Nursing Home Abuse Attorney in Athens

Trust is all-important when you select a nursing home for a loved one to live in. You’re counting on the staff of the nursing home to take good care of your loved one and to give them a safe place to spend their later years.

Sadly, not all nursing homes and assisted living facilities are safe places to live. Some of them neglect the vulnerable people in their care. Others actively abuse their residents. When a nursing home neglects or abuses a loved one, you have the right to pursue compensation. Our Athens nursing home abuse lawyer can help.

Alan Cleveland, LLC has many years of experience negotiating with insurance companies and winning top-dollar settlements in nursing home neglect and abuse cases. We work on contingency, meaning we don’t get paid unless we win your case. Contact us today to discuss your situation with an experienced and compassionate Athens nursing home abuse and negligence lawyer.

What Are the Different Types of Nursing Home Abuse and Negligence?

What constitutes abuse or negligence? According to the Georgia Long-Term Care Facility Resident Abuse Reporting Act, any act that injures a resident of the nursing home, either intentionally or through gross negligence, is abusive. The Office of the Attorney General of Georgia also identifies the following examples of elder abuse:

• Physically hurting a nursing home resident
• Not providing medications
• Not providing food or water
• Using restraints improperly
• Threatening a resident
• Emotional or mental cruelty
• Sexual abuse
• Financial exploitation
• Abandoning or neglecting a resident

Nursing home residents in Georgia are protected by the Bill of Rights for Residents of Long-Term Care Facilities. This law prohibits nursing homes from restricting a resident’s right to make their own decisions about medications, diet, financial affairs, and other matters. Violating a resident’s rights under these regulations could also be a form of abuse. Contact our Athens nursing home abuse attorney today.

What Are the Signs of Nursing Home Abuse or Negligence?

If your loved one tells you they are being abused or neglected, you should take what they’re saying seriously and take steps to ensure their safety. However, not everyone will report their abuse to others. Cognitive issues keep some residents from articulating their experiences, and others may remain silent due to feelings of shame.

You should also keep your eyes out for any warning signs. Frequent visits are one of the best ways to protect your family member from abuse and to notice the signs if it does occur.

Some typical warning signs of nursing home abuse or negligence include:

• Unexplained bruises
• Bedsores
• Abrasions or pressure marks
• Burns
• Broken bones
• Unexplained weight loss
• Depression
• Behavioral changes
• Issues with hygiene
• Lack of interest or involvement in usual activities
• Strange financial decisions

What Are the Causes of Nursing Home Abuse and Negligence?

Nursing home staffing shortages cause much of the neglect and abuse that occurs. When a nursing home facility doesn’t employ enough staff, employees are constantly busy and under pressure and may not keep up with all their tasks adequately.

Another common reason for abuse is the vulnerability of much of the nursing home population. An older person with cognitive issues or significant medical problems may be less likely to report abuse. This fact encourages abusers and causes them to view older people as potential targets. A knowledgeable Athens nursing home abuse lawyer can assist you.

How Do I Prove Nursing Home Abuse?

To prove that the nursing home staff is neglecting or abusing your family member, you will need to collect as much evidence as possible, including:

• Photographs or videos of bruises, bedsores, and any other marks
• Copies of your loved one’s medical records, especially after a doctor has examined them for signs of abuse
• Witness statements from nursing home employees and residents
• Nursing home documentation, such as incident reports

Your nursing home abuse lawyer will gather the evidence you will need after you decide to proceed with a lawsuit.

Who Can Be Held Responsible for the Abuse or Negligence?

Liability in a nursing home abuse or negligence case depends on the specifics of the case, but the parties that can be held accountable include:

• Nursing home staff responsible for your loved one
• The nursing home facility
• Third parties responsible for aspects of care
• Manufacturers of medical equipment
• Other residents at the nursing home

The company that operates the nursing home is often liable in an abuse or negligence case because they are legally responsible for the well-being of residents. If there are other liable parties, your attorney will identify them. Our nursing home abuse attorney in Athens is here to assist.

What Should I Do If I Suspect My Loved One Is a Victim of Abuse or Negligence?

If you suspect your loved one is a victim of abuse or negligence, your number one priority should be ensuring their safety. Get them out of the nursing home and to a safe place.

Your second step is to contact a lawyer. Your lawyer will tell you whether to report your suspicions to the nursing home. In some cases, doing so could give them the opportunity to destroy critical evidence.

An Athens nursing home abuse and negligence lawyer can pursue compensation for the abuse your loved one suffered, including:

• Medical expenses resulting from the abuse
• Emotional distress caused by the abuse
• Psychological treatment
• Prescription medications
• Pain and suffering

You should also report your suspicions to the Georgia Department of Community Health. This is the agency responsible for investigating allegations of abuse at nursing homes. Inform law enforcement as well if you suspect someone has committed a crime.

Contact an Athens Nursing Home Abuse and Negligence Lawyer

R. Alan Cleveland, LLC is a nursing home abuse and negligence lawyer based in Athens, Georgia. If your loved one has been harmed by negligence or abuse in a nursing home facility, you can count on us to fight for justice and hold the people who harmed your family member responsible. Contact us today for your free consultation.