Johns Creek, Georgia Nursing Home Abuse Lawyers & Wrongful Death

Nursing homes are supposed to provide a place of respite for senior citizens who need medical care or who can no longer live on their own. The obligation of every nursing home is to provide reasonably professional care to patients and to make sure that patients are treated with dignity and respect. Unfortunately, nursing home abuse and neglect are an all-too-common problem in nursing homes, with as many as one to two million elder Americans falling victim to some type of elder abuse.

Abusive or neglectful behavior in a nursing home is always tragic and always has serious consequences. The most devastating cases, however, are those where a senior dies prematurely as a result of improper care or treatment in a nursing home. Death is a sad result of many abuse and neglect cases and not only can the nursing home patient suffer pain prior to the death, but family members can be left with incredible sadness and guilt over the passing.

If one of your family members or loved ones has been victimized by a nursing home, you have legal rights. Georgia law understands that you deserve to be compensated for the extent of your losses and allows you to make a wrongful death claim against a nursing home that was abusive or neglectful. Wrongful death damages can compensate you for the loss of companionship, as well as paying other damages including funeral costs and the costs of medical bills incurred prior to the death. An Atlanta nursing home abuse lawyer can help you to take action and file a wrongful death claim.

Death Due to Nursing Home Abuse or Neglect

Nursing home abuse and neglect can lead to death in a number of different ways. Some of the common causes of death due to nursing home neglect or abuse include:

  • Medication errors
  • Falls, which Health Matters says caused 16,000 deaths in 2005 alone
  • Clogged breathing tubes
  • Bedsores, which can become infected and/or lead to cancer or sepsis
  • Malnutrition or dehydration
  • Heat stroke
  • Choking
  • Sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV/AIDS as a result of sexual abuse or harassment

In many of these examples, death results directly as a result of either abuse or neglect. Death can also be an indirect consequence of emotional, verbal or financial abuse as seniors may commit suicide when they are subject to abuse. In fact, according to WebMD, men between the ages of 80 and 84 have a suicide rate twice that of the general population and Senior Journal reports that seniors who are the victims of abuse are three times more likely than those not abused to die within three years.

Getting Legal Help When Nursing Home Abuse Leads to Death

If you wish to take action and hold a nursing home responsible for a death caused by abuse or neglect, you will need to demonstrate that the nursing home behaved improperly or failed to provide reasonable care to the patient. You will also have to show that the death was directly caused by the nursing home's wrongful breach of their duty to the patient. In some cases, this is easier than others, but often solid evidence of abuse is lacking since seniors may be afraid to come forward or may not be strong witnesses.

Do You Suspect Your Loved One Is Being Subjected To Nursing Home Abuse?

If you believe your loved one may be the victim of nursing home neglect or abuse you should speak with an experienced
nursing home abuse attorney
as soon as possible.  Please contact us online or call our office directly at 855.GA.INJURY or
404.991.5950 to schedule your free consultation.

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