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Nursing Home and Elder Neglect and Abuse – Definitions
Maryland Abuse Statute
In Maryland, abuse is defined by Section 14-101 of the Family Law article, Annotated Code of Maryland, which defines abuse as “sustaining of any physical injury by a vulnerable adult as a result of cruel or inhumane treatment or as a result of malicious act by any person.”
For assisted living abuse, report suspected abuse or neglect to the local Adult Protective Services (APS) office. There is a local APS office in each county’s Department of Social Services (as well as Baltimore City’s). You can find the list of offices here.
To report suspected abuse or neglect involving nursing homes in Maryland, contact the Office of Health Care Quality (OHCQ). You may call in your complaint to 410-402-8108 (or toll free to 877-402-8219). You may also mail in a written complaint or file online. See the following webpage here.
For More information on Reporting Elder abuse in Maryland, click here.
For more information on abuse prevention, click here to read the 12 things that can be done to prevent abuse.