Even one instance of abuse or neglect of an elderly nursing home patient is too many, especially when it’s someone you love. To help families investigate conditions that may signal abuse or elder neglect, the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services offers access to the state’s Elder Abuse and Neglect Hotline.
Under Missouri law, “abuse” includes physical, sexual, emotional, or financial exploitation or harm. Any of these can cause permanent damage, especially when the victim is an elderly person who may have difficulty communicating his or her needs. “Neglect” includes failing to provide needed care, specifically when the failure is by someone with a duty to provide care and when serious harm or death may occur as a result.
Some forms of abuse, such as physical, sexual, or emotional abuse, may leave visible changes in an elderly person’s health or functioning. Financial exploitation may not be as easy to spot, but it can also cause serious damage and is also a form of abuse.
To report suspected abuse or neglect, call the Missouri Elder Abuse and Neglect Hotline at (800) 392-0210. Hearing-impaired Missourians can call (800) 669-8819 for TDD services or (800) 676-3777 to use Relay Missouri. The hotline is open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. year-round.
Nursing home abuse and neglect injuries should never be taken lightly as the health and well-being of a loved one may be at stake. At Page Law, our St. Louis County nursing home injury attorneys can help you uncover the source of abuse or neglect injuries, put a stop to them, and get the compensation your loved one needs. Call us today at (314) 322-8515 for a free, confidential case evaluation.
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