How to Report Abuse in a Nursing Home in Tennessee

Unfortunately, nursing home residents sometimes experience abuse or neglect in the nursing homes where they reside. Abuse may be physical, sexual or emotional. Abuse also may include neglect and financial exploitation. If you are aware of abuse occurring in a nursing home in Tennessee, you should report it to the proper authorities as soon as possible to prevent further harm from occurring.

Instructions

• 1

  Call 888-277-8366 to report nursing home abuse in Tennessee. You also can call the Tennessee State Long-Term Care Ombudsman at 877-236-0013. These agencies only answer calls during regular business hours so if you have an emergency situation to report, you should call 911 instead.

• 2

  Provide as much information as you can about the abuse, including the names of any nursing home residents who have experienced abuse, the names of any nursing home staff members who have abused any residents, the dates on which the abuse occurred and the type of abuse that occurred. If you do not have all of this information, you can still call to report the abuse. Just provide as much information as you have.

• 3

  Give your name and telephone number when asked if you feel comfortable doing so. The agency to whom you report nursing home abuse will not give your name to anyone at the nursing home. They will simply give your name and contact information to the investigator in case he needs additional information from you. If you do not feel comfortable giving your name or number, simply say that you wish to remain anonymous. They will still investigate your report of abuse in a Tennessee nursing home even if you do not give your name.