How do I report nursing home abuse in Georgia?

 What is Considered Nursing Home Abuse?

There are many types of elder abuse that occurs in nursing homes. Most people think of the most obvious forms of elder abuse as physical, sexual, and verbal abuse, however although those still occur, there are other types of abuse that are prevalent in nursing homes.

• Neglect. Neglect can become abuse if it results in serious actual or possible harm. This might include not feeding a resident, withholding their medication, not providing medical care, and simply ignoring them.
• False imprisonment. False imprisonment could occur if the nursing home staff prevent a resident from leaving a certain area, such as their room or a wing of the facility, disables the resident by leaving them without their wheelchair or crutches, or threatens the resident with harm or deprivation of food or water.
• Financial abuse. A staff member of a nursing home could steal a resident’s personal property or information in order to withdraw money from the resident’s bank account or they might pressure a resident to modify a will, deed, or trust. Financial abuse can also come in the form of false fees or charges that deprive a resident of their income or savings.

Not all caregivers abide by the legal standards that are required of them which is why Georgia considers nursing home abuse a punishable crime under O.C.G.A. 30-5-8. In order to fully understand nursing home abuse, you also need to know the laws that protect the residents of those homes.