Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer in Cumming, GA
Nursing Home Negligence, Elder Abuse, and Death in Cumming, GA
Unfortunately, this occurs more frequently than one would think.
It is a disturbing and tragic fact that should not be ignored in any capacity.
Senior citizens are society’s most vulnerable group of people.
They are at their most isolated when their living situations become dangerous, and it becomes clear that they cannot live on their own or defend themselves.
Should complications arise, however, we may need to turn the care of our loved ones over to assisted living, nursing homes, or long-term care facilities.
We expect these nursing home facilities to provide quality, dedicated, thoughtful, and compassionate care to our loved ones.
That is the sole reason we have elected to place them in their care.
When they fail to provide adequate care, contact our Cumming, GA Nursing home neglect lawyers.
When you signed your loved one up for a nursing home service, you expected that these facilities would tend to every need that may arise when it comes to your beloved family members.
While many of these places do, in fact, provide a high standard of senior citizen care, far too many do not.
There are social dynamics in our society that are beginning to favor nursing home care over in-home care.
In the fast-paced world we live in, it is sometimes impossible to fulfill all obligations and responsibilities and provide the necessary care that our more elderly relations may need.
The choice to seek outside assistance for these loved ones is often filled with heartache and anxiety, but it should entirely be based on our love for our older family members.
We want only the best for these people, which ultimately leads to the decision to place them in a nursing home.
That is why when one does decide to place a beloved relation in a care facility, they are putting their trust in those who are working there.
We are trusting them with the lives of our loved ones and with our own feelings and affections.
That is why it is so particularly heinous when that trust is violated.
It doesn't only affect oneself, but the quality of life of one they love.
As unfortunate as it sounds, Nursing Home Abuse does occur and can take many different forms, such as:
Emotional Abuse
Physical Abuse
Financial Abuse
If you know someone suffering from abuse, it is imperative that you act as quickly as possible.
The sooner help arrives, the sooner the abusive behavior can end.
If you find this situation applies to you, contact our law firm.
Our experienced Cumming Nursing Home Abuse Lawyers today for a free consultation.
Common Forms of Nursing Home Abuse
It is crucial to be on guard and looking for evidence if you are even minutely suspicious of abuse.
This could be something as simple as listening to the complaints your loved one may be voicing, or perhaps taking it a step further and observing everything not said but shown in their living environment.
Physical Abuse
There are many different ways for an elderly person to be abused while living in nursing homes.
Some common signs of nursing home negligence include:
Violence
Force Feeding
Physical Restraints
Open Wounds
Broken Bones
Medication Overdose
Underutilization of Prescribed Drugs
Emotional Abuse
Unfortunately, Emotional and psychological abuse is very prominent in Cumming nursing homes.
This is particularly insidious because there is often less physical evidence associated with emotional and psychological abuse.
However, the lack of proof does not mean that such occurrences do not happen.
Some of the most common ways to be emotionally abused include:
Threats
Humiliation
Harassment
Intimidation
Social Isolation
Inflicting Anguish
Isolation
Financial Abuse
The third form of nursing home negligence is financial or material exploitation.
This could include any illegal or improper use of an elderly person's:
Funds
Property
Assets
Signs of Abuse Taking Place
However, there are ways to tell if your loved one is suffering while under the care of a nursing home or facility.
These signs are often very noticeable, provided one is actively looking for them.
If your elderly loved one has been neglected or abused while in a nursing home, many people will begin to notice the following signs:
Medications not being administered at all or it is being administered improperly.
Soiled clothing or bed linens
Unsanitary living conditions
Malnourishment/dehydration
Remember, sexual abuse is not merely a physical occurrence.
It is also an emotional and psychological trauma that can leave just as lasting of an effect as physical abuse.
Sexually abused senior citizens may be forced to watch pornographic material or have their photos taken against their will.
Some elders are forced to undress or made to watch sex acts performed by their caretakers.
If your elderly loved one has been abused in a sexual nature, he or she may suffer from or show:
Bleeding around the genital or anal area
Venereal disease
Bloody undergarments
Bruises around the breast/genital region
Financial exploitation is actually the most common form of non-physical abuse of the elderly. An unscrupulous caregiver may:
Misuse the elder’s checking accounts, savings accounts, and/or credit cards
Steal money, steal checks, or steal belongings
Fraudulent signatures
Authorize withdrawals or transfer of money
Identity Theft
Forms of Nursing Home Neglect Lawsuits
If you find that your loved one is suffering any form of abuse, some actions can be taken to provide justice.
However, nursing home lawsuits can be tricky, involving federal and/or state laws and claims concerning:
Elder abuse
Negligence
Consumer fraud
Medical malpractice
Wrongful death
According to more recent estimates by the National Center on Elder Abuse, between 1 and 2 million Americans age 65 or older have been abused in some way or another.
Cumming Nursing home residents have patient rights and protections under the law.
The government is aware of the potentiality of such abuse for elderly citizens.
Because the federal government funds such a large number of eldercare centers, specific laws were established to protect residents' rights, ensuring that everything that can be done legally to protect your elderly relations will be.
Under both Federal and Georgia jurisdictions, nursing home residents have the right to be free from physical or mental abuse. They are not to be subjected to corporal punishment, involuntary seclusion, and any other physical or chemical restraints imposed for discipline and convenience and are not required to treat the resident’s medical symptoms.
What to do if you suspect abuse of your loved one?
The Georgia Department of Community Health regulates nursing homes in Georgia and can help you get immediate care for your abused elder in Cumming.
Before you directly bring a claim against a nursing home, call our Cumming Nursing Home Abuse Attorneys at The Brown Firm.
Remember, you shouldn't act alone when facing a nursing home dilemma in Cumming, GA.
When your family is impacted by the knowledge of elder neglect or abuse, you need a trusted professional by your side.
The Brown Firm is more than capable of guiding you through this process and earning you the justice that you and your loved ones deserve.
Our firm knows how to handle these types of cases.
And because our law firm has more than 30 years of experience handling Cumming Nursing Home Abuse cases, we can help you get the results you deserve by winning your case.
Hiring A Cumming Nursing Home Abuse Attorney
Abusing the elderly is a violation of human rights and may cause illness, injury, despair, or property loss.
Knowing the signs of elder abuse is not always obvious, so many people do not realize their loved one is being maltreated.
However, when the abuse goes undetected or unreported, the results may lead to serious illness or even wrongful death.
If you know of someone suffering from Nursing Home Abuse in Cumming, do not hesitate to contact The Brown Firm to see how one of our experienced attorneys can help with your case.
It only takes one click to get your case started.