If your loved one has encountered any form of negligence or abuse at a Savannah nursing home, know that you’re not alone. We’ve developed our site with valuable resources that will aid you in finding the answers you’re looking for. After you’ve checked out our video, podcast episodes, and our blog, please give us a call so that we can schedule a free consultation and discuss your case. We’re here to help you.
Unfortunately neglect and abuse occur quite too frequently in nursing homes. Neglect usually occurs when nurses fail to follow procedures and standards set forth by a resident’s physician. Neglect can also occur when nursing homes fail to provide a reasonable standard of care that is expected under Georgia law. Abuse on the other hand is an intentional act – whether from a nursing home staff member or another resident – that is done with the intentions to do cause harm or injury. Neither neglect or abuse should ever be tolerated in any nursing home.
When should I consider suing the nursing home?
When either neglect or abuse has occurred against you or your loved one, pursuing legal action is well within your right. Under Georgia law, nursing homes are required to provide a reasonable standard of care, where neither neglect or abuse should occur.
Nursing home staff members should always follow proper procedures when aiding residents. Whether that means cleaning medical equipment, or providing a safe and hazard free surrounding, nursing homes need to maintain proper care. When neglect occurs, residents can suffer serious injuries. If your loved one is prone to falls, and the proper safety measures are not taken, and your loved one suffers a fall, then it is within your right to pursue legal action.
The same can be said for any type of abuse. Whether it’s physical, emotional, sexual, or financial abuse, it is within your right to pursue legal action. It is the nursing home’s responsibility to make sure abuse never occurs. Even if the abuse stems from another resident, the nursing home may still be held liable.
Can the nursing home be criminally charged?
Nursing homes can be criminally charged. In the event that they are, nursing homes can be fined, and even shut down, depending on the severity of the charges.
Nursing homes need to always set and provide a standard of care that keeps their residents safe from harm. When a nursing home fails to hold up these standards that are required by Georgia law, then nursing homes can and will be held liable. Nursing home staff members that have committed abusive acts against staff members will face fines, and jail time. If it is uncovered that the nursing home has been running a facility filled with many abusive incidents, with a nursing staff that has failed to be properly trained, then the nursing home may face criminal charges which can lead to it being permanently closed. The CMS’ Nursing Home Compare Website is one tool that will show whether nursing homes have had citations, and federal fines.
We are Schenk Smith, your Savannah nursing home lawyers.
At Schenk Smith, we are completely dedicated towards helping nursing home residents that have suffered from neglect or abuse. We do not practice any other form of law, and we are not interested in representing anyone else.
Our passion for aiding nursing home residents stems from our founding attorney Schenk Firm, who was a CNA for a decade before becoming an attorney. His passion resonates throughout our firm, which is why we are so dedicated towards helping nursing home residents.
Once you visit our site, you’ll see that all of our resources are dedicated towards nursing home cases. After you’ve watched our videos, listened to our podcasts, and read our blog, please call us to schedule a free consultation. It doesn’t matter where you live by. Whether you’re by the Savannah History Museum, the Savannah Ogeechee Canal Museum & Nature Center, or by the Fort Pulaski National Monument, we’ve got you.
Nursing Home Abuse & Neglect in Savannah, Georgia – What you need to know.
Savannah, Georgia is located in Chatham county. It has a population of 144,717 residents. Of those, 12.50% are aged 65 and older. Like in other parts of Georgia, elderly neglect and abuse occurs quite too often.
What are the signs of nursing home abuse?
There are several signs of nursing home abuse. The different forms of nursing homes abuse are:
- Physical
- Emotional
- Sexual
- Financial
Physical abuse can usually be noticed by several signs such as bruising, cuts, bleeding, fractures and welts. Any of these signs can be due to the result of physical abuse stemming from either a nursing home staff member or another resident. Similarly, clothing or bedding that is stained, bloody, or torn can also signal nursing home abuse.
Psychological, sexual, and financial abuse are harder to spot. In order to see the signs of any of these taking place, it is best to look for behavioral changes, such as mood swings, outbursts of emotions, or isolation.
What are the injuries that occur the most?
The injuries that occur the most stem from nursing home negligence which usually occurs when nursing homes fail to give residents the attention and care they need. Poor hygiene, malnutrition, unexplained injuries, and unsafe/unsanitary living conditions usually cause typical injuries that can always be avoided.
Under Georgia law, nursing home staff members are required to monitor all residents. When they fail to follow proper procedures, residents may be exposed to injuries such as slip and falls. Nursing home staff members are required to help residents with their day to day activities such as bathing, and going to the bathroom. If the nursing home staff fails to monitor their residents 24/7, then residents may take it upon themselves to get out of bed and use the restroom. This leaves them vulnerable to falls which are very prone to happening in nursing homes.
Why does abuse occur in nursing homes?
Abuse usually occurs in nursing homes when staff members are not trained properly, or when a nursing home hires incompatible people. When it comes to taking care of the elderly, nursing home staff members need to exhibit an immense amount of patience.
When a nursing home staff member fails to exhibit patience, or simply lacks patience, then they may become abusive. They may become physically abusive, or they may say abusive things that can lead to mental distress. Nursing home residents are in a critical state of health, where any type of abuse can lead to dire health consequences.
Unfortunately abuse occurs quite too often. When a nursing home fails to monitor the personalities of their residents, then resident to resident abuse can occur. If a nursing home knows that a resident is prone to violent attacks, then it is their responsibility to make sure that the proper safety measures are taken so that the violent resident is unable to exude their violent acts on another resident. If a nursing home fails to do so, then nursing home abuse may occur, which will leave the nursing home liable.
For a free legal consultation with a Nursing Home Abuse lawyer serving Savannah, call (678) 823-7678
My loved one was hurt in a Savannah nursing home – What do I do next?
If your loved one has suffered from negligence or abuse at a Savannah, Georgia nursing home, which has resulted in an injury or death, then we advise you to act immediately. Failing to take action immediately, can hinder your loved one’s rights to pursue legal action.
First, report the incident to the appropriate Georgia authorities.
Georgia Department of Community Health
The Healthcare Facility Regulation division is part of The Georgia Department of Community Health which investigates cases of nursing home neglect and abuse against residents. The Healthcare Facility Regulation division also regulates and certifies 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 is another route that you can take to file a complaint. The Ombudsman program helps resolve complaints between residents and nursing homes. This same program is also authorized by law to go into 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 assaulted and injured by a nursing home staff member or another resident, then it is in your best interest to file a police report immediately. Depending on the severity of what occurred, criminal charges may be brought against the perpetrator by the District Attorney’s Office: Eastern Judicial District.
For abuse occurring in a Savannah, Georgia nursing home, report the crime to the Police Department of Savannah, Georgia or to the Chatham County Sheriff.
Police Department of Savannah, Georgia
201 Habersham St
Savannah, GA 31401
Telephone: (912) 652-6500
Chatham County Sheriff’s Office
1050 Carl Griffin Dr
Savannah, GA 31405
Telephone: (912) 652-7600
Chatham County District Attorney’s Office
133 Montgomery St, Ste. 600
Savannah, GA 31401
Telephone: (912) 652-7308
Find another facility for your loved one.
It is in your right to find a facility that is better suited for your loved one, especially if you know they’ve suffered from negligence or abuse. While conducting research, you should hold walkthroughs at potential nursing home facilities. While doing so, ask as many questions as possible, in order to get a feel for the facility and the nursing home staff. Another tool to use while conducting your search is the Nursing Home Compare website which is operated by the United States Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). This site provides ratings for every nursing home in the country, using various factors including quality, inspection scores, and nurse-to-resident ratios.
Click here to go to the Nursing Home Compare Website.
For your convenience, a list of all nursing homes located within Savannah, Georgia is located below, along with their contact information and inspection scores.
Get the medical records from the hospital and the nursing home.
If an injury has occurred to your loved one, it is imperative to obtain their medical records immediately. The reason so, is because nursing homes will usually stop at nothing to place the blame on your loved one. Even if the evidence is stacked against the nursing home. If your loved one suffers a broken elbow from a slippery wet floor, the nursing home will try and claim that your loved one’s elbow was already fractured before the fall.
To help your loved one build their case against the nursing home, you’ll need their medical records. The records will show who the primary physician was, plus information on the hospital visits. You’ll also need to obtain the nursing home medical records, since those will usually show if negligence has taken place at the nursing home.
In order to obtain your loved one’s medical records, you will first need the proper written authorization due to State and Federal privacy laws. The proper written authorization will usually come in the form of a power of attorney, a healthcare directive, or guardianship paperwork.
If your loved one has been injured in a Savannah nursing home, then their medical records will likely be at one of the hospitals listed below. After you’ve obtained the proper written authorization, your next step will need to be to make a request to the Release of Information Department of the hospital.
- Georgia Regional Hospital: (912) 356-2011
- Candler Hospital: (912) 819-6000
- Coastal Harbor Treatment Center: (912)354-3911
Begin the probate process if your loved one has passed away.
If your loved one has passed away, their right to pursue legal action is still valid. A deceased person’s right to pursue a suit is handed over to the Estate, in the event of their death. For example, the plaintiff will go from being “Jane Doe” to “The Estate of Jane Doe”. In order to continue forward with the lawsuit, the Estate will first need to be established. To do so, the surviving spouse, child, or relative will need to petition the Probate Court of the County in which the deceased has passed.
If you’re currently dealing with this same situation, you will need to setup an Estate immediately. While establishing the Estate, you will need to appoint a personal representative, who is often referred to as an Executor or an Administrator. This representative will then act on behalf of the Estate, and will make the decisions with regards to the lawsuit.
Click here for the Probate Court of Chatham County.
Chatham County Probate Court
133 Montgomery St, Rm. 509
Savannah, GA 31401
Savannah Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer Near Me (678) 823-7678
Nursing Homes in Savannah, Georgia
There are no two nursing homes alike. Each have their own pros and cons. Below you’ll find information on the nursing homes located in Savannah, Georgia, along with relevant information for each. This information is taken from CMS’ Nursing Home Compare Website.
| Signature Healthcare of Savannah 815 East 63 Street Savannah, GA 31405 | Overall Rating: 4 out of 5 (Above Average) Number of Beds: 120 Number of Residents: 102 RN hours per resident per day: 24min (GA Avg: 34min) |
| Health Inspection Rating: 4 out of 5 (Above Average) Staff Rating: 3 out of 5 (Average) Quality Measure Rating: 4 out of 5 (Above Average) Most Recent Health Inspection Date: 07-20-2017 Number of Health Citations: 0 Average Number of Health Citations in Georgia: 3.2 Number of Complaints in previous 3 years resulting in citation: 2 Federal fines in previous 3 years: 2 ($2,243 on 08-05-2015; $975 on 08-05-2015) | |
| Landmark Transitional Recovery Unit 800 East 68th Street Savannah, GA 31405 | Overall Rating: Not Available Number of Beds: 25 Number of Residents: 16 RN hours per resident per day: 31min (GA Avg: 34min) |
| Health Inspection Rating: Not Available Staff Rating: Not Available Quality Measure Rating: Not Available Most Recent Health Inspection Date: 04-25-2017 Number of Health Citations: 0 Average Number of Health Citations in Georgia: 3.2 Number of Complaints in previous 3 years resulting in citation: 0 Federal fines in previous 3 years: 0 | |
| Candler Skilled Nursing Unit 5353 Reynolds Street Savannah, GA 31405 | Overall Rating: out of 5 (Much Below Average) Number of Beds: 11 Number of Residents: 8 RN hours per resident per day: 3hrs 31min (GA Avg: 34min) |
| Health Inspection Rating: 4 out of 5 (Above Average) Staff Rating: 5 out of 5 (Much Above Average) Quality Measure Rating: 2 out of 5 (Below Average) Most Recent Health Inspection Date: 05-11-2017 Number of Health Citations: 3 Average Number of Health Citations in Georgia: 3.2 Number of Complaints in previous 3 years resulting in citation: 0 Federal fines in previous 3 years: 0 | |
| Azalealand Nursing Home 2040 Colonial Drive Savannah, GA 31406 | Overall Rating: 5 out of 5 (Much Above Average) Number of Beds: 107 Number of Residents: 64 RN hours per resident per day: 33min (GA Avg: 34min) |
| Health Inspection Rating: 5 out of 5 (Much Above Average) Staff Rating: 3 out of 5 (Average) Quality Measure Rating: 5 out of 5 (Much Above Average) Most Recent Health Inspection Date: 09-21-2017 Number of Health Citations: 0 Average Number of Health Citations in Georgia: 3.2 Number of Complaints in previous 3 years resulting in citation: 0 Federal fines in previous 3 years: 0 | |
| Riverview Health and Rehab Center 6711 Laroche Avenue Savannah, GA 31406 | Overall Rating: 3 out of 5 (Average) Number of Beds: 284 Number of Residents: 141 RN hours per resident per day: 21min (GA Avg: 34min) |
| Health Inspection Rating: 2 out of 5 (Below Average) Staff Rating: 4 out of 5 (Above Average) Quality Measure Rating: 3 out of 5 (Average) Most Recent Health Inspection Date: 06-08-2017 Number of Health Citations: 8 Average Number of Health Citations in Georgia: 3.2 Number of Complaints in previous 3 years resulting in citation: 4 Federal fines in previous 3 years: 0 | |
| Savannah Square Health Center 1 Savannah Square Drive Savannah, GA 31406 | Overall Rating: 3 out of 5 (Average) Number of Beds: 40 Number of Residents: 31 RN hours per resident per day: 31min (GA Avg: 34min) |
| Health Inspection Rating: out of 5 (Much Below Average) Staff Rating: out of 5 (Much Below Average) Quality Measure Rating: out of 5 (Average) Most Recent Health Inspection Date: 10-12-2017 Number of Health Citations: 4 Average Number of Health Citations in Georgia: 3.2 Number of Complaints in previous 3 years resulting in citation: 0 Federal fines in previous 3 years: 1 ($12,392 on 10-12-2017) | |
| St Joseph’s Transitional Care Unit 11705 Mercy Boulevard Savannah, GA 31419 | Overall Rating: 4 out of 5 (Above Average) Number of Beds: 11 Number of Residents: 8 RN hours per resident per day: 2hrs 43min (GA Avg: 34min) |
| Health Inspection Rating: 4 out of 5 (Above Average) Staff Rating: 5 out of 5 (Much Below Average) Quality Measure Rating: 1 out of 5 (Much Below Average) Most Recent Health Inspection Date: 05-05-2017 Number of Health Citations: 1 Average Number of Health Citations in Georgia: 3.2 Number of Complaints in previous 3 years resulting in citation: 0 Federal fines in previous 3 years: 0 | |
| Abercorn Rehabilitation Center 11800 Abercorn Street Savannah, GA 31419 | Overall Rating: 3 out of 5 (Average) Number of Beds: 100 Number of Residents: 83 RN hours per resident per day: 26min (GA Avg: 34min) |
| Health Inspection Rating: 3 out of 5 (Average) Staff Rating: 3 out of 5 (Average) Quality Measure Rating: 4 out of 5 (Above Average) Most Recent Health Inspection Date: 11-16-2017 Number of Health Citations: 3 Average Number of Health Citations in Georgia: 3.2 Number of Complaints in previous 3 years resulting in citation: Federal fines in previous 3 years: 0 | |
| PruittHealth – Savannah 12825 White Bluff Road Savannah, GA 31419 | Overall Rating: 5 out of 5 (Much Above Average) Number of Beds: 120 Number of Residents: 114 RN hours per resident per day: 22min (GA Avg: 34min) |
| Health Inspection Rating: 5 out of 5 (Much Above Average) Staff Rating: 1 out of 5 (Much Below Average) Quality Measure Rating: 5 out of 5 (Much Above Average) Most Recent Health Inspection Date: 02-08-2018 Number of Health Citations: 2 Average Number of Health Citations in Georgia: 3.2 Number of Complaints in previous 3 years resulting in citation: Federal fines in previous 3 years: 0 | |
| Oaks Health Center at the Marshes of Skidaway Island 95 Skidaway Island Park Savannah, GA 31411 | Overall Rating: 5 out of 5 (Much Above Average) Number of Beds: 23 Number of Residents: 17 RN hours per resident per day: 45min (GA Avg: 34min) |
| Health Inspection Rating: 4 out of 5 (Above Average) Staff Rating: 5 out of 5 (Much Above Average) Quality Measure Rating: 5 out of 5 (Much Above Average) Most Recent Health Inspection Date: 09-24-2017 Number of Health Citations: 2 Average Number of Health Citations in Georgia: 3.2 Number of Complaints in previous 3 years resulting in 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 searching for an attorney, you will encounter various attorneys to choose from. We understand you have options. But we would like for you to consider us as the top choice to represent you and your loved ones. Here are some reasons why we think you should consider us as the best choice to represent you:
- Highly Reviewed: Our attorneys have been selected as Georgia Super Lawyer Rising Stars. Which is another reason why we are the best Google reviewed law firm in Georgia that focuses on nursing home cases. If that’s not enough for you, you can also check out our client testimonials, and see why our clients think highly of us.
- Singular Focus: All of our efforts are dedicated to nursing home cases. We have over 200 videos on our website, along with plenty of podcast episodes and hundreds of blog articles that are all dedicated towards nursing home law and nursing home cases. Focusing in one area makes us more knowledgeable about any changes in law that may pertain to nursing home cases.
- Dedication: We are selective on the cases that we take, as we only take a tiny fraction of the cases that come in. But being selective makes us prepared to go all the way to trial. Our consultations are free, so we are always ready and willing to discuss your case. The dedication within our firm is evident, as we’ve had millions in verdicts and settlements in the past two years.
If your loved one was injured or died in a Savannah, 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.
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