Our elders play an integral role in our society, providing wisdom and history. As many senior citizens are unable to care for themselves, they rely on nursing homes to help. While these facilities help care for loved ones, some may fall below the standard of care, resulting in nursing home abuse. Understanding what signs to look for can help protect your loved one, so you’ll want to keep reading. If you suspect neglect or abuse, you’ll want to contact a Broward County nursing home abuse lawyer for further assistance.
What Is Nursing Home Abuse?
Understanding what constitutes abuse and neglect is essential to protecting your loved one. This occurs when a nursing home staff member or employee intentionally or unintentionally inflicts harm on an elderly patient.
Unfortunately, this abuse can happen for a number of reasons. The facility may be short-staffed, which can lead to burnout and the inability to properly care for patients. When caretakers are required to care for more patients than they can handle, neglect can occur. As a result, they may become overwhelmed, frustrated, and ultimately take their anger out on innocent patients.
Abuse occurs when someone intentionally inflicts pain or suffering on another person. This can include physical, emotional, mental, sexual, or financial harm, such as:
- Assault (slapping, hitting, shaking, biting, kicking, or punching)
- Withholding medication or medical care as a punishment
- Withholding food and water
- Rape, sexual assault, or molestation
- Emotional and mental abuse (such as humiliating or isolating residents)
- Using unauthorized medical or physical restraints
- Forcing residents to turn over financial information
What Are the Signs?
It’s essential to understand the signs you should be on the lookout for if you have a loved one in the care of a nursing home. Though it can be devastating to imagine your loved one suffering, knowing the signs and being able to identify them can help protect your loved one.
Like many victims subject to abuse, older adults living in nursing homes may be afraid to inform someone of the abuse they have endured for fear of retaliation, increased abuse, or being deemed a liar. As many adults may not disclose the abuse they faced, understanding the most common signs and indicators of abuse is critical.
The following are common signs of abuse and neglect:
- Unexplained broken bones and injuries
- Fear of certain staff members
- Complaints about members
- Dehydration and malnutrition
- Bedsores
- Poor cleanliness conditions, including dirty clothes or bedding
- Unexplained sexually transmitted diseases (STDs)
- Lacerations
- Extreme and rapid weight loss
- Drastic changes in personality
- Missing money or unexplained financial activity
What Can I Do if I Suspect Abuse in Florida?
If you believe your loved one is a victim of abuse in their nursing home, you must take the necessary steps to protect them. If they are in immediate danger, you should call emergency services (911) to get your loved one immediate medical treatment. You should also notify the nursing home management regarding your concerns.
You’ll also want to file a report with the Florida Department of Health and the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration. However, this means they will simply receive the report, but this does not mean they will be able to promptly investigate the incident. As such, it is strongly recommended that you consult with an experienced attorney as soon as possible.
It is important to understand that you can fight for compensation for the damages your loved one has endured as a result of the abuse. This legal recourse can cover medical expenses for sustained injuries, as well as compensation for their pain and suffering. However, pursuing these damages on your own can be incredibly difficult.
Contact an Experienced Broward County Personal Injury Attorney
At the Finizio Law Group, we understand that trusting others with your loved ones can be challenging. That’s why it can be devastating to discover that your loved one is suffering abuse at the hands of those who are supposed to care for them. Our dedicated legal team will do everything to fight the injustice your loved one has suffered. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation and learn more about how we can help you.
