Military veterans who have served in our nation’s armed forces are usually eligible in their later years to seek admittance to community nursing homes and community living centers across the United States.
The U.S. government’s Veteran’s Affairs (VA) department oversees long-term care living facilities for veterans. In Georgia, there are two such VA community living nursing homes that are available to veterans, according to the Georgia Department of Veterans Service.
These centers offer long-term care to veterans. Other nursing homes also offer care services for these veterans. Unfortunately, despite their service to the country, veterans also are subject to neglect and abuse that is rampant in nursing homes.
You may have a military family member in a VA-managed or contracted nursing home or community living center. If you suspect neglect, abuse, or physical or sexual assault is occurring to your veteran family member, consult with a Savannah veteran’s neglect and abuse lawyer at Pintas & Mullins Law Firm. Give us a call at (800) 201-3999 for a no-fee consultation.
Types of Long-term Care for Veterans
There are currently three types of care facilities available for eligible veterans, according to the VA:
- VA Community Living Centers: These are veteran-friendly homes that cater to the needs of their residents. There are over 100 of these in the United States.
- Community Nursing Homes: These are community nursing homes contracted with the VA to provide long-term care and services to military veterans. They can live in these units full-time and receive around the clock nursing care.
- State Veterans’ Homes: Veterans can also live in state veterans’ homes, which are not owned by the VA. These facilities offer nursing home services and adult day care to eligible veterans. The VA does not manage these homes but surveys them annually to ensure that veterans are receiving standards of care on par with VA facilities.
Of course, military veterans may also end up in regular nursing homes around the country, if they are no longer eligible or unable to be accepted into one of the three living environments listed above. If so, you, as a family member, need to be on alert to the potential danger of neglect and abuse in nursing homes.
Types of Neglect toward Veterans
Veterans in nursing homes may suffer from neglect due to overworked, understaffed nursing home employees. Signals of neglect could include:
- Unkempt social areas: Homes with filthy, messy areas that look like they are not regularly cleaned are a sign of neglect in the nursing care home.
- Injuries from falls: Falls among older seniors usually result in some sort of bruise, cut, or other injuries, like fractures or broken bones. The nursing home staff may be accountable for not monitoring the veteran that led to a bruise or cut from a fall.
- Physical abuse: Some nursing homes may resort to physical abuse of the residents in order to control them. If you hear of these types of measures used by the nursing home staff, then it may be time to start gathering evidence across the board.
Veterans in nursing homes may also suffer from war-related conditions that cause other abuse problems by the staff. Maybe the veteran lost a limb in combat. This can make the veteran more vulnerable to emotional trauma and abusive language from nursing home staff.
Another type of neglect or abuse from nursing home staff may occur during a veteran’s recurring episodes of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This causes them to become confused, disorderly, violent, or a combination of all three. Unless the nursing home staff is trained to handle PTSD outbursts, this condition could open the door to physical restraint or abuse of the veteran by the staff.
Your loved one deserves better than these conditions. If you feel that your family member is being neglected or abused in the nursing home, then you have the option of hiring a Savannah veteran’s neglect and abuse lawyer at Pintas & Mullins Law Firm. Our team will listen to your scenario and tell you how we can help.
For a free legal consultation with a Savannah Veterans Neglect and Abuse Lawyer serving nationwide, call (800) 794-0444
Substandard Nursing Home Care
A study of substandard care in veterans nursing homes by USA TODAY and the Boston Globe two years ago highlighted over 50 instances where veterans were in immediate jeopardy, serious jeopardy, or actual harm due to neglect in the nursing home.
Some of the allegations made against certain nursing homes showed that unclean conditions and not moving the veterans’ bodies enough led to bedsores. It showed that hundreds of VA nursing homes lacked the oversight to take steps to prevent and manage infections among its residents.
It is circumstances like these that make family members very concerned about veteran neglect and abuse in nursing homes. If the very basics of care and concern for veterans cannot be maintained in VA nursing homes, how will they be managed in civilian nursing homes?
Savannah Veterans Neglect and Abuse Lawyer Near Me (800) 794-0444
Seeking Legal Help for Neglect
If you have a family member who served this country and is now being abused or neglected in a government-run care facility or a privately-run home, you have options. It can help to gather evidence of this neglect on your visits to the home. Take pictures of the resident social areas. Maybe find your way to the linen cleaning area, and check on the process.
Any of these images or videos can help our team bring a lawsuit against the nursing home. If you can show that the nursing home did not fulfill its legal duty of veteran care in the home, you may be eligible for financial compensation in a successful lawsuit.
See how a Savannah veteran’s neglect and abuse lawyer can help you today by calling Pintas & Mullins Law Firm at (800) 201-3999. We will work with you to develop a plan to uncover evidence that could help sustain the allegations of neglect and abuse toward your veteran family member.
Call or text (800) 794-0444 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form