Seattle Personal Injury Attorney Chris Thayer
Seattle Personal Injury Attorney Chris Thayer
Handling Personal Injury Claims in the Seattle Area and Throughout Washington Since 1995

My name is Chris Thayer and I am a personal injury attorney practicing in downtown Seattle. I handle personal injury, medical malpractice and wrongful death claims throughout the greater Seattle area, including Issaquah, Mercer Island and Kirkland.

I am here to help you.

Call for a free consultation (206) 340-2008

Abuse of Nursing Home Patients Going Unreported

Posted Sunday, September 17, 2017 by Chris Thayer

A federal government audit recently found that more than one in four cases of possible physical and sexual abuse against nursing home patients goes unreported. Investigators from the Department of Health and Human Services say that Medicare is responsible for reporting such incidents to the police and other government agencies. The audit is not yet complete, but the inspector general’s office issued this “early alert” so that Medicare can correct its practices.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services issued a statement saying it does require nursing homes to immediately report abuse and neglect to state officials and that it will formally respond to Health and Human Services once the audit is complete.

Nursing Home Abuse Laws in Washington

Washington has several laws designed to protect elderly individuals from abuse. State law also spells out certain rights guaranteed to residents living in long-term care facilities, like nursing homes. These rights include:

A violation of any of these rights might be evidence of elder abuse.

Types of Elder Abuse

In addition to the rights listed above, nursing home and other long-term care facility residents have a right to be protected from physical, emotional, and financial harm. Common types of abuse include:

If you suspect that your loved one is being abused, contact the police and an experienced attorney immediately.

Contact Us Today

Contact one of our personal injury attorneys today for a free consultation if you or a loved one have suffered nursing home abuse. Our experienced attorneys will help you recover compensation for your injuries, including medical expenses, and pain and suffering.