If your elderly loved one has experienced mistreatment in a nursing home, don’t hesitate to contact the law office of Joe Durham at 229-210-6226 to speak with a nursing home neglect attorney in Cordele, GA.
Our experienced and understanding team can provide the necessary resources and skills to help you seek compensation for the abuse your loved one has suffered. Under Georgia law, victims of abuse can recover compensation for medical expenses, pain and suffering, and the loss of life’s enjoyment.
However, it’s important to note that there are time limits for filing these cases, so seeking professional help promptly is crucial. Let our personal injury lawyers handle the proper and punctual filing of your claim.
How is a Nursing Home Abuse Case Handled?
Joe Durham’s policy is to maintain complete transparency with clients when handling nursing home abuse claims. In cases where settlement offers are deemed unacceptable, Joe Durham has the experience and determination to take the case to trial and advocate for the client’s rights.
The following are some of the methods Joe Durham and his team use to strengthen these abuse cases in Georgia:
- Collaborating with medical experts to determine the cause of injuries sustained by the elderly individual
- Reviewing the elderly person’s medical records
- Ensuring that the nursing home does not restrict access to information relevant to the case
- Collecting photographic evidence and examining security footage related to the abuse
- Examining business records to determine the legality of the nursing home’s hiring practices
- Interviewing witnesses, if possible
- Interviewing other employees and residents of the nursing home
- Calculating the cost of any non-economic damages related to nursing home abuse.
It is important to seek the assistance of an experienced nursing home abuse lawyer if you suspect abuse or neglect of your elderly loved one in a nursing home.
The nursing home and their insurance companies will likely have legal representation to protect their interests, so it’s essential to have an attorney on your side who can fight for your rights and ensure that you receive the compensation and justice that you deserve.
What Are Examples of Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect?
Abuse can take many forms in nursing home care, such as physical abuse, neglect, sexual abuse, financial exploitation, emotional abuse, and healthcare fraud. If you suspect that your elderly loved one has suffered abuse while in a nursing home, don’t hesitate to contact our office.
Our skilled nursing home abuse attorneys in Cordele, GA can help you seek justice and compensation for any harm your loved one has endured.
The National Center on Elder Abuse has outlined the following three types of nursing home abuse:
Domestic
This refers to abuse that occurs in a private setting, often by a trusted individual such as a family member, friend, or caregiver. It can take place in the elderly person’s own home or in the home of the caregiver. The abuse can be physical, emotional, sexual, or financial in nature.
Institutional
This refers to any abuse that takes place in an institutional setting for older people, such as a foster home, group home, nursing home, or other care facilities.
Typically, those who perpetrate the abuse of elderly individuals in these settings are those who are responsible for their care and well-being.
Self-neglect
This refers to behavior on the part of an elderly individual that threatens their health, safety or well-being.
The most common manifestation of this issue is elderly people who fail to provide themselves with adequate food, water, medication, hygiene or other personal safety precautions.
This is not the same as a mentally competent individual who will make a conscious decision to harm themselves in some way as a matter of choice.
Can I File a Lawsuit for Financial Abuse of an Elderly Person?
Financial exploitation of the elderly is unfortunately common, and it is important to watch out for signs of such abuse. According to studies, 1 in 10 cases of elder abuse involve financial or material exploitation.
Signs of financial abuse can include sudden large withdrawals from a bank account, unexplained additions of names to a bank account, sudden changes in a will or transfer of assets, or missing funds, belongings, or possessions.
If you suspect that your loved one is being financially exploited, contact a professional nursing home neglect attorney in Cordele, GA for help in taking legal action to protect their rights and recover any compensation they may be entitled to.
What are the Warning Signs of Elderly Abuse?
Consider visiting your loved one often to keep an eye on any small signs of abuse as they develop, since the signs of nursing home abuse are not always immediately noticeable. You should be aware of the most common signs of abuse such as:
- Anxiety or fear of certain staff or situations
- Bedsores
- Missing items
- Emotional withdrawal
- Poor hygiene
- Excessive hunger
- Cuts or bruises
- A decline in physical health
- Listlessness
- Infections
Why is Nursing Home Abuse so Prevalent?
Nursing home abuse is often caused by mismanagement and understaffing, which results in a lack of resources for proper care. This can lead to professional negligence and a high turnover rate among qualified nursing home staff.
What Should You Do if You Suspect Your Loved One is the Victim of a Nursing Home Neglect?
If you suspect that your loved one is experiencing abuse in a nursing home, it’s important to take action and document the situation. You can start by taking pictures of any injuries or visible signs of abuse.
Seeking help from a qualified nursing home abuse lawyer is also essential in fighting for justice and ensuring your loved one’s well-being. At our law office, we have the experience and expertise to examine the evidence and provide you with professional guidance.
Remember, if you suspect one staff member of abuse, it’s possible that others may suspect the same person.
Contact the Joe Durham Law Firm for a Free Consultation!
If you believe that your elderly loved one is being abused or neglected in a nursing home or other care facility, it is important to seek legal help. Georgia law requires that these facilities provide care without exploitation, neglect, or abuse.
At the Law Firm of Joe Durham, our experienced attorneys can provide the support and guidance you need to recover compensation for your loved one’s suffering. Contact us at 229-210-6226 to schedule a consultation.
