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According to nursing home care facts from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there are around 1.3 million nursing home residents in the United States. As humans are living longer, more are moving to these types of facilities for assistance during our elderly years.
Nursing homes in Sandy Springs should be a safe place for the older population to land and be cared for, but unfortunately, neglect and abuse is too common. If you know or suspect that a loved one is suffering in this way, our Sandy Springs nursing home abuse lawyers are here to help.
Abuse is a serious matter that we at John Foy & Associates never take lightly. We fight tirelessly for our clients to call out wrongdoing, pursue compensation for you and your family, and work to prevent the abuse from ever happening again. We’re available 24/7, so give us a call for a FREE, no-obligation consultation at (404) 400-4000 or contact us online.
Sandy Springs Nursing Home Abuse Statistics
According to the National Center on Elder Abuse (NCEA), research on nursing home abuse is not as up-to-date as other types of abuse in the country. There are ethical dilemmas, a lack of qualified researchers, and other barriers that prevent us from having straightforward statistics on elder abuse. That being said, the data we do have is very concerning:
- A comprehensive review found about a 10% prevalence of elder abuse that included physical, sexual, psychological or verbal, and financial abuse, as well as neglect.
- Another study in New York estimated that one in 13 elder adults in the state had suffered at least one type of abuse in the year before.
- Elder abuse is found to often go unreported, so the numbers we do have could be even higher than we realize.
- Low social support, dementia, low income, poor physical health, and past traumatic events are all risk factors for nursing home abuse.
If you suspect abuse is happening to someone you love, it’s important to not ignore it or brush it off. Our gut instincts about these types of things are often correct. The best thing you can do for your loved one is to contact an experienced nursing home abuse lawyer for help.
Our Sandy Springs lawyers are here to listen with open and understanding ears. We have been helping families with abuse cases for more than 20 years, and we are passionate about helping. We’ll discuss the details of what is happening and come up with a plan. Plus, we do not charge you any fees unless we win your case.
Call us today at (404) 400-4000 or contact us online to schedule a FREE consultation.
Types of Nursing Home Abuse in Georgia
There are various forms abuse can take in a nursing home setting. Some are more obvious, while others can go under the radar for years unless a family member notices. Here are some of the types of abuse that can occur.
Physical Abuse
Unfortunately, nursing home residents can suffer physical abuse from staff. Whether it’s a one-time occurrence or it happens frequently, physical abuse is never excusable. Physical abuse may include slapping, shoving, or being rough when elderly residents while trying to get them to take medications, follow rules, or do something else in their home.
Common signs of physical abuse include:
- Bruising
- Sprains
- Cuts and scrapes
- Hair loss
- And more
Neglect
Although neglect may happen in a more passive manner than other types of abuse—and may be intentional or unintentional—it is still a huge cause for concern. Neglect can take the form of:
- Denying food, exercise, sleep, or medications
- Not providing routine and essential care
- Bedsores
- Mismanaging medications
- Being allowed to leave the premises or wander unsupervised
- Needless falls
Your loved one should be able to trust and rely on the nursing home staff at their facility. Nursing homes are unfortunately often understaffed and/or mismanaged, which can lead to neglect from lack of personnel or poor and hasty hiring decisions. No matter the reason, if the elderly resident suffers harm as a result of the neglect, it’s likely grounds for a legal case.
Emotional Abuse
Even if physical injuries never occur, employees might subject residents to emotional abuse. This could be yelling at them, shaming them, ignoring their requests, or being emotionally cruel in some other way. Bullying by another resident can also happen, and staff may fail to notice it or do anything to stop it.
Sexual Abuse
It’s terrible to even think about it, but elderly residents are often more susceptible to sexual abuse in settings like nursing homes. Sexual abuse can happen if another resident is a predator or unwelcome contact takes place from a staff member. No one, no matter their age, should experience sexual contact without their consent.
Financial Abuse
Financial abuse in nursing homes can take the form of forcing a resident to sign over money, stealing money from the resident, credit card fraud, or denying basic care unless the resident pays money.
Why Abuse Happens in Nursing Homes in Sandy Springs
As mentioned above, nursing home abuse happens most often when a facility has poorly-trained staff, a lack of sufficient staff or management is negligent. Many employees in nursing homes are not registered nurses or other medical professionals. They may be paid low wages and not passionate about what they’re doing.
Demand for nursing home care is also increasing, while staff turnover is high. This can make it hard to find consistent employees who are good at their jobs. So, if you suspect anything at all, it’s time to contact a nursing home abuse lawyer for help.
How a Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer Can Help
When we receive a call about a possible nursing home abuse case, the client and their case is treated with the utmost confidentiality and security. The legal proceedings remain private until the investigation is completed and we know that your elderly loved one is safe.
We’ll begin investigating what is going on, get to the bottom of the abuse, and work to fight for your loved one’s rights. We understand the sensitivity and empathy that is required for this type of case, and we are here to support your family.
Talk to a Sandy Springs Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer for Free Today
Don’t wait to give us a call. John Foy & Associates is here to help. We do not charge a fee unless we win your case, so there are no upfront or out-of-pocket costs. Plus, the consultation is always FREE and no-risk to you.
To schedule a FREE consultation with one of our experienced and compassionate lawyers today, call us at (404) 400-4000 or contact us online.
