Despite all of the laws that are in place around the United States, nursing home abuse and neglect still occur far too often. Unfortunately, many expect this problem to only get worse as we move forward considering the fact that the population of the United States is getting older on a collective level and demand for nursing home beds is going to increase.
EXAMPLE OF ELDER ABUSE IN GEORGIA
Different jurisdictions are going to face extreme challenges as more and more allegations are made, and we as a public are going to see more and more examples of tragic situations like the one in Georgia that recently went public. According to several different news sources, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation has been putting a facility approximately an hour outside of Atlanta under intense scrutiny. The agency recently issued a warrant to search for additional evidence as part of an ongoing investigation into an assisted living center that specializes in taking care of people who suffer from Alzheimer's disease. To date, the agency has prompted the issuance of 21 arrest warrants for workers and former workers there, and these warrants lay out a shocking scenario of abuse that allegedly occurred. These arrest warrants have led to these employees facing more than 70 charges.
Examples of these charges include:
- Cruelty to those 65 or older
- Abuse
- Neglect
- Financial exploitation
Many of the allegations concerning physical abuse involved employees allegedly slapping, punching and kicking residents when they did not cooperate. There were also alleged cases of neglect that centered on the development of bed sores in several of the residents. Finally, there were allegations that workers were taking money from the residents in different ways. If all of these charges are ultimately proven and the workers are convicted, they could face potentially lengthy prison terms.
HOLDING RESPONSIBLE PARTIES ACCOUNTABLE
While the allegations, if true, paint a picture of total horror at this facility, the good news is that someone said something and the authorities put a stop to this before it got even worse. In addition, this may not be the end of the situation in terms of different forms of legal liability.
The facility could be facing a whole host of legal problems if the residents who were allegedly abused and/or their families decide to look into their own remedies. Those remedies could include filing civil lawsuits against the facility. If these claims were to be filed and they were ultimately successful, the plaintiffs in these actions could recover damages that help to compensate them for their losses. These recoveries of compensation could help the victims of the abuse and neglect fund their needed care and perhaps pay for relocation.
CONTACT OUR EXPERIENCED LEGAL TEAM
The sad reality is that this type of thing does happen everywhere, including in Nevada. Fortunately, there are laws in place to protect those who need help. If you or someone you love has been abused in a nursing home here, contact the Las Vegas lawyers at High Stakes Injury Law today to schedule a free initial consultation.