Nursing Home Abuse Attorneys in Florida and Georgia

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It’s a sad fact that nursing home abuse happens far too often. There are more than 3.2 million residents in nursing homes and long-term care facilities in the United States. Unfortunately, more than 44% of residents confessed that they had suffered abuse while living in their facility.

If you know or suspect that someone you love is a victim of nursing home or senior care abuse, you deserve to know the truth – and your loved ones deserve justice. You expect the nursing community overseeing your loved ones to treat them with respect. They should be held accountable when they fail to meet that expectation.

At Farah & Farah, our Florida and Georgia nursing home abuse lawyers can help you hold negligent parties accountable. Get started now with a free, no obligation case review.

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What is Nursing Home Abuse?

Nursing home abuse occurs when staff consciously harm a resident. When the staff fails to meet the standard level of care, there can be terrible consequences. Some frequent examples of types of medical neglect in nursing homes include:

Failing to follow infection control protocols which could lead to fatal infections for residents with weakened immune systems.
Failing to perform required physical therapy on a resident properly.
Failing to provide residents with mobile equipment such as canes and wheelchairs.
Failing to properly provide a resident with their required medications and other medication errors, such as not following proper dosages, or proper times to provide the medications, etc.

Neglecting residents’ basic needs, such as food and water.
Failure to provide a safe and clean environment for residents.
Neglecting personal hygiene and providing inadequate hygienic tools for residents, such as toothbrushes, clean laundry, and bathing assistance.
Isolating, ignoring, yelling at, or intimidating residents which may lead to social and emotional trauma.

Sometimes it can be difficult for loved ones of elders in nursing homes to detect signs of nursing home abuse. Staff may compel residents to stay silent, so it is up to a resident’s family members to vigilantly observe the nursing home environment. A study published in the National Center for Biotechnical Information discovered that only one out of every fourteen cases of elder abuse is reported.

Understanding The Rights of Nursing Home Residents in Florida and Georgia

Elders receiving nursing home care have many rights. Hiring an attorney familiar with the rights of nursing home residents in your state can help you understand the full extent of a resident’s rights.

That said, here are some of the rights that residents in Florida and Georgia have:

Florida Nursing Home Resident’s Rights

Under Florida law, nursing home staff cannot force residents to participate in activities they do not want to do.
It is nursing home management’s responsibility to prevent any staff members from using physical force or coercion to make residents do something they do not want to do
Residents also have the right to receive proper medication, medical care for emergencies, and psychiatric counseling.
They also need sufficient nutrition, access to physical activities, community interaction, and independent space for themselves.
Residents should also have access to ramps and rails to safely travel the assisted living space, proper air conditioning and heating, clean clothes and bedsheets, and clean drinking water.
Violating any of these rights may be grounds for a nursing home abuse claim.

Georgia Nursing Home Resident’s Rights

In Georgia, Residents have a legal right to refuse treatment.
Regardless of their gender, age, race, disability, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, residents of Georgia nursing homes have the right to receive proper care.
Residents or their loved ones can seek justice for their rights without fear of retaliation, harassment, or punishment from the nursing home.
Residents have the ability to participate in their own care plan.
Nursing home residents have the right to telephone access.
Not suffering neglect, abuse, or exploitation while in the care of the nursing home. This right includes the ability to be free from physical or chemical restraints.

As said, residents in nursing homes have many other rights while in nursing home facilities. While violations of these rights could be actionable offenses, it’s best to seek an expert’s opinion. Understanding the full scope of a resident’s rights under the law requires consultation with an elder abuse attorney.

Can I Sue For Nursing Home Abuse?

If you suspect your loved one has been abused or neglected in a nursing home, you need to act quickly and get them checked by an independent physician. Your actions can help other residents tell their stories to help end abuse in their nursing facility. Talk to a nursing home abuse lawyer as soon as you can. They can tell you about the best approach on how you may be able to recover compensation from a nursing home.

An attorney can help you pursue compensation for economic and non-economic damages, including:

Medical bills related to the neglect or abuse
the cost of physical therapy
pain and suffering damages
loss of enjoyment of life damages
relocation expenses if necessary
possible punitive damages against the person or agency responsible

In cases where the nursing home abuse or neglect leads to the wrongful death of a resident, you could be entitled to compensation for:

your loved one’s pre-death medical expenses
funeral and burial expenses
loss of support and services
loss of companionship damages
instruction and guidance
mental anguish and suffering damages

Remember, each case is different and requires a unique strategy. Contacting an experienced lawyer as soon as possible can help improve your chances of recovering justice.

Contact a Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer at Farah & Farah Today

Nursing home abuse is not only wrong, but it is criminal. If you suspect your loved one has been the victim of nursing home abuse, it is essential to get the ball rolling on your claim as soon as possible. A nursing home abuse attorney can help launch a proper investigation and gather evidence to develop a strong case and demonstrate negligence.

Let the expert attorneys at Farah & Farah guide you through this entire process. Contact Farah & Farah today, and we can discuss the best course of action to ensure your loved one’s protection. Don’t wait, start the process with a free, no-obligation case review now!

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