It is unknown how many of our vulnerable elderly fall victim to neglect or abuse each year since such actions are easily hidden from view and underreported. In fact, according to the National Center for Elder Abuse (NCEA), 84 percent of abusive situations involving older adults go unreported or unrecognized.
How Do I File a Nursing Home Complaint?
If Tittle & Perlmuter takes on a case, the experienced legal team is jumping in head first.
Unfortunately, that means we have to be selective in the cases we choose.
If a nursing home neglect and abuse lawyer doesn’t take your case, it doesn’t mean you shouldn’t file a formal complaint relating to the care involved.
Anyone can file a formal complaint against a nursing home relating to resident care. In the state of Ohio, all complaints are done through the Ohio Department of Health (ODH) and there are multiple ways someone can file a formal report.
Three ways to file a nursing home complaint in the state of Ohio are:
- Over the Phone
- Online
Over the Phone
To file a nursing home complaint over the phone, call the ODH Complaint Line number at 1-800-342-0553. If unanswered, this complaint line is covered twenty-four hours, seven days a week by voicemail and is checked at least twice per day.
To file a nursing home complaint by e-mail, include as much detailed information in your complaint to and send to HCComplaints@odh.ohio.gov.
Helpful information could include:
- Name and address of the facility
- Date and time of the incident
- Name of the resident, patient, and staff allegedly involved
Online
To file a nursing home complaint online, complete the Complaint Form (HEA 1685) online and submit the form to the Complaint Unit.
Words from Attorney Allen Tittle
Transcript: Allen Tittle, Cleveland Nursing Home Neglect and Abuse Lawyer. We help in every nursing home neglect and abuse case that we can. However, something that’s unique about our case is that we’re very selective in the cases we choose. We do that because, if we take on a case, we’re jumping in head first. BUT, there are some cases that, quite frankly, we can’t help with but I still feel strongly that the patient or resident of the nursing home was wronged. In those circumstances, oftentimes, I will recommend that they still file a complaint relating to the care, or lack thereof, received. So, this video is a little bit about how to file a formal complaint against a nursing home relating to resident care. In the state of Ohio, all complaints are done through the Ohio Department of Health. There’s three ways that you can file a complaint: The first one is a simple phone call. There’s a hotline that’s manned 24 hours a day, but, if you can’t get a hold of someone, you can leave a voicemail and it’s my understanding that that voicemail is checked twice a day- that’s way number one. Number two, you are able to email a complaint to the Ohio Department of Health outlining the issues with the care. And there is a PDF of the complaint on the Ohio Department of Health’s website to fill out. Number three, and I think probably the easiest, is, there’s an online complaint form that you can fill out on the Ohio Department of Health’s website, you put in the pertinent information, then you hit “SUBMIT”. In my opinion, that’s probably the easiest. Folks, just because a nursing home neglect and abuse lawyer doesn’t take your case, doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t file a formal complaint relating to the care involved. So, if you feel that the resident or patient was wronged, please, I implore you, file a complaint with the Ohio Department of Health. They will launch an investigation and provide formal findings.