Abuse / Neglect / Misappropriation

Protecting nursing home and assisted living facility residents from mistreatment by those who provide their care.

This office conducts investigations into allegations of abuse, neglect and misappropriation (ANM) arising at nursing homes and assisted living facilities pursuant to sections 3721.21 to 3721.26 of the Ohio Revised Code (ORC). 

“Abuse” means knowingly causing physical harm or recklessly causing serious physical harm to a resident by physical contact with the resident or by use of physical or chemical restraint, medication or isolation as punishment, for staff convenience, excessively, as a substitute for treatment or in amounts that preclude habilitation and treatment.

“Neglect” means recklessly failing to provide a resident with any treatment, care, goods or service necessary to maintain the health or safety of the resident when the failure results in serious physical harm to the resident.

“Misappropriation” means depriving, defrauding or otherwise obtaining the real or personal property of a resident by any means prohibited by the ORC, including violations of chapter 2911 or 2913 of the ORC.

When such an allegation is confirmed, no certified long-term care facility can ever again employ the wrongdoer in any capacity.

In the period from Oct. 1, 2007, through Sept. 30, 2008, the office reviewed 6,811 ANM allegations and conducted 612 investigations.  Sanctions were imposed in 76 cases.

Call 614-752-8805 to contact the office or to check the status of a pending case.

To file an ANM complaint against a facility and/or an individual worker, call 1-800-342-0553 or e-mail HCComplaints@odh.ohio.gov.

To determine if an ANM allegation has ever been substantiated involving a particular worker, contact the Ohio Nurse Aide Registry at 800-582-5908 or e-mail NAR@odh.ohio.gov .

Mailing Address:
Ohio Department of Health
Abuse/Neglect/Misappropriation
246 North High Street
Columbus, OH 43215

E-mail: NAR@odh.ohio.gov

Last Updated: 2/13/09