It's a form of medical abuse that may cause life-threatening problems in the medium or long term. I have told friends and relatives about it, though haven't reported it to the authorities yet. Firstly, when I called Adult Protective Services, their offices were closed, now that I told my mom she's warned me about not telling the authorities because she fears the owners may try to do something against us in retaliation.
We come from a country where there the law is corrupted and people constantly live in a state of alert and inner fear. We are also aware of the history of crime, violence and corruption in the U.S. since its origin and up to nowadays. I fear that Adult Protective Services won't be able to maintain our confidentiality when they perform the investigations because no one else would know what's going on except me. And if they don't immediately apprehend whoever is responsible for the abuse, chance is the accused may want to retaliate.
Do you feel your LO is being over medicated or under medicated?
Do remember that your LO has a right to refuse medication though so although YOU might think abuse is happening that may not be the case - do you feel you could speak to her doctor about it? It might be a better route in the short term.
Second, if you get no satisfaction from the DON and SW, contact the Ombudsman for your locality. Every state has a Joint Commission on Nursing Home Accreditation and an Ombudsman to oversee these kinds of issues. Let us know how this works out.
A mandated reporter is usually a professional who is mandated by law to report abuse to APS or police authorities. Seems to me if you reported any incident to a staff member, or the Director of Nursing, it is that person who isxalso reqiured by law to report.
However, the most important factor in this case is your Mom's health, safety, and welfare. Do not wait for the next incident, call 911 and have her taken to the E.R., report the abuse once there. They will find her a bed in another facility.
Do not leave her side, stay with her. Go with her to the emergency room, have her examined for abuse, neglect, but report what you know. How are people supposed to protect our loved ones and the next person's loved ones if due to fear and bystander apathy (your friends, family that you told), no one takes action.
If you or your mother are mistaken and the accusations are unfounded (but believed to be true by you and mother), there is no punishment for that, but she would still want to go to another facility.
You may want to put her in a wheelchair and take her out of there, then see how fast the police come and take your report. However, I am advising against taking this action.