Georgia Nursing Home Abuse Lawyers

What is Nursing Home Abuse?

Nursing home abuse occurs when a resident suffers harm due to the intentional actions, neglect, or failure of a caregiver or facility. Abuse may be physical, emotional, sexual, or financial in nature. Neglect—such as failing to provide food, hygiene, or medical attention—is also considered a form of abuse.

Abuse can happen in many ways, from overt mistreatment to more subtle forms of neglect. Tragically, many elderly residents are unable to speak up due to fear, disability, or cognitive decline, which means the abuse can go unnoticed without family intervention.

Common Types of Nursing Home Abuse

Nursing home abuse can take multiple forms, and recognizing the signs can help protect your loved ones.

• Physical Abuse – Includes hitting, pushing, or using unnecessary restraints. Signs may include bruises, broken bones, or unexplained injuries.
• Emotional Abuse – Caregivers may verbally assault, humiliate, or isolate residents, leading to depression, anxiety, or withdrawal.
• Sexual Abuse – Non-consensual sexual contact or exploitation of vulnerable residents. Symptoms may include genital injuries, difficulty walking, or sudden behavioral changes.
• Neglect – Failure to provide adequate nutrition, hydration, medication, or hygiene. Bedsores, malnutrition, infections, and poor hygiene are common indicators.
• Financial Exploitation – Caregivers or staff may steal money, forge checks, or manipulate residents into changing wills or financial documents.

Common Causes of Nursing Home Abuse

Abuse and neglect in nursing homes often stem from systemic issues within the facility. Some common causes include:

• Understaffing – Many nursing homes operate with insufficient staff, leaving residents without proper supervision and care.
• Improper Training – Caregivers without adequate training may mishandle residents or fail to provide medical assistance.
• Negligent Hiring Practices – Facilities that fail to conduct background checks may employ staff with histories of abuse or neglect.
• Poor Management Oversight – When administrators do not enforce regulations, abuse can go unchecked.
• Profit Over Care – Some for-profit nursing homes cut corners to maximize revenue, often at the expense of resident safety.

Georgia Nursing Home Regulations

Nursing home residents have fundamental rights meant to protect their safety, dignity, and quality of life. They have the right to receive proper medical care, maintain their privacy, and participate in decisions about their treatment. If you feel these rights are being violated, you have the right to file a formal complaint.

In Georgia, you can file this complaint with the state’s Healthcare Facility Regulation Division (HFRD), which is part of The Georgia Department of Community Health. You can submit a complaint online or by phone by calling 1-800-878-6442.

You only have two years from the date of the nursing home abuse or neglect – or the date you discovered or reasonably should have discovered mistreatment – to take legal action against the party or parties responsible. If you do not file a lawsuit before this deadline, you will likely lose your right to seek justice and compensation, so do not wait to get in touch with our Georgia nursing home abuse lawyers. 

Who is Liable?

Several parties may be held liable in a nursing home abuse case, depending on the circumstances:

• The Facility – Nursing homes may be responsible for systemic neglect, unsafe conditions, or hiring unqualified staff.
• Individual Staff Members – Caregivers who directly inflict abuse or neglect can be held accountable.
• Third-Party Contractors – Outside service providers, such as medical professionals or maintenance workers, may be liable if their negligence caused harm.
• Administrators/Owners – Those in charge of policy and oversight may be responsible for understaffing, poor training, or regulatory violations.

By pursuing a legal claim, victims and their families can seek compensation for medical expenses, pain and suffering, emotional distress, and, in tragic cases, wrongful death.