Each year thousands of senior citizens are abused, neglected and exploited in nursing homes and other elder care facilities. Many victims are frail and vulnerable and cannot help themselves, depending on others to meet their most basic needs. Knowing the warning signs of abuse is a first step toward protecting elderly friends or relatives. Sometimes residents of long term care facilities may sustain physical injuries from abuse. In other instances, neglect can cause dehydration and malnutrition or infections from untreated bedsores.

Georgia law provides a "Bill of Rights for Residents of Long Term Care Facilities" which imposes enforceable duties upon operators of long-term care facilities. Under the Bill of Rights, a resident is entitled to receive, among other things, "care, treatment, and services which are adequate and appropriate." The law allows for claims for damages for a violation of any provision of the Bill of Rights for Residents of Long Term Care Facilities by a nursing home.

Claims and lawsuits can also be brought against nursing homes and its medical professionals for negligence if the nursing home breached a duty of care to the resident by failing to exercise the proper degree of skill and care and the breach caused injury to the resident.

If you are a concerned relative of an elderly person that you believe is suffering from nursing home abuse or nursing home negligence in Georgia, we'd like to hear from you. Contact us online or call us at 404-253-7860 to set up a FREE consultation to discuss your legal options.