Nursing Home Abuse

Nursing Home Abuse Attorneys in Gainesville, GA and Braselton, GA

Our nation is rapidly aging and people are living longer meaning that the population of licensed nursing home facilities continues to grow with over 1.5 million people currently residing in nursing home facilities. The elderly are a particularly vulnerable population who are often unable to protect themselves or effectively communicate to other that they are the victims of abuse and neglect. The statistics regarding the prevalence of nursing home abuse and neglect is alarming:

  • Almost half of all nursing home residents suffer some form of abuse
  • Forty percent of nursing home employees admit having recently committed an act of physical abuse
  • Thirty percent of nursing home employees report having witnessed physical abuse
  • More than 80 percent of nursing home staff report having seen some form of verbal, physical, or other form of abuse

The epidemic of abuse and neglect of the elderly in nursing homes in Georgia and round the country is tragic for both the victims and their loved ones. If you or your loved one has been the victim of nursing home abuse or neglect, the experienced elder abuse law firm of McLeod Law Firm will advise you of your rights and help you seek the financial compensation for the abuse of your or your loved one.

The elderly can be injured in nursing homes as a result of neglect or acts of emotional, physical or financial abuse. Common types of elder abuse may include the following:

  • Nursing Home Neglect: Many nursing homes are filled to capacity but their resources are inadequate for the number of residence. Many of these facilities are for profit businesses with staffs that are underpaid, overworked and poorly supervised. The lack of adequate staffing is one of the leading causes of serious nursing home neglect. Courts in jurisdictions across the U.S. have been returning massive verdicts into the tens of millions of dollars against nursing homes that serious neglect the care of residents by dangerously cutting corners. Elder neglect can be particularly insidious because the signs may be hidden until the elder victim suffers dehydration or lack of nutrition resulting in serious deterioration and even permanent injuries or wrongful death.
  • Physical Abuse: Physical abuse is the intentional use of force against elderly residents. It can involve such acts at physical battery, sexual assault or exploitation and the use of chemical or physical restraint. This form of abuse will often have visible signs such as bruises or other marks and can result in serious injury and even fatal accidents. The use of medication or physical restraint is a frequent manifestation of this type of physical nursing home abuse.
  • Financial Abuse: It is not uncommon for elderly victims to have their money or assets stolen which can result in the complete depletion of an elderly victims savings. This form of abuse often involves in a nursing home facility intentionally misusing the elderly patient’s bank account or credit cards. Another common form of financial abuse of nursing home residents is Medicaid fraud. While Medicaid is billed for medications or treatment that is necessary for the elder abuse victim, the victim does not receive the necessary care and treatment.
  • Emotional Abuse: This can involve vicious verbal assaults and threats against an elderly resident or blaming the resident for things that are not his or her fault.

Nursing home facilities are regulated by both Federal and Georgia law. Licensed nursing home facilities are required to meet certain standards for care and failure to do so may be a basis for imposing liability for serious injuries or wrongful death. Any facility which accepts Medicaid funds must also abide by government regulations setting minimum standards for the care of residents in such facilities. Many of these regulations are promulgated by the Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA) and are administered through the states. HCFA regulations set guidelines for the evaluation, care and treatment of residents.

If you or your loved one has suffered serious injury or has suffered wrongful death as a result of nursing home abuse and neglect, you or your loved one may be entitled to compensation for your injuries. Our Georgia nursing home abuse law firm represents those who suffer from serious nursing home neglect and abuse throughout Georgia. We are committed to obtaining the best possible results for our client through the use of skilled advocacy acquired over 25 years of handling Georgia nursing home abuse litigation.

Related Practice Areas

Related Articles

Skilled Personal Injury Lawyers in North Georgia

With offices in Gainesville and Braselton, our lawyers serve the community’s legal needs, including everything from probate, to family law, criminal defense, personal injury, and business law.

Our team has the experience to be able to walk you through the legal process, advise you on the best course of action for your particular situation, and advocate on your behalf.

Don’t wait to obtain the qualified and highly dependable legal representation you need. Contact us now to learn more about our highly seasoned personal injury law services.