Elder Abuse and Neglect in Assisted Living Communities

Undoubtedly, you’ve read or at least heard about the special investigation that the Atlanta Journal Constitution spotlighted last month. Their series, Unprotected, investigated the quality of senior care being provided in Georgia’s personal care homes.

By reviewing all of the state’s personal care homes with 25 or more beds, the AJC produced a harrowing picture of senior care in Georgia.

The reporters compiled the inspection reports filed by Georgia’s Department of Community Health between 2011 and 2015 and the state’s databases of fines and other enforcement actions levied against Georgia’s personal care homes.

For weeks, the AJC offered shocking details of the abuse and neglect pervasive in even the most expensive personal care homes in Georgia.

One of the prosecuting attorneys made a very sobering statement, “I’m very scared about becoming 90 years old right now. It should terrify all of us because that’s a horrible way to live, and we have got to be able to do better than that.”

Unfortunately, this issue is not confined to Georgia.

This report was on the heels of an opinion piece published in the New York Times, “How Not to Grow Old in America.”  This piece asserted that the assisted living industry is making promises it cannot keep.

Vulnerable seniors across the country deserve better care.

The findings in the AJC’s special report as well as the comments in the NYT’s article are not shocking to us. Disappointing but not shocking. Working with some of Georgia’s vulnerable adults over the last two decades has given us firsthand knowledge of the gaps in care and in our state’s practices and policies.

There is a large conversation starting about improving senior care.

With the growing number of older adults in Georgia (Georgians over the age of 65 are expected to make up 20% of our population by 2030), our legislators and policy makers can no longer afford to ignore the abuse and neglect threatening older adults.

Until major policies change, residents need good advocates.

Family members or other involved individuals must play an active role in the lives of vulnerable adults. Monitoring the care, demanding better services, filing official complaints, and being willing to relocate—-these are all routine parts of being a good advocate for a loved one in a senior care community.

Hurley Elder Care Law can offer that advocacy.

Although our attorneys do not prosecute allegations of abuse or neglect (this falls into the scope of work for medical malpractice and other prosecuting attorneys, not elder law attorneys), our team does offer advocacy support. Our attorneys, care coordinators, public benefits specialists, and support staff understand residents’ rights, appropriate standards of care, and how to effectively intervene.

For all of our clients, we provide guidance and advocacy regarding senior care issues.

 A number of our staff members have cared for aging loved ones and have dealt personally with the long-term care world.  In addition to having the professional skills, knowledge, and experience, we all have a personal passion for older adults getting the quality care they deserve. To learn more about the services at Hurley Elder Care Law, please contact our office at (404) 843-0121 or through our website at https://hurleyeclaw.com/contacts/

November 13 Blog