Finding the right nursing home is far from easy. In fact, it can be downright scary. Tragic stories of elder abuse and neglect in Georgia nursing homes and assisted living facilities have made headlines in recent years. When the abuse happens to you or someone you love, the pain and horror are unimaginable.
We have some of the Best Nursing Home Abuse Lawyers in Savannah
All nursing home residents have rights that are protected by state and federal laws. Unfortunately, some of these facilities violate the rules, either for financial gain or for reasons unknown. The result is that our most vulnerable citizens are subjected to inhumane treatment and exploitation. Even worse, it is widely believed that most cases of elder abuse go unreported.
If you or a friend, parent, or grandparent is the victim of abuse or neglect in a Georgia nursing home or assisted living facility, contact a Savannah nursing home abuse lawyer at the Spiva Law Group immediately. Our nursing home abuse attorneys can help you notify the appropriate authorities and take action to ensure there is a prompt response to your allegations. Our first priority is to ensure the safety and dignity of our clients. We will fight to make sure that the negligent facilities are held accountable for their actions (or inactions) so that the abuse never happens to you or other nursing home residents again.
Our Savannah Nursing Home Abuse Attorneys Can Help
Our Savannah nursing home abuse legal team has a track record of success, scoring numerous jury verdicts and settlements in excess of $1 million for our clients. We also pride ourselves on our compassionate care for injured people who need legal help but also support from elderly abuse lawyers they can trust.
Reach out to the nursing home abuse lawyers at the Spiva Law Group by calling us now. You can also contact us online to arrange a free consultation. We handle nursing home abuse claims for people in Savannah, Chatham County, and throughout Georgia.
Savannah nursing homes are regulated to protect the dignity, privacy, and integrity of their residents. By law, every new resident should be provided a copy of their rights when they enter a facility.
Non-discrimination based on age, gender, disability, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, religion, or source of payment.
Privacyas long as it does not go against medical needs.
Freedom of choice to do things such as vote, practice religion, abstain from religious observations, participate in any nursing home activities or decide who manages finances.
Ethical care, treatment, and serviceswhile living at the nursing home.
Proper nutritionthat is appropriate to the individual’s needs and abilities. That includes three meals per day with no more than a five-hour gap in between.
Freedom from physical or chemical restraintsunless medically necessary and explained in writing by a treating physician.
Access to certain informationregarding rates, administrators, statements of charges, and facility policies.
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Although many long-term care facilities do a wonderful job caring for their residents, there are a number of factors that can lead to abuse and neglect.
Examples of nursing home abuse and neglect include:
Undertrained employees
Understaffed facilities
Negligent hiring practices
Poor sanitation
Medication errors
Inadequate supervision to prevent resident-on-resident abuse
Nursing homes (or assisted living facilities) that breach their duty to care for residents may be held liable under Georgia’s personal injury laws. Depending on the source of the abuse, a medical malpractice claim might also be appropriate. A nursing home abuse lawyer in Savannah can help.
Nursing home abuse and/or nursing home neglect is separated into these categories:
Physical Abuse: Hitting, shoving, biting, unlawful restraint, and deprivation leading to bodily harm are examples.
Emotional Abuse: Humiliating, threatening, yelling, demeaning, ridiculing, or ignoring residents is another form of abuse.
Sexual Abuse: This occurs whenever there is non-consensual sexual contact between a nursing home resident and someone else.
Financial Abuse: This happens when another person accesses the victim’s money, credit cards, and other assets for personal use.
Neglect: The willful withholding of the medical, emotional, and fundamental daily care that the resident needs.
Self-neglect: In some cases of abuse, symptoms manifest when victims stop caring for themselves (ignoring basic hygiene needs, refusing food, withdrawing from activities that he or they enjoyed).
How Do I Know If My Loved One Is a Victim of Savannah Nursing Home Abuse?
It’s hard to get a firm number on how many elderly and vulnerable adults are abused in nursing homes and assisted living facilities each year. Some victims are physically unable to report the abuse. Others may be unaware that they are being victimized, particularly when it comes to financial exploitation. That’s not to mention the segment of the population who are too scared to report what is happening. Our nursing home abuse attorneys in Savannah can help.
Sometimes it can be hard to separate signs of abuse from the consequences of normal aging.
Some potential warning signs of nursing home abuse and neglect include:
Broken bones, bruises, or cuts
Bedsores
Dehydration
Unexplained weight loss
Cognitive decline
Depression
Emotional outbursts/withdrawal
Poor hygiene
Reports of falls or wandering
Signs of financial trouble such as unpaid bills, unusual charges, missing checkbooks, and stolen property
What to Do If You Suspect Savannah Nursing Home Abuse
If you have concerns about the way a facility is treating its residents, or if you suspect abuse, you have a variety of options. If someone is in immediate jeopardy, call 911 or the police right away. But unless there is a compelling reason not to, try going to the administrators first to lodge your complaint. In Georgia, nursing homes must respond within three days. If they do not respond or fail to respond to your satisfaction, then you should report it to the state and contact a qualified Savannah nursing home abuse lawyer.
For help with your nursing home abuse complaint, you can contact:
Call the state’s Department of Social Services. The Department of Social Services is responsible for investigating reports of abuse and neglect in nursing homes. You can find the phone number for your state’s Department of Social Services by searching online or by contacting your local library.
Call the police. The police are also responsible for investigating reports of abuse and neglect in nursing homes. You can call the police by dialing 911.
Report the abuse to the nursing home’s administrator. The nursing home’s administrator is responsible for ensuring the safety of the residents. You can report the abuse to the administrator by calling the nursing home’s main number.
It is important to remember that you should not delay in reporting nursing home abuse. The sooner you report the abuse, the sooner it can be stopped.
Here are some additional tips for reporting nursing home abuse:
Be as specific as possible when describing the abuse.
Provide as much information as possible about the abuser, including their name, if you know it.
Be prepared to provide the name of the nursing home resident who is being abused.
Be prepared to provide the date and time of the abuse.
If you are afraid to report the abuse yourself, you can ask a friend, family member, or lawyer to help you. You can also report the abuse anonymously.
It is important to remember that you are not alone. There are people who can help you if you suspect that a nursing home resident is being abused.
Why Should I Talk to a Nursing Home Abuse Attorney?
Reporting abuse complaints to the state is crucial. But there are hundreds of nursing homes in Georgia, and despite the state’s efforts, response times to investigate claims are lagging. That’s where a nursing home abuse lawyer can help.
Final takeaways when it comes to nursing home abuse:
The signs of nursing home abuse can vary depending on the type of abuse. For example, physical abuse may cause bruises, cuts, and other injuries. Emotional abuse may cause depression, anxiety, and withdrawal. Sexual abuse may cause physical injuries, as well as emotional trauma. Neglect can cause weight loss, dehydration, and other health problems.
If you suspect that a nursing home resident is being abused, it is important to report it to the appropriate authorities. You can call the state’s Department of Social Services or the police. You can also report the abuse to the nursing home’s administrator.
It is important to remember that nursing home abuse is a serious crime. If you suspect that a nursing home resident is being abused, it is important to report it so that the abuse can be stopped.
We have the resources to respond quickly to allegations of abuse at your loved one’s facility and take steps to prevent critical evidence from disappearing before investigators show up. We can help you work with administrators to come to a prompt resolution to your claim. It is often in the facility’s best interest to reach a settlement, but if we must go to trial, the Spiva Law Group knows how to pursue the compensation you deserve in the courtroom. We have some of the best personal injury lawyers in Savannah.
To find out if you have a claim, please call us or contact us online today. There is no charge for a case evaluation with our nursing home abuse attorneys.