Protecting Older and Vulnerable Adults in Maryland
The Office of Health Care Quality (OHCQ) is the agency within the Maryland Department of Health that oversees the quality of care in 46 types of health care facilities and community-based programs. To achieve our mission of protecting the health and safety of Marylanders across the health care continuum, OHCQ raises awareness of elder abuse and neglect and investigates allegations in these licensed settings. This web page contains many resources ranging from helping to report abuse to supporting abuse victims and their families.
What is elder abuse and neglect?
Physical Abuse: The use of force causing harm or pain to an individual, which includes, but is not limited to, hitting, kicking, pinching, slapping, shoving, shaking, and burning. It may involve the inappropriate use of medication or physical restraints.
Financial Abuse or Exploitation: Wrongfully taking or using an older adult’s funds or property through theft, scams, fraud, or predatory lending.
Psychological Abuse: Causing emotional pain through verbal assaults, threats, or harassment. Perpetrators intimidate, humiliate, or attempt to isolate their victims.
Sexual Abuse: Non-consensual sexual contact of any kind, including contact with an individual unable to consent to such contact. For instance, if they suffer from dementia and are unable to understand.
Neglect: An individual failing to meet the needs of an older adult who is under their care. This includes not providing essential things a person needs, such as food, water, shelter, clothing, or personal hygiene.
Self-Neglect: Failure of a person to meet vital self-care needs, putting them at risk of harm for their safety and/or health.
Reporting Abuse and Neglect
In the Community: If you suspect an elderly or vulnerable person in your family or in your community is being abused, neglected, or exploited, call 1-800-332-6347 immediately to report it to Adult Protective Services. Under the law, any banking institution in cases of financial exploitation, health practitioner, police officer, or human service worker who has reason to believe that a vulnerable adult is in danger is required to report the fact to the local department of social services.
In Nursing Homes and Assisted Living: Report suspected abuse or neglect in nursing homes or assisted living programs to the Office of Health Care Quality. You may also report it to the Maryland Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program. Ombudsman are advocates that work to resolve problems of individual residents and to improve residents' care and quality of life. The law requires nursing homes to report suspected abuse, neglect, exploitation, and misappropriation to the Office of Health Care Quality.
In Other Health Care Facilities and Community-Based Providers: Report suspected abuse or neglect in other health care facilities and community-based providers to the Office of Health Care Quality.
Elder Fraud
The
Maryland Office of the Attorney General provides information about reporting fraud and abuse, including avoiding scams and fraud; financial exploitation; telemarketing fraud; and sweepstakes.
Maryland's Medicaid Fraud Control Unit (MFCU) is part of the Office of the Attorney General. It prosecutes both Medicaid fraud and the abuse and neglect of vulnerable adults. Their jurisdiction includes all facilities that receive any Medicaid funds, even if the victim is not a Medicaid recipient, as well as all assisted living facilities regardless of whether they receive Medicaid funds. The unit provides education regarding the prevention of abuse and neglect as well as training on how to detect, report and investigate such offenses.
The
Maryland Senior Medicare Patrol provides assistance with false or misleading information that benefits the health provider; billing for Medicare or Medicaid services that were not provided or not needed; offering cash, free services, or gifts to influence the use of a doctor or facility; providing substandard care; and stopping insurance coverage without prior notice.
Signs of Elder Abuse
Health Occupation Boards
To report a concern related to an individual who is licensed or certified by a health occupation board in Maryland, contact the appropriate board below.
Maryland Neighborhood Map
Use this link to find Maryland resources in your neighborhood.
Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services
Department of Justice's Elder Justice Initiative
The mission of the Elder Justice Initiative is to support and coordinate the Department’s enforcement and programmatic efforts to combat elder abuse, neglect and financial fraud and scams that target our nation’s older adults. Use this link for more information about this initiative.
Maryland Resources
File a Complaint
(410) 402-8141 I (800) 492-6005 I TTY (800) 735-2258
Mark Scott, Administrator
