Dade County Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer
Nobody who elects to place a loved one in a nursing home or assisted living facility expects his or her family member’s experience there to be anything but healthy and happy. Unfortunately, abuse and neglect has been documented in nursing homes all across the state of Georgia, and those located in Dade County are no exception to this trend.
Reporting abuse to the proper authorities may help stop maltreatment from continuing, but only a seasoned personal injury attorney could help you seek financial restitution for losses you or your loved one have already sustained. To find out what your legal options may be, consider talking to an experienced Dade County nursing home abuse lawyer about your specific circumstances.
Fundamental Rights of Dade County Nursing Home Residents
Official Code of Georgia §31-8-100 et seq. is known as the “Bill of Rights for Residents of Long-Term Care Facilities”. These statutes establish a number of fundamental rights residents have, as well as responsibilities that nursing home staff members and administrators must fulfill when caring for those residents.
Among the many rights guaranteed to nursing home residents under Georgia state law, some of the most important include:
- The right to be free of physical or chemical restraints under any circumstances, unless a doctor specifically approves their use
- The right to choose how to live their lives, which covers religious practices, the right to vote, and the right to manage their own finances or choose who may do so
- The right to privacy within their facility
- The right to be free from discrimination of any kind
- The right to receive proper nutrition—specifically, three meals a day no more than five hours apart, prepared and/or overseen by someone whom the American Dietetic Association consider to be qualified
If any of these rights are violated in any way, whether through simple negligence or some intentional abusive act, a nursing home resident who suffers harm as a result may contact a Dade County nursing home abuse attorney to explore his or her legal options, or have a family member do so on his or her behalf.
Filing Suit and Recovering Compensation
Before filing a civil lawsuit, residents or family members who suspect abuse or neglect at a nursing home occurring should file a complaint with the administrators of the facility in question. If this does not stop the mistreatment, the affected party or parties can file a report to the state ombudsman, a procedure which may be followed by a court hearing if the maltreatment still does not stop.
Once residents who are experiencing abuse or neglect are safe from harm, they or their loved ones can go about filing suit against a negligent nursing home staff member, administrator, or operating organization for any and all damages related to the mistreatment they experienced. Depending on the circumstances, a nursing home neglect lawyer in Dade County may be able to help plaintiffs seek compensation for additional medical expenses, physical pain and suffering, psychological torment, loss of enjoyment of life, and more.
Talk to a Dade County Nursing Home Abuse Attorney to Learn More
There are a number of regulations set by Georgia state law that are meant to prevent abuse and neglect in nursing homes, but if those regulations are violated, your first priority should be getting yourself or your loved one out of harm’s way and reporting his or her mistreatment to the proper authorities. Once that is done, you may want to talk to a Dade County nursing home abuse lawyer about the possibility of recovering compensation for the losses you or your family member sustained. Call today to learn what may be possible in your situation.
