Georgia has a special group of laws called the nursing home bill of rights that ensures nursing home residents are treated with respect, dignity and care. If you suspect these rights have been violated, it is in your best interest to seek legal help.
Our licensed nursing home abuse attorneys in Savannah have years of experience fighting for our clients’ rights to compensation for their injuries and the harm they have endured. The legal team at Roden Law has helped our clients obtain millions of dollars in compensation for what they have suffered, and we can work on your behalf to help you get the compensation and justice owed to you and your loved one.
We work solely on contingency, which means there is absolutely no risk to you. We offer a free, confidential, no obligation consultation where we will discuss your claim and determine if you have a case. Contact us today to find out how we can help.
Call 1-844-RESULTS now to schedule a free consultation with an elder abuse lawyer.
What Is the Nursing Home Bill of Rights?
The U.S. Congress passed the Nursing Home Reform Act of 1987 (42 U.S. Code § 1395i-3) after a nationwide study discovered frequent abuse and neglect among nursing facilities across the country. Georgia (along with many other states) has passed additional laws to ensure quality care is provided by the nursing homes in our state.
The Healthcare Facility Regulation (HFR) division within the Georgia Department of Community Health (DCH) monitors more than 20,000 health facilities and services throughout the state, including nursing homes. Facilities in Georgia must comply with state statute 111-8-50 Long-Term Care Facilities: Residents’ Bill of Rights, which provides residents with the right to:
- Adequate and appropriate care and services without discrimination in the quality of service on the basis of age, gender, race, disability, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, marital status or source of payment for services
- Seek enforcement of the resident’s rights without punishment, retaliation or harassment
- Exercise all constitutional rights, including the right to vote
- Enjoy one’s own privacy (such as the ability to close his or her own doors and curtains)
- Privacy while personal services are being provided
- Practice religious beliefs or not to participate in religious services
- Be free from abuse, neglect or exploitation, and to be free from chemical and physical restraints
- Have one’s own personal property and access to a phone
- Send and receive mail unopened
- Manage one’s own personal finances
- Refuse medical or dental treatment
- Participate in one’s care plan
- Access his or her own records
- Voluntarily transfer or discharge himself or herself
- Access an ombudsman
- Form a resident council
- Interact with members of the community and participate in activities
The State Bar of Georgia has created a pamphlet explaining nursing home residents’ rights. If you believe your loved one’s rights may have been violated and would like to speak to an accomplished attorney who understands the nursing home bill of rights, contact our experienced law firm today.
Complete our Free Case Evaluation form now to get started on your claim.
Signs of Violations of a Resident’s Rights
Indicators that a nursing home resident’s rights have been violated could include:
- Poor hygiene
- Infection
- Sepsis
- Dehydration
- Bedsores and pressure ulcers
- Unexplained weight loss
- Cuts or bruises
- Deteriorating health issues
- Changes in personality or behavior
- Medications not being given on schedule
If you have noticed that your loved one is showing any of the above signs or is not answering your questions, he or she may be experiencing some form of abuse or neglect by the staff.
Our successful personal injury attorneys in Savannah will determine whether the facility has treated your loved one with the care that is required in the nursing home bill of rights. We may be able to help you seek compensation on his or her behalf for the suffering caused by the facility.
Schedule a free consultation with a nursing home lawyer by calling 1-844-RESULTS.
Resources for Georgia Nursing Home Residents
If you suspect your loved one’s rights have been violated, you should immediately report the incident to the management of the facility and to the appropriate authorities. Emergency situations should be reported to the authorities by calling 911.
Georgia has established a specialized Division of Aging Services (DAS) within the Department of Human Services (DHS) to support people who are elderly or disabled and to investigate reports of abuse and neglect of the elderly or disabled.
One program within this division is the Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program, which serves to:
- Investigate problems and complaints reported by nursing home residents
- Coordinate communication between a nursing home and state agencies
- Educate the staffs of nursing homes about residents’ rights
- Visit and monitor nursing homes and get input from the residents
- Provide information about nursing care options
In addition to the ombudsman program, other ways to report nursing home abuse and elder abuse in Georgia are the:
- Georgia Department of Community Health
- Forensic Special Initiatives Unit
- Healthcare Facility Regulation
If you are ready to seek legal help for a claim of nursing home abuse, a licensed attorney can evaluate your situation and determine if you have a case. We charge no upfront costs or fees, and we only get paid if we are able to help you obtain compensation. Contact us today for a free consultation so we can get started on your claim.
Complete our Free Case Evaluation form today.
Can an Attorney Help?
It is in your best interest to contact a nursing home abuse lawyer at Roden Law if you suspect your loved one’s rights have been violated and that he or she has not received the care he or she needs. Your lawyer at Roden Law will:
- Investigate the case – Your attorney will listen to your claim and evaluate the documentation surrounding the abuse or neglect.
- Talk to the nursing home management – Your lawyer will discuss the complaint with the nursing home’s management and owners to find out how the incident occurred. Your attorney will also find out who abused your loved one or allowed the neglect to happen.
- Gather information from witnesses – If other people witnessed or overheard the abuse, your lawyer will document their statements as further proof of what your loved one experienced.
- Collect photo or video records – If your loved one’s injuries were photographed, or if the abuse was captured on the nursing home’s video cameras, your lawyer will gather that information while building your case.
- Represent your loved one’s rights – Your attorney will fight for your loved one’s right to compensation and justice for what he or she endured.
The nursing home bill of rights must be followed by every nursing facility in Savannah and throughout our state. The legal team at Roden Law can fight for your loved one’s right to compensation and justice if these rights are violated.
Your loved one deserves justice and fair compensation, and Roden Law is ready to partner with you in that fight.
Call 1-844-RESULTS to speak to a member of our caring legal team.
Dedicated to Protecting Residents’ Rights
If your loved one has been injured or harmed in a nursing home, contact Roden Law today to discuss your claim. Our dedicated lawyers will investigate your loved one’s situation and determine if he or she has a valid case. If we represent him or her, we will look deeply into the issue and evaluate the damage that was done to your loved one.
There is no risk in contacting our law team, because we offer a free consultation, and there is no obligation. We only get paid if you do. Perhaps we can help your loved one regain a sense of justice and dignity.