Tennessee & Georgia Nursing Home Neglect & Abuse Lawyers
Suspect nursing home neglect? We hold facilities accountable.
Families trust nursing homes and assisted living facilities with the people they love most. When a facility cuts corners on staffing, supervision, or basic care, residents can suffer serious harm. Davis & Davis helps families across Tennessee and Georgia get answers and hold facilities accountable.
If something feels wrong, trust that instinct.
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Understanding Neglect
What Is Nursing Home Neglect?
Most nursing home neglect isn’t the result of one bad caregiver. It usually comes from understaffing, high turnover, poor training, and facilities focused on cutting costs. When there aren’t enough hands to reposition residents, help them eat, or answer call buttons, preventable harm follows.
Neglect can be hard to spot, especially when a resident has dementia or can’t easily communicate. Families often notice small changes first: weight loss, a new injury with a vague explanation, or a parent who seems withdrawn. Those instincts are worth taking seriously.
ON THIS PAGE
01
Bedsores & Pressure Ulcers
Bedsores form when a resident stays in one position too long without being moved. They’re largely preventable with regular repositioning, good hygiene, and proper nutrition, which is why advanced pressure ulcers are often a warning sign of understaffing or neglect.
Untreated bedsores can become deeply infected and lead to hospitalization, sepsis, or worse. Medical records and wound-care documentation often show whether the facility caught the problem early and responded appropriately.
02
Nursing Home Falls & Fractures
Falls are one of the most common causes of serious injury in nursing homes, and a broken hip can permanently change an older adult’s health and independence. Facilities are expected to assess each resident’s fall risk and put a care plan in place.
When a resident falls because they weren’t supervised, weren’t helped to the bathroom, or didn’t have the equipment their care plan called for, the facility may be responsible.
03
Malnutrition & Dehydration
Many residents need help eating and drinking. When staff are stretched too thin to provide that help, residents can quickly become malnourished or dehydrated, which can lead to confusion, infections, falls, and hospital stays.
Sudden weight loss, dry skin, confusion, and frequent urinary tract infections can all be signs that a loved one isn’t getting the basic care they need.
04
Nursing Home Medication Errors
Nursing home residents often take several medications on strict schedules. Missed doses, the wrong medication or dose, dangerous drug interactions, and the overuse of sedating drugs to make residents easier to manage can all cause serious harm.
Medication administration records can show what was given and when, and whether it matched the doctor’s orders.
05
Nursing Home Abuse
Abuse can be physical, like hitting, rough handling, or improper restraints, or emotional, like yelling, threats, humiliation, and isolation. Residents who are frail or have memory loss may not be able to report what’s happening.
Unexplained bruises, fear around certain staff members, sudden withdrawal, or a facility that discourages you from visiting alone can all be red flags. If you believe your loved one is in immediate danger, call 911.
06
Elder Financial Exploitation
Financial exploitation happens when someone takes advantage of a resident’s money or property. That can include stolen cash or belongings, unauthorized charges, pressure to change documents like a will or power of attorney, or misuse of a resident’s accounts.
Watch for missing possessions, unexplained withdrawals, new “friends” with access to accounts, or billing that doesn’t add up.
If You Suspect Neglect
How to Report Nursing Home Neglect
You don’t need proof to start asking questions. These steps protect your loved one and preserve important evidence.
01
Ensure their safety
If your loved one is in immediate danger, call 911. Get medical attention for any injury or sudden change in condition.
02
Document what you see
Take dated photos of injuries and conditions, and write down names, dates, and what staff tell you.
03
Report your concerns
You can report to the state agency that licenses the facility, Adult Protective Services, or the Long-Term Care Ombudsman program.
04
Request records
Ask for your loved one’s medical and care records. An attorney can help if the facility is slow to respond.
Tennessee & Georgia Law
Tennessee & Georgia Nursing Home Laws
Nursing home cases have their own procedures, so it helps to understand them early.
Residents' rights
Federal law sets standards of care for nursing homes that accept Medicare or Medicaid, including the right to be free from abuse and neglect and to voice complaints without retaliation.
Special procedures
In Tennessee, many nursing home claims fall under the state’s Health Care Liability Act, which requires advance written notice to the facility and expert support before a lawsuit is filed. Georgia has its own requirements, including an expert affidavit in many cases.
Deadlines
Tennessee claims generally must be filed within one year, and Georgia claims generally within two years, with additional limits in some cases. Because the pre-suit steps take time, it’s important to start early.
This is general information, not legal advice. Deadlines and rules depend on the facts of each case.
Why Davis & Davis
Why Families Choose Davis & Davis
Compassion first
We know these situations are painful and often complicated by guilt. We’ll listen, explain your options plainly, and move at a pace that works for your family.
Rooted in this community
Davis & Davis has served families in this region for more than two decades. Many of the families we help are our neighbors.
Not afraid of big facilities
Nursing home companies have experienced defense lawyers. We’re trial-ready, and we don’t back down from well-funded opponents.
Nursing Home Neglect FAQs
Don’t see your question?
Contact the office nearest to you. We’re here to guide you.
Can I file a claim on behalf of my parent?
Often, yes. A family member with the legal authority to act for the resident, such as through a power of attorney or guardianship, can usually bring a claim. If your loved one has passed away, the claim may become a wrongful death case, which has its own rules.
What if we signed an arbitration agreement at admission?
Many facilities include arbitration clauses in their admission paperwork. That can change where and how a claim is decided, but it doesn’t necessarily mean you have no options. We can review the agreement and explain what it means for your family.
Will reporting neglect cause the facility to retaliate?
Federal law protects residents’ right to voice complaints without retaliation. Still, it’s wise to visit often and watch closely after you raise concerns, and to tell us right away if anything changes.
How long do we have to take action?
In Tennessee, most nursing home claims must be filed within one year, and in Georgia generally within two years, though there are exceptions and additional limits. Tennessee also requires notice to the facility before filing, so it’s important not to wait.
My loved one has dementia and can’t explain what happened. Can we still bring a claim?
Yes. Many nursing home cases are built on medical records, care plans, staffing records, and expert review rather than the resident’s own account. Changes in your loved one’s condition can tell an important story.
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Talk to a Nursing Home Neglect & Abuse Lawyer
You don’t have to figure this out alone. Contact Davis & Davis for a free, confidential consultation at our Chattanooga, Winchester, or Dalton office.
