How to Report Nursing Home Abuse Anonymously

Do you need to report nursing home abuse anonymously in Massachusetts? Here’s how and what our qualified personal injury attorneys can do to help.

Steps to Report Nursing Home Abuse Anonymously in Massachusetts

1. Contact the Executive Office of Elder Affairs (EOEA)

Massachusetts’ Executive Office of Elder affairs exists to protect residents who are over the age of 60 from physical, emotional, and sexual abuse, financial abuse, and neglect. Any person who witnesses or suspects harm to a senior adult can file an anonymous report with this agency.

However, you must make your report via phone at 1-800-922-2275 if you do not want to provide your name. Submitting your report online requires you to enter your first and last name.

2. Reach Out to the Long-Term Care Ombudsman in Your Area

Like many states, Massachusetts also has a Long-Term Care Ombudsman, who is tasked with investigating reports of nursing home abuse. This agent is primarily an advocate for the patient as opposed to the nursing home and will work with the facility to resolve issues to the benefit of the resident.

Patients and their families can voice concerns about the care and treatment of an individual or group to the Long-Term Care Ombudsman and receive support at no cost. While the agency may ask for your name and contact information when you call, you have the right to let them know that you prefer to remain anonymous.

3. Contact the Bureau of Health Professions Licensure

If a nursing home or one of their staff members violates established standards of conduct for healthcare professionals, you can also file a complaint to the Bureau of Health Professions Licensure. Doing so will trigger a Board review of either the individual’s or facility’s license. However, it’s important to note that anonymous claims must meet specific criteria in order to be investigated, like:

The claim is made in writing and the allegations against the nursing home or their employee amounts to a violation of state law or Bureau regulations.

An initial inquiry into the allegations uncovers enough evidence to show that claims made in the report are more likely true than not.

The nature of the complaint does not require the identity of the individual making it in order to prove that the allegations are true.

4. Contact the Police

If you or the person you believe is being neglected or abused in a nursing home is at immediate risk, you can contact your local police department to report a violation of the law without revealing your identity. Officers are required to investigate the claims and file a written report regarding the matter, even if the report is made anonymously.

Top Reasons Victims and Family Members May Want to Make an Anonymous Report

There are many reasons why a nursing home abuse victim, a family member, or someone else might prefer to make an anonymous report versus revealing their identity, such as:

Often, victims of abuse or neglect may feel they deserve their treatment or may feel embarrassed for “letting it happen.” The person(s) who hurt them may also have blamed them and made them feel as though no one at the facility would take them seriously if they reported.

Fear of retaliation. Nursing home patients and their family members may be afraid that staff members will retaliate and enact even worse treatment after being reported. Doing so anonymously eliminates the possibility that the facility can connect the report to any specific individual.

Professional reputation. In some cases, it may be someone on the nursing home staff that witnesses neglect or abuse and wants to report it, but they may be worried about how having their name attached to the report will affect their professional career.

When Reporting May Not Be Enough

Unfortunately, reporting nursing home abuse is rarely enough to make it stop. In cases where your loved one has been seriously injured or killed, reporting will do nothing to compensate them or your family for the harm caused.

Filing a lawsuit against the facility where your family member was hurt isn’t anonymous, but it does give you the opportunity to hold the nursing home publicly accountable for their actions and seek financial restitution for damages you or your loved one incurred as a result.

Do You Need Legal Help?

Do you suspect that your elderly loved one is being abused or neglected by staff in the nursing home they are staying at? It’s important to act quickly to protect your loved one’s safety and legal rights. At Mazow | McCullough, PC, we can help you do just that.