A worried daughter turned to Scioto County deputies after becoming concerned about the care her father was receiving at a local nursing facility.
The woman called on September 25 and asked to speak with a deputy about the situation. According to the sheriff’s log, she had already spoken with another deputy earlier in the day and had been advised to call back so an officer could respond.
A deputy later spoke with her by phone and gathered information for a report.
The log does not spell out exactly what the daughter believed was happening at the nursing home, so there is no indication from this call alone whether deputies found evidence of abuse, neglect, or another violation.
But families who are worried about nursing home care in Ohio do have places to turn besides law enforcement.
Where to Report Nursing Home Concerns in Ohio
If you believe someone is in immediate danger, call 911.
For concerns about the quality of care, neglect, abuse, unsafe conditions, medication issues, staffing, or other problems at a nursing home, complaints can also be made to the Ohio Department of Health, which investigates complaints involving licensed facilities. Complaints may be filed anonymously, although ODH notes that anonymous complainants cannot be contacted for more information or notified of the investigation results. Complaint Tracking
Families can also contact Ohio’s Long-Term Care Ombudsman program, which advocates for residents of nursing homes and other long-term care facilities and can help families work through complaints involving care, rights, transfers, discharge issues, or other disputes.
And if you suspect abuse, neglect, or exploitation of an older adult, Adult Protective Services can also be contacted through the county Job and Family Services system.
The biggest thing is not to ignore a concern because you are not sure which agency is responsible. If the first call lands in the wrong place, ask who should handle it and keep following up until the concern is documented and reviewed.