out the best way to protect your loved one.
Nursing Home Financial Abuse Resources
Elder financial abuse resources may be the best solution if you’ve noticed your loved one’s finances changing without their knowledge. Representatives can help you review past bills to spot inconsistencies and take action if your family member is the victim of fraud or theft.
Access these nursing home abuse resources if you’ve noticed financial abuse:
- Banks or investment accounts with your loved one’s money: Contact the financial institution to report suspicious activity and ask about steps to protect the account.
- State licensing and regulation offices: Filing a formal complaint could start an investigation and get answers about your loved one’s missing money.
- U.S. Department of Justice Elder Fraud Hotline: This DOJ program provides information about financial exploitation, fraud, and legal protections for older adults.
Getting help for nursing home abuse victims shouldn’t feel complicated. Local, state, and federal organizations can listen to your concerns and recommend next steps even if you aren’t sure what’s happening to your family member.
Other Nursing Home Abuse Resources
Numerous other organizations help people with loved ones in nursing homes. If you’re hoping to learn about the different types of nursing home abuse or improve your family member’s care, you’re not alone.
These organizations can help before, during, or after nursing home abuse:
- AARP: This site provides nursing home and elder care financial tips and caregiving advice.
- Eldercare Locator: This federal resource connects family members with local aging services, like your state’s long-term care ombudsman.
- National Center on Elder Abuse (NCEA): This resource helps people find state licensing agencies for elder care concerns, along with contact information for local law enforcement and APS branches.
- Office for Victims of Crime: This federal resource has information about victim rights, compensation programs, and advocacy for abuse in care settings.
- U.S. Administration for Community Living’s Administration on Aging: This resource funds state ombudsman and elder-justice programs while helping people find contact information for those programs in their state.
Her Case Matters may also be able to help if you think your loved one has experienced physical abuse, sexual abuse, or neglect in their nursing home. Reach out to our team to talk about your concerns and learn about your legal rights without making any commitments.
Get legal help for nursing home abuse victims now.
Get Support From Nursing Home Abuse Resources
If you suspect that your loved one is experiencing elder abuse, neglect, financial exploitation, or another form of mistreatment, nursing home abuse resources are here to help. You can take action today, even if you don’t have all the answers or feel certain about what’s going on.
At Her Case Matters, we believe every family deserves clear information, compassionate guidance, and the opportunity to explore their options. Whether you’re looking for answers, resources, or legal support, we’re here to help.
Get a free case review or call our team at (877) 640-6101. We’ll connect you with nursing home abuse lawyers if you qualify to seek a settlement.
Nursing Home Abuse Resources FAQs
What are the signs of abuse in nursing homes?
The signs of nursing home abuse vary depending on what kind of abuse is happening. Visiting your loved one and monitoring any changes in their routine or behavior could help you spot the signs quickly.
Look for nursing home abuse signs like:
- Bruising around the genitals
- Dehydration
- Medication errors
- Poor hygiene
- Social withdrawal
- Trouble sleeping
- Unexplained injuries
Nursing home abuse resources are available if any of these signs sound familiar to your loved one’s experience. You can also reach out to our team to learn about filing a nursing home abuse lawsuit and seeking a settlement for the harm done.
Contact us now to ask questions and learn which nursing home abuse resources you can use.
What is considered nursing home negligence?
Nursing home negligence happens when a facility or its staff members fail to provide the legally required standard of care, resulting in injury or harm to a resident.
Types of nursing home negligence include these types of neglect:
- Emotional or mental
- Environmental
- Physical
Many times, family members know something’s not right about their loved one’s care, but aren’t sure if it qualifies as negligence. Always report your concerns to the nursing home staff or state-specific nursing home abuse resources, so they can help you get answers.
What are common nursing home violations?
The most common nursing home violations can happen anywhere, even in well-reviewed facilities.
Family members should watch for facility violations like:
- High turnover of inadequately trained staff members
- Improper medication administration
- Inadequate resident supervision or monitoring
- Poor food safety standards
- Understaffing, which can lead to abuse
- Unsanitary living conditions
Getting help for nursing home abuse victims after one or more of these violations is straightforward. Contact local or state-level nursing home abuse resources or report criminal activity to law enforcement.
If your loved one experienced injuries or died suddenly, you may also qualify for a lawsuit. Call us at (877) 640-6101 so our team can help you get clarity.
What resources are available for elder abuse?
Elder abuse resources can help older adults and families report concerns, find support, and connect with appropriate agencies. Some also assist with abuse or neglect involving nursing home residents.
These are some available elder abuse resources:
- Eldercare Locator: Dial (800) 677-1116 to learn about community resources like Meals on Wheels or home health aide programs.
- The National Center on Elder Abuse (NCEA): Reach out to the NCEA for informational materials on the many types of elder abuse.
- The National Elder Fraud Hotline: Call (833) 372-8311 to speak with case managers if you think your loved one is experiencing financial fraud or abuse.
- Your state’s Adult Protective Services (APS) branch: Investigators can look into your concerns and connect you with protective services.
If your loved one is a resident in a long-term care facility, they may get better support from nursing home abuse resources. Either way, you don’t have to handle your loved one’s mistreatment alone.
How many hours do you have to report abuse in a nursing home?
Federal nursing home rules generally require abuse allegations involving serious bodily injury to be reported within 2 hours. Other allegations generally must be reported within 24 hours.
The Elder Justice Act has separate reporting requirements for certain facilities receiving at least $10,000 in federal funding. Private facilities or nursing homes taking less than $10,000 in federal support may have different reporting requirements.
What are the resources available for elder financial abuse prevention?
There are numerous resources available for elder financial abuse prevention. Learning from them could help you protect your loved one’s savings.
Contact these resources for elder financial abuse prevention support:
- American Bankers Association (ABA): Use the ABA’s guide to access financial abuse prevention tips designed for seniors.
- FINRA Securities Helpline for Seniors: Contact this team for guidance on investment and brokerage accounts people rely on during retirement.
- The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB): Read the numerous resources that go into detail on common elder financial abuse situations.
Reading financial abuse prevention materials can help you and your loved one recognize and report fraud. You’ll know how to better protect their funds, assets, and property.
What evidence do you need for elder abuse lawsuits?
Elder abuse lawsuits become stronger when they’re backed by medical records, witness statements, photographs, and facility logs, among other forms of evidence. Accessing elder or nursing home abuse resources could help you learn what evidence would strengthen your claim.
Get a free case review today if you think you might qualify for a nursing home abuse lawsuit. You don’t have to provide evidence to be eligible to work with our partner lawyers.
Written by: Her Case Matters
At HerCaseMatters, we believe women deserve to be heard — especially when it comes to their health and safety. Too often, harmful drugs, devices, and corporate wrongdoing impact women’s lives without proper warning, support, or accountability. We’re here to change that. We work with trusted legal partners who are deeply experienced in holding powerful companies accountable. But more than that, we’re here to remind women everywhere that their pain is real, their experiences matter, and they deserve justice.
- Kitaw, T. A., Baylie, A., Tekle, B. A., et al. (July 2, 2025). Elder abuse without borders: a systematic review and meta-analysis. BMC Public Health, 25(1). Retrieved from: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-23548-9.
- Sokolove Law. (September 1, 2026). Nursing home abuse. Retrieved from: https://www.sokolovelaw.com/nursing-home-abuse/.
