If your loved one is currently suffering from nursing home neglect or abuse in Fort Valley, know that they are not alone. Neglect and abuse occur quite often across nursing homes in the state of Georgia. That’s why at Schenk Smith we have dedicated our efforts and our resources to help elderly residents fight back against nursing homes. After you’ve had the chance to visit our site, please give us a call so that we can discuss your case. We’re here to help you.
Both neglect and abuse occur quite often even though they are different. Neglect is usually an unintentional act that ends up causing an injury to a resident. Abuse on the other hand is an intentional act done by a nursing home staff member or resident with the intent to harm. Regardless if it’s neglect or abuse, neither should ever occur in any nursing home.
Why file a lawsuit against a nursing home?
If your loved one was injured someway due to nursing home abuse or neglect, and they are unable to represent themselves, then you may be able to pursue a lawsuit on their behalf. Nursing homes are required by Georgia law to provide a reasonable standard of care to each resident. This means that nursing homes need to have a full staff of well-trained caregivers, that are adequate enough to treat and help elderly residents. Failure to do so, will leave the nursing home liable to possible injuries down the road.
In order to pursue a lawsuit on behalf of your loved one, you will first need authorization which usually comes in the form of a power of attorney. Once you have a power of attorney, you will be able to pursue a lawsuit on behalf of your loved one. If a resident doesn’t have a representative, then at times the Probate Court of the County may appoint a guardian, which will in essence give that person the power to pursue a lawsuit on their behalf.
Will criminal charges be brought against the nursing home?
If abuse has taken place in a nursing home, then the nursing home may face severe punishments. Nursing homes are required to provide a safe and hazard free environment, which includes being free of any type of abuse. When a resident suffers from nursing home abuse from a staff member, then the nursing home may be held liable. They may face severe fines, and sometimes they may even be closed down.
The staff member who commits the abuse, will face potential fines, and even jail time. Staff members are required to assist guests with their everyday needs which requires a great deal of patience. When they lack patience, they sometimes act out against the resident. Depending on the severity, they then may face jail time. If your loved one has suffered from abuse in a Fort Valley nursing home, then it is best to immediately contact an attorney to see what your legal options are.
We are Schenk Smith, your Fort Valley nursing home lawyers.
At Schenk Smith we are 100% dedicated towards strictly helping elderly residents who have suffered from some form of nursing home neglect or abuse. We do not practice any other form of law, nor do we represent any other type of client. All of our efforts, skills, and knowledge is dedicated towards nursing home law.
Our passion for nursing home law originates from our founding attorney Schenk Firm. Besides serving as a Marine, Will served as a CNA in nursing homes across Georgia for nearly a decade before becoming an attorney. His dedication, discipline, and passion for helping the elderly resonates throughout our firm.
When you visit our website, you will notice that we have countless videos, podcast episodes, and blog articles that are all dedicated towards assisting elderly residents and their loved ones. Once you’ve had the opportunity to view our resources, please give us a call so that we can schedule you a free consultation to discuss your case. It doesn’t matter to us where you live. Whether you’re by Sprewell Bluff State Park, the Tubman African-American Museum, or the Museum of Aviation at Robins Air Force Base, we’ve got you.
Nursing Home Abuse & Neglect in Fort Valley, Georgia – What you need to know.
Fort Valley, Georgia is located in Peach County, which has a population of 8,975 residents. Of those residents, 9% are aged 65 and older. Like in other nursing homes around the state of Georgia, neglect and abuse occur frequently.
If I report neglect, will it get worse?
This is a question that we get asked often. Families concerns about revenge being enacted against their loved one, is the number one reason why abuse and neglect go unreported. Most of the time, neglect and abuse will continue to happen until some form of action is taken.
That is why if your loved one has been suffering or is currently suffering from neglect, it is imperative for you to retain a nursing home lawyer to investigate and shed light on the situation, which can help protect your loved one.
The attorney you hire will do three things that will prevent the neglect from continuing, which are:
- Watching
- Investigating
- Reporting
When the nursing home knows that an attorney is present and is currently building up a case, the nursing home will most likely stop the neglect or abuse.
How do I know if the nursing home is responsible for my loved one’s sepsis?
If your loved one developed sepsis at a nursing home, you may be able to sue the nursing home for neglect. Sepsis is often preventable. Nursing home residents may develop sepsis for a number of reasons. Conditions like bedsores or otherwise known as pressure ulcers, and illnesses can lead to infection, which then becomes sepsis when it reaches a critical stage. Also the use of catheters, IVs, and similar instruments increases a resident’s chance of developing sepsis.
There are certain steps nursing home staff members can take to prevent sepsis, such as:
- Cleaning Catheters
- Cleaning IVs
- Cleaning the insertion site in the skin
- Limit the use of medical instruments
When nursing homes take these proper steps mentioned above, they tend to prevent residents from developing sepsis. Caregivers also must guard against pressure ulcers by ensuring that residents have adequate mobility, and in doing so they’re able to chance positions regularly.
Can I go online to see this nursing home’s inspection records?
Yes, you can go online to see a nursing home’s inspection records. The Georgia Department of Community Health has a division known as the Healthcare Facility Regulation. This division licenses, oversees, and inspects Georgia’s many health care facilities.
Within the Healthcare Facility Regulation is the Office of Facility Licensure, which is responsible for licensing, certifying, and overseeing over 15,000 health care facilities, including nursing homes. This office conducts investigations, receives complaints, and performs surveys. The HFR also has a comprehensive list of licensed nursing homes in Georgia. In these lists you’ll be able to find each nursing home’s location, and inspection reports. This database is also updated weekly. The HFR is an invaluable source, that can greatly guide you in finding the right facility for your loved one.
For a free legal consultation with a Nursing Home Abuse lawyer serving Fort Valley, call
My loved one was hurt in a Fort Valley nursing home – What do I do next?
If your loved one has been injured, abused, or has passed away at a Fort Valley, Georgia nursing home, then we highly advise you to act immediately, in order to protect their rights.
First, report the incident to the appropriate Georgia authorities.
Georgia Department of Community Health
The Georgia Department of Community Health’s division of the Healthcare Facility Regulation, investigates cases of nursing home neglect and abuse against elderly residents. They also regulate and certify nursing homes in the state of Georgia.
You can file a complaint with the Georgia Department of Community Health, Healthcare Facility Regulation online by clicking this link. Here is additional contact information:
Georgia Department of Community Health, Healthcare Facility Regulation
Complaint Hotline: (800) 878-6442
Complaint Fax: (404) 657-5731
Georgia Office of the Long-Term Care Ombudsman
The Georgia Office of the Long-Term Care Ombudsman presents another option. The Ombudsman program consists of individuals who are dedicated to resolving nursing home cases of abuse and neglect against elderly residents. The Ombudsman are also authorized by Georgia law to enter nursing homes and ask questions.
You can file a complaint with the Georgia Office of the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman online by clicking on this link. Here is additional contact information:
Middle Region – Georgia Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program
239 NE Park Avenue, Suite C-1
Baxley, GA 31513
Telephone: (912) 367-4866
Fax: (912) 367-3849
You may report physical assault or abuse to local law enforcement
If your loved one has been injured due to an assault at a Fort Valley nursing home, then we highly advise you to file a police report immediately. Depending on the severity of the crime, criminal charges may be brought against the perpetrator by the District Attorney’s Office: Macon Judicial District.
For abuse occurring in a Fort Valley, Georgia nursing home, report the crime to the Police Department of Fort Valley, Georgia or the Peach County Sheriff.
Police Department of Fort Valley, Georgia
200 W Church St
Fort Valley, GA 31030
Telephone: (478) 825-3383
Peach County Sheriff’s Office
1007 Spruce St
Fort Valley, GA 31030
Telephone: (478) 825-3435
Peach County District Attorney’s Office
205 W Church St, Ste. 201
Fort Valley, GA 31030
Telephone: (478) 825-8454
Find another facility for your loved one.
If your loved one has suffered from nursing home neglect or abuse, then it is in your best interest to find a better suited nursing home facility. When you begin your search for a new facility, it is important to conduct walkthroughs at the potential new facility. During these walkthroughs you need to make sure to ask as many questions as possible, in order to get a feel for the facility and the staff as well. Another tool to use during your search is the Nursing Home Compare website, which is operated by The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS). This site gives ratings to each nursing home in the county that receives federal funding. These ratings are based off several factors including quality, inspection scores, and nurse-to-resident ratio.
Click here to go to the Nursing Home Compare Website.
For your convenience, a list of all nursing homes located in Fort Valley, Georgia is located below, along with their contact information and inspection scores.
Get the medical records from the hospital and the nursing home.
If your loved one has been injured at a Fort Valley nursing home, then it is important to obtain their medical records immediately. Nursing homes will usually stop at nothing to place the blame of the injury on your loved one. For example, if your loved one suffers a broken bone due to a slip and fall over a wet floor, then chances are the nursing home will try to claim that the bone was broken before the fall, even if the evidence shows that was not the case.
In order to protect your loved one’s rights, you will need to obtain their medical records since those will have valuable information on who the primary physician was, as well as information on the hospital visit. It is also important to obtain the medical records from the nursing home staff, since those at times may shows signs of potential neglect or abuse.
State and Federal privacy laws prevent third parties from obtaining medical records without the proper written authorization form. These forms will usually be either a power of attorney, a healthcare directive, or guardianship paperwork.
If your loved one was injured at a Fort Valley nursing home, then chances are their medical records will be located at the hospital listed below. Once you’ve obtained the proper written authorization form, you will then need to make a request to the Release of Information Department of the hospital.
Begin the probate process if your loved one has passed away.
Your loved one still has the right to pursue a lawsuit even if they’ve passed away. A deceased person’s right to pursue a lawsuit is handed over to an Estate. For example, the plaintiff will go from “Jane Doe” to “The Estate of Jane Doe”. In order to file a lawsuit, the Estate will first need to be established. This means that the surviving spouse, child, or relative will need to petition the Probate Court of the County in which the deceased has passed.
If you’ve found yourself in this situation, it is important to setup the Estate immediately. In doing so, you will need to appoint a personal representative, who is often referred to as an Executor or Administrator. This representative will then act on behalf of the Estate, and will make all the decisions with regards to the lawsuit.
Click here for the Probate Court of Peach County.
Peach County Probate Court
205 West Church St, Ste. 117
Fort Valley, GA 31030
Fort Valley Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer Near Me (678) 823-7678
Nursing Homes in Fort Valley, Georgia
Every nursing home has their own pros and cons, making some better suited for specific residents. Below are the nursing homes located in Fort Valley, Georgia, along with relevant information on them. This information is taken from CMS’ Nursing Home Compare Website.
| Church Home Rehabilitation And Healthcare
2470 Hwy 41 N |
Overall Rating: 5 out of 5 (Much Above Average)
Number of Beds: 75 Number of Residents: 72.2 RN hours per resident per day: 14min (GA Avg: 24 min) |
| Health Inspections Rating: 5 out of 5 (Much Above Average)
Staff Rating: 3 out of 5 (Average) Quality Measure Rating: 4 out of 5 (Above Average) Most Recent Health Inspection Date: 02-21-2018 Number of Health Citations: 0 Average Number of Health Citations in Georgia: 3.2 Number of Complaints in previous 3 years resulting citation: 0 Federal fines in previous 3 years: 0 |
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| Fort Valley Health And Rehab
604 Bluebird Boulevard |
Overall Rating: 2 out of 5 (Below Average)
Number of Beds: 75 Number of Residents: 67.2 RN hours per resident per day: 17min (GA Avg: 24 min) |
| Health Inspections Rating: 3 out of 5 (Average)
Staff Rating: 1 out of 5 (Much Below Average) Quality Measure Rating: 3 out of 5 (Average) Most Recent Health Inspection Date: 07-16-2017 Number of Health Citations: 4 Average Number of Health Citations in Georgia: 3.2 Number of Complaints in previous 3 years resulting citation: 0 Federal fines in previous 3 years: 0 |
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Why Choose Schenk Smith as your Nursing Home Lawyers?
When you begin your search for an attorney, you will come across various options to choose from. Even though you have options, we would like for you to consider us as the best choice to represent you and your loved ones. Here are a couple reasons why we think we’d be the best choice to represent you and your family:
- Award Winning: Our attorneys have been selected as Georgia Super Lawyer Rising Stars, which is just one of the reasons why we are the best Google reviewed law firm in Georgia that focuses on nursing home cases. Our clients think very highly of us, and you can see for yourself by checking out our client testimonials.
- Concentration: We do not practice any other form of law, nor are we interested in doing so. Focusing on only one area of law, allows us to be more knowledgeable on any changes in law that may pertain to nursing home cases. Having this type of focus has allowed us to win millions in verdicts and settlements for our clients in the past two years.
- Pillars in the Community: Besides dedicating all of our online tools to nursing home law, our attorneys attend and lead legal education seminars dedicated to nursing home cases. Our attorneys are also members of senior citizen advocacy groups, which shows just how passionate we are about representing elderly residents.
If your loved one was injured or died in a Fort Valley, Georgia nursing home, please call us at Schenk Smith (678) 823-7678 for a free consultation. You can also check out hundreds of video FAQs on our website.