Many Georgia families rely on nursing home care for elderly loved ones. Though most of those facilities provide a high standard of care and fully meet patients’ needs, even one incident of nursing home abuse or neglect is one too many. People often assume that abuse or neglect in a nursing home is something that happens directly as a result of the action or inaction of a staff member, but sometimes it can be a bit more complicated. One out-of-state nursing home was recently cited for abuse after a federal investigation found evidence of unreported abuse between residents.
Officials say that late last year, two residents got into an argument about the volume of a television. Though exact details about the event are unknown, the disagreement was severe enough that one of the residents reported experiencing both mental and emotional abuse. When this happens, employees are required to immediately report what happened to the proper agency. Allegedly, no report was made, according to an investigation by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
Representatives for the nursing home and the company that oversees it say they did not intend to hide the incident, and admit that its staff is stretched thin at this time. However, some say that this particular nursing home has had other troubling incidents of negligence and potential abuse. It is not clear if the nursing home will face any kind of disciplinary action due to this most recent event.
Nursing homes have a duty to protect residents, whether from outright abuse by staff and other patients or by neglecting to provide proper care. Families here in Georgia who feel that their loved one has been a victim of nursing home abuse may be able to pursue legal recourse. An attorney who knows how to handle these types of personal injury claims can explain a family’s available options.