Can You Anonymously Report Nursing Home Abuse?
One of the first things to do after suspecting nursing home abuse or neglect is to report it to the proper authorities. However, there are times when people do not want to provide all of their information when they are reporting nursing home abuse. This makes them wonder if it is possible to report nursing home abuse anonymously. Below, our Tampa nursing home abuse lawyer explains further.
Why Do People Want to Report Abuse Anonymously?
There are many reasons people want to remain anonymous when reporting nursing home abuse. The most common of these are as follows:
- Retaliation: A study conducted by the Long-Term Care Community Coalition showed that a fear of retaliation is one of the main reasons nursing home residents do not report abuse or neglect. They are afraid that the abuse will get worse, or that staff members will isolate them. To stop the abuse from occurring, without fear of retaliation, residents may report abuse anonymously.
- Job protection: Nursing home employees are required to report any suspicion of abuse. These individuals may also fear retaliation, such as losing their job, if it is found that they reported the facility or another staff member.
- Embarrassment: It is not uncommon for nursing home residents to feel ashamed or embarrassed after they are the victim of abuse or neglect. This embarrassment is often enough to prevent residents from reporting abuse.
While reporting nursing home abuse anonymously is better than not reporting it at all, there are reasons why anonymous reporting is not necessarily the best option.
Anonymously Reporting Nursing Home Abuse
It is possible to file a complaint of nursing home abuse anonymously in Florida. You can do this on the website for the Florida Department of Elder Affairs (DOEA). However, there are reasons why you may not want to report abuse in this manner.
The first is that the authorities may want to contact you for additional information. If you report the abuse anonymously, they will not have your contact information and so, they will not be able to obtain more information. This can weaken their investigation and their case, resulting in the abuse or neglect continuing.
For employees of nursing homes, it may be even more important to provide full information when reporting abuse or neglect. Employees face serious penalties if they know of or suspect abuse and do not report it. By providing their full name and contact information, it can document the fact that they reported the abuse, which can help them avoid those serious penalties.
Our Nursing Home Abuse Lawyers in Tampa Can Help with Your Case
If you suspect nursing home abuse or neglect, it is critical that you report it. At Kohn Law, our Tampa nursing home abuse lawyers can advise on the different ways to report, and help you remain anonymous, if you choose to do so. We can also investigate your case and ensure your and your family receive the maximum compensation you deserve. Call us now at 813-428-8504 or fill out our online form to schedule a consultation and to get more information.
Sources:
elderaffairs.org/about-us/office-of-inspector-general/file-a-complaint/#:~:text=Your Contact Information, the issues you are reporting.
usatoday.com/story/news/health/2023/06/16/nursing-home-residents-fear-retaliation/70317690007/
