September 12, 2024

Georgia Nursing Care Home Attorney: Can You Sue a Nursing Home for Emotional Abuse?

According to the Georgia Department of Community Health, more than 350 nursing homes exist in The Peach State. They’re responsible for providing long-term care to about 40,000 people.

If you have a loved one living in a Georgia nursing home, keep an eye out for any potential signs of abuse. A recent National Council on Aging report revealed that 5 million older Americans experience abuse at U.S. nursing homes each year.

A Georgia nursing care home attorney can help you file a lawsuit on behalf of your loved one to hold the facility accountable for abuse. This includes both physical abuse as well as any emotional abuse that may take place. Discover how to sue for emotional abuse with help from a nursing home abuse lawyer in Georgia below.

Can you sue a nursing home for emotional abuse in Georgia? 

To successfully sue a nursing home in Georgia for emotional abuse, you must be able to prove abuse occurred. Begin by working with your loved one to gather as much evidence as you can.

Proving emotional abuse that happened in a nursing home can be tricky since there isn’t always tangible evidence. You can, however, document any instances in which your loved one was emotionally abused by nursing home staff.

Keep a record of any time the staff at a nursing home:

  • Yells at your loved one.
  • Shame your loved one in front of others.
  • Mocks your loved one and any disabilities they may have.
  • Blame your loved one for something.
  • Threatens your loved one.

Jot down what staff members at a nursing home said to your loved one, when it was said, and how it made your loved one feel. Ask your loved one if anyone else witnessed an incident involving emotional abuse, too, and collect contact information for any potential eyewitnesses to this abuse.

Hiring an Attorney

After gathering evidence that suggests your loved one has experienced emotional abuse at a nursing home, work on hiring a lawyer who can handle their case. Ideally, aim to find a Georgia nursing care home attorney who has experience in this specific field.

The elderly population in the U.S. is growing rapidly, so it isn’t that difficult to track down an elder care attorney in Georgia. It can be challenging to find an experienced Georgia nursing home negligence lawyer, though, especially when you’re in the market for one who has worked on emotional abuse cases before.

Feel free to do your research on a senior care attorney in Georgia. Ensure they have the experience to bring emotional abuse cases involving nursing homes to a courtroom.

How do I Report a Nursing Home to The State of Georgia?

To report a nursing home in Georgia, individuals can file a complaint with the DCH by phone, email, or through an online form available on their website. It is important to provide detailed information about the issue or concern, including the name and location of the nursing home, specific incidents or violations observed, and any other relevant details that can help the state authorities investigate the matter effectively. The DCH takes complaints seriously and conducts thorough investigations to protect the safety and rights of nursing home residents.

Building a Case

Once you locate a nursing facility negligence lawyer in Georgia you like, hire them to help you create a case against your loved one’s nursing home. Give a Georgia elder abuse attorney the evidence you already gathered and see what else you can provide to them.

Your Georgia nursing home neglect attorney can advise you on which steps to take next. They can also put together the proper paperwork if you decide to go through with suing a nursing home for emotional abuse in Georgia.

Filing a Lawsuit Against a Nursing Home for Emotional Abuse? Call Us First

Sadly, the National Center on Elder Abuse conducted a survey recently that showed that about one-third of U.S. nursing home residents report being emotionally abused. If your loved one is among them, filing a lawsuit against their nursing home can help end this practice.

The Foster Firm can discuss your loved one’s case with you. Call 866-377-2735 to speak with a Georgia nursing care home attorney.