Nursing home facilities are supposed to be safe havens for aging adults as they cope with significant health concerns at the end of their life. Unfortunately, poor hiring practices and understaffing lead to abuse and neglect in many nursing homes across Florida and throughout the United States. If you suspect your loved one is being harmed, it’s critical to act quickly.
There’s Never a Fee Unless We Get Money for You
John Fagan and our legal team serve clients throughout Florida and specialize in nursing home abuse and neglect claims. We understand the devastation caused by these egregious actions and will aggressively pursue your nursing home negligence lawsuit to get justice for your loved one’s suffering.
Steps to Take If You Notice Signs of Neglect During Your Visit
You should visit your loved ones in a nursing home as often as possible to ensure they’re being properly cared for during their stay. While you’re visiting, pay attention to your loved one’s state of health. Do they look well-nourished and hydrated? Are there bedsores or unexplained bruises? Does the staff appear busy and overworked?
If your loved one is mentally capable, ask them how they feel living in the nursing home and how the staff interacts and cares for them. Take note of any staff members who seem to lurk around or avoid leaving you alone with your family member. Your loved one must speak freely with you without fear of retaliation from the staff.
Alert the appropriate management staff about your concerns. It could be that a specific staff member has received several complaints already, or they’re unaware of the issue. This also documents the problem and the facility’s response to your claim.
Write down days and times that you visit when the facility seems understaffed. If there are signs of neglect or unexplained marks or injuries, document them for your claim.
Contact our nursing home abuse and neglect attorney as soon as possible to help your loved one and others at the nursing home who could be victims of neglect and abuse.
File a Complaint with the Proper Authorities
If you suspect a loved one is being abused or neglected by nursing home staff, you need to act immediately. Once you’ve left the facility, call Adult Protective Services or the police. You don’t need to provide proof of your claims to make a report. The police and perhaps paramedics will evaluate your loved one’s circumstances and remove them
from the facility if they are in imminent physical danger or at increased health risk due to neglect. The police department will investigate if a crime occurred.
Consult with our attorney to make sure you’re doing everything you can to help your loved one and prevent further suffering. We can ensure their well-being and legal rights are preserved and protected.
Signs of Nursing Home Neglect
Neglect comes in many forms. Common signs of nursing home negligence include:
- Malnourishment
- Rapid weight loss
- Lack of basic living necessities such as food, water, and a warm or cool room
- Lack of proper hygiene
- Skin ulcers
- Bedsores
- Unmet medical needs
- Missing doses of medications
- Unsanitary living conditions such as soiled bedding or clothing that wasn’t changed
- Abandonment
When a nursing home resident is neglected, the facility can be held accountable for negligent hiring, including failure to run a background check or confirm credentials. They may also be found responsible for understaffing the facility, providing inadequate training, breaching regulatory obligations, and medication errors.
Contact Our Florida Nursing Home Negligence Attorney
Our practice is dedicated to helping accident victims. If you ever need help with a legal problem or just want information on this subject, you can always reach me at 777-JOHN.
We serve clients throughout Florida with our offices in Ocala, Keystone Heights, Palatka, Starke, Gainesville, and Middleburg.