If a person suspects that their loved one is in immediate danger in their nursing home, they should contact law enforcement. They should call 911 if appropriate.
Otherwise, nursing homes across the country, including in Virginia, are under the authority of different federal, state and non-governmental agencies. Most of them can take complaints of nursing home abuse or neglect and investigate them.
At the end of an investigation, these agencies may impose consequences on nursing homes or on individual bad actors in those nursing homes. For example, in Virginia, a division within the Virginia Department of Health regulates nursing homes.
In the most serious cases, those who abuse and neglect nursing home patients can lose their right to participate in the healthcare business.
Sometimes, it is better first to raise one’s concerns informally with the management of a loved one’s nursing home or with a designated patient advocate. If a patient is under the care of a legal guardian, it may also be appropriate to discuss concerns with that guardian.
Reporting nursing home abuse to agencies does not guarantee compensation
Often, reporting suspected nursing home abuse and neglect can bring accountability to the system and make things better both for one’s friend or relative and other patients in the facility.
However, administrative agencies usually are not in the position to compensate victims of nursing home malfeasance directly.
Their report can be helpful to the victim or their family when pursuing a civil lawsuit against the nursing home. To hold a nursing home financially accountable for neglect and abuse, a family in the Danville area would have to file a lawsuit in the appropriate court.
As part of that lawsuit, they can seek compensation both for their financial losses as well as for non-economic losses like emotional distress or pain and suffering.