
If your loved one has shown signs of mistreatment, then you may be entitled to bring legal action against responsible parties, and an Atlanta nursing home abuse lawyer can help. Call our team at Pintas & Mullins Law Firm today for a free consultation.
Abuse Is a True Threat to the Elderly
According to The National Consumer Voice for Quality Long-Term Care (The Consumer Voice), all nursing home residents have the legal right to quality care for their mental and physical health under the Nursing Home Reform Act of 1987. However, this is not always the case in nursing homes.
If your loved one lives or lived in a nursing home in the Atlanta area, it is important to be aware of possible threats to their mental and physical health. Some of the forms of mistreatment that may occur in your loved one’s nursing home include:
- Sexual abuse
- Financial exploitation
- Physical abuse
- Emotional or psychological abuse
- Neglect
When your loved one is mistreated, they may display symptoms that deserve your attention.
Possible Signs of Abuse, Neglect, and Other Mistreatment
The National Center on Elder Abuse recognizes several types of maltreatment that can occur in a nursing home and may be perpetrated against your loved one. Your loved one may display a cluster of symptoms, depending on the specific types of mistreatment that they have endured.
Pay attention for one or more of the following symptoms, as they could be an indication that your loved one is not safe or properly cared for in their nursing home:
- Negative changes in their personality.
- Depression, or an apparent withdrawal from activities that they once enjoyed.
- Uncharacteristic outbursts, whether they are directed at you, or you receive reports of outbursts directed at others.
- Signs of physical trauma, such as damage to their skin, serious injuries such as broken bones, or internal injuries.
- Bedsores and infections, which may indicate that your loved one is not receiving the level of attentive care that they deserve.
- Noticeable fear around a particular staff member.
If your loved one has some level of control over their finances, you may want to monitor their assets in a way that allows them to maintain independence. If you notice unusual purchases, withdrawals, or changes relating to their finances, it could be a sign that their nursing home is financially exploiting your loved one.
What to Do If You Suspect Mistreatment of Your Loved One
If you believe that your loved one may have been the victim of mistreatment, you should first direct your attention towards their safety. You may want to:
- Call the police to report your suspicions, providing any details that you believe are relevant.
- Speaking with administrators at the nursing home to bring their attention to your concerns.
- If you have the option, move your loved one into a temporary or permanent location where you believe they will be safe from further harm.
Once you have taken steps to protect your loved one from any imminent harm, you might consider hiring an Atlanta nursing home abuse lawyer to learn how legal action could benefit your loved one. You can speak with our team at Pintas & Mullins Law Firm today to learn more about how we can help you bring justice.
Your Loved One Could Be Entitled to Compensation
If your loved one has been mistreated in any way in a nursing home, then one or more people could be responsible for compensating them for their losses. Those who could be liable for your loved one’s mental, physical, and financial losses may include:
- The owner of the nursing home
- Administrators at the nursing home
- Individual staffers who perpetrated or enabled mistreatment
- A resident who mistreated your loved one
If you believe that any of these parties, or other parties not listed, have engaged in behavior that harmed your loved one, a lawyer may be able to provide further instruction and guidance for bringing a lawsuit.
Bringing a Lawsuit in Response to Elder Abuse
According to the Georgia Department of Human Services Division of Aging Services, mistreatment of at-risk adults—a group which may include your elderly loved one—does not usually occur by accident. If somebody has either intentionally or unintentionally mistreated your loved one, they may be held accountable in a civil court.
A lawyer may be able to assist you in seeking justice for your loved one by:
- Helping you document your loved one’s injuries or other signs of mistreatment.
- Helping identify all parties who may be responsible for such mistreatment.
- Collecting any records from the nursing home that could show a single instance or pattern of mistreatment of your loved one.
- Collecting police reports that may be relevant to your lawsuit.
- Filing your case.
- Negotiating with insurance companies to reach a settlement.
- Taking your case to court to reach a judgment.
- Protecting your loved one’s dignity and rights throughout the legal process.
Your loved one may be entitled to compensation for the losses they have sustained, and such compensation may cover:
- The cost of the time they spent at a nursing home where mistreatment occurred.
- Medical costs that could have resulted from mistreatment.
- Pain and suffering.
If your attorney is unable to reach a fair settlement by negotiating with the nursing home or their insurance company, they might be able to take your case to civil court to reach a judgment by a jury.
For a free legal consultation with a Atlanta Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer serving Atlanta, call (800) 842-6336
The Team at Pintas & Mullins Law Firm Wants to Help
If you are thinking of hiring an Atlanta nursing home abuse lawyer, Pintas & Mullins Law Firm wants to help protect your loved one from further harm. We work on a contingency-fee basis, meaning that you pay nothing out of pocket, and we only get paid if we secure awards for your loved one.
Call our team at Pintas & Mullins Law Firm today for a free consultation.
Call or text (800) 842-6336 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form