Nursing Home Neglect / Abuse
Today more than 1.6 million people live in nursing homes. Our loved ones deserve to live out their lives with dignity. Many homes provide excellent care, but others can subject residents to needless suffering.
The nursing home industry has already become a multi-billion dollar industry. Many nursing homes are run by major corporations. In too many homes, efficiency and profitability have become more important than administering proper care. For this reason, both the State of Florida and the Federal Government have passed legislation that protects residents of nursing homes.
Nursing home abuse is one of the nation's largest growing problems. An estimated one in three nursing homes are reported for nursing home abuse, a number thought grossly underestimated. This statistic is frightening, especially considering such severe reports of nursing home abuse as death, broken bones, beatings, and complete neglect.
Nursing home abuse can occur in many different ways. Many people associate nursing home abuse to just physical, however, nursing home abuse can also be emotional, psychological, sexual, verbal, and neglect. Watching for signs of nursing home abuse can help prevent further damage from occurring, because in many instances residents are afraid to disclose that nursing home abuse is happening. Some residents feel reporting the nursing home abuse will make them a burden to their families, or they have been threatened and fear the nursing home abuse will grow worse.
Nursing homes should have adequate staffing so they can respond to the needs of their residents when called upon and care for even difficult residents. A nursing home has a duty to keep the residents safe. If a nursing home violates this, they can be responsible for the damages caused, including pain and suffering of the resident, the loss of a loved one in the event of death, as well as attorney’s fees and costs, and potentially punitive damages.
Common Physical Signs of Neglect and Abuse:
| Untreated bed sores |
| Open wounds, cuts, bruises, or welts |
| Torn clothing or broken personal items |
| Bruises in a pattern that would suggest restraints |
| Excessive and sudden weight loss |
| Fleas, lice, dirt on elder or in elder's room |
| Abnormally pale complexion |
| Fecal/urine odors |
| Poor personal hygiene or other unattended health problems |
Signs of a Careless Staff:
| Lack of proper heating or cooling in nursing home |
| Caregiver's inability to explain elder's condition |
| Caregiver's refusal to allow visitors to see elder alone |
| Caregiver allowing elder to wander off the premises |
| Sudden change in elder's medication |
After a nursing home neglect or abuse incident, many people need answers to these questions:
| How am I going to pay for my medical bills? |
| Can I be compensated for lost wages or pain and suffering? |
| Is there any insurance money available to help me right now? |
| What papers should I sign or not sign? Do I need a lawyer? |
Let our team work for you. Our attorneys, investigators, and support staff can take care of the legwork so that you can concentrate on getting well.
Remember, there are no fees or costs unless we win.
We will evaluate your situation at no cost or obligation if you complete the following online form. Based on your information, we will let you know if we think you have a legal claim and what options you have. The decision will then be yours as to whether you would like us to represent you.
