Top 100 Trial Lawyers in the U.S. and Millions Recovered for Our Clients.
NURSING HOME ABUSE
Atlanta Nursing Home Abuse Attorney
Atlanta Nursing Home Abuse Attorney – Mr. Wotorson was named a Top 100 Trial Lawyer in the United States, an extremely elite group of attorneys in the country. In 2001, the House Committee on Government Reform found almost 9,000 instances of nursing home resident abuse over a 2 year period. In another study, 40 percent of nursing home workers surveyed admitted committing at least one abusive act in the past year and 10 percent admitted committing a physically abusive act. Often abuse is a means of gaining control of the residents, particularly for an overworked staff who may tie down residents or physically threaten them to gain control. About 1.5 million elderly and disabled people live in almost 17,000 nursing homes in the United States. It appears that federal and state systems to enforce and hold nursing homes accountable for abuse are ineffective. Studies done by The U.S. General Accounting Office (GAO) found that law enforcement authorities are seldom involved in nursing home abuse cases and that many state policies hinder referring allegations to investigative agencies.
There are several types of nursing home abuse including: physical abuse, sexual abuse, financial abuse, emotional abuse and general neglect. A shortage of staff, inadequate training, low wages and ignorance of past criminal records of employees are all reasons that nursing home abuse occurs. Often residents cannot communicate to their family and friends that they are being abused.
Some signs of nursing home neglect or abuse include:
- Dehydration
- Bed Sores
- Inadequate Clothing
- Malnutrition and Weight Loss
- Persistent Odor or Urine or Feces
- Medical Conditions Left Untreated
- Failure to Provide Eyeglasses, Dentures or Hearing Aides
- Resident is Socially Isolated From Others
- Frequent Urinary Tract Infections
- Attempts to Cover Up Injuries with Clothing or Bed Linens
- Delay Between an Injury and Notification of a Doctor
- Frequent Falls
- Inadequate Restraints for the Level of Activity of the Resident
- Sudden Change in a Resident’s Behavior
Be alert to comments by the caregiver that blame the resident for acts such as incontinence, or refer to the resident as a burden. Conflicting stories from the resident and the caregiver and safety hazards within the living environment (i.e. inadequate staff supervision) can also be indicative of a problem.
THE WOTORSON FIRM, LLP has the knowledge and experience you need. We have an experienced qualified staff that is ready to fight for your rights. We tell our clients- we want you to concentrate on the important things: getting healthy and returning to your day-to-day life, while our attorneys take care of the complicated legal issues and deal with the insurance company. Our attorneys will work hard to protect your interests and get you the compensation you deserve.
Contact THE WOTORSON FIRM, LLP in Atlanta TODAY for a free consultation.
