Residents of nursing homes are especially vulnerable to abuse and neglect because they often cannot communicate what is happening. Further, some nursing homes are less than diligent about screening employees or training staff about proper care for seniors.
Abuse in nursing homes can be physical, verbal, emotional or a combination of all three. Signs that your loved one may be in an abusive environment include:
- unexplained cuts or bruises on the body
- frequent episodes of bed sores
- strong smell of urine or feces
- body odor
- dehydration (sunken cheeks and dry skin)
- evidence that necessary medications are not being administered
- fear of one or more staff persons
- unexplained change in cognitive behavior
- refusal of staff to allow relatives to visit
- disappearance of valuables or personal items
If you suspect that your elderly or incapacitated loved one has been mistreated in a nursing home, please call our office. We can research the nursing home at issue to find out if it has been written up by the state of Georgia or the federal government. We can also conduct our own investigation using private investigators to learn more about what is going on when family members are not around.
For more information please call Jonathan Ginsberg at 770-393-4985 or visit our nursing home abuse web site.
