Elder Care

Another way that people in nursing homes are abused is by the overuse of Anti-Psychotic drugs such as Risperdal, Zyprexa, Seroquel, and Abilify. Under the right circumstances, these drugs can be very beneficial. Under the wrong circumstances or in the wrong doses, however, these drugs can cause catastrophic injuries or death in a nursing home or treatment care facility. It has been shown that these drugs have been overused in nursing homes leading to catastrophic injuries and death.

In Georgia, there are millions of elderly people living in nursing homes and other long term care facilities. As our “baby boomers” age, this number will increase. The National Center on Elder Abuse projects that approximately 20 percent of the American population will be aged 65 or older by 2050. Some of this growing elder population will be able to stay in their homes. Many, however, will have to spend their golden years in a Georgia nursing home or assisted living center.

Many nursing homes go out of their way to protect themselves legally in the admission contracts they make with their residents. These contracts often state that if the nursing home does something wrong that the resident and their family will be limited in their right to compensation. Residents who sign these agreements usually assume they have no other choice. Sometimes, however, families can be compensated in spite of what the contract says.