Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect
When we select a nursing home or assisted living facility for our loved ones, we trust they are going to be well taken care of and expect that the staff will treat them the way we would. Sadly, that does not always happen. The facility may be understaffed or the staff on duty is not sufficiently trained. Other times, the nursing home or assisted living facility does not properly screen employees, and those who are not fit to care for often-vulnerable residents end up in charge of their well-being. When this happens, your loved one can become a victim of nursing home abuse or neglect. Although shocking tales of abuse in nursing homes appear more often in the news, negligence and neglect are just as dangerous and far more prevalent.
Sarah Steinbaum PA is committed to standing up for our cherished and most vulnerable loved ones, making sure they get the care they need, and holding nursing homes accountable when residents don’t get the treatment they deserve. If you or your loved one was abused or neglected in a nursing home or care facility in Miami, Palm Beach, Fort Lauderdale, or anywhere in South Florida or statewide, call Sarah Steinbaum PA for a free consultation and immediate assistance.
Nursing Home Abuse
Nursing home abuse refers to harm that is intentionally inflicted on residents, as opposed to negligence or neglect, which although inexcusable is generally unintentional. Abuse can be physical, sexual, verbal, psychological or financial. Working in a nursing home can be a demanding, stressful job, but there is never any excuse for abusing patients, whether acting out of frustration, anger or a specific desire to cause harm. Residents and even their families might be reluctant to report abuse out of fear of retaliation, but you should know that the law is on your side, and with dedicated legal help from a skilled and knowledgeable injury attorney, you can put an immediate stop to abuse and recover financial compensation for the harm done, helping you move forward from the abuse while preventing further abuse and achieving justice and accountability for yourself and others.
Forms of nursing home abuse can include:
- Hitting residents
- Dragging residents from their beds or chairs
- Forcefully restraining residents, except to the extent necessary to prevent them from harming themselves or others
- Employing physical or chemical restraints for reasons other than safety, such as punishment or the convenience of staff
- Screaming or yelling at residents; using foul or insulting language
- Withholding food or water as a form of punishment
- Isolating residents from others for punishment or without justification
- Sexual assault or abuse, including rape or forcing residents to engage in sexual activities with staff or others
- Financial exploitation and abuse, including theft, forgery, or using duress, undue influence or fraud to trick residents into changing their estate plan, signing legal documents, or withdrawing or transferring funds from their bank
Nursing Home Negligence or Neglect
When nursing homes are overpopulated or understaffed, or when employees are not properly hired, trained and supervised, residents can wind up neglected with important needs going unmet, from nutrition and hydration to help with toileting, daily needs, and engaging in social activities. Negligence in a nursing home can be every bit as harmful as intentional abuse, leading to life-threatening medical conditions. Nursing homes can and should be held liable for their failures to use reasonable care and competence in meeting the needs of those in their charge.
Examples of nursing home neglect include:
- Residents are malnourished or dehydrated
- Bedsores develop when residents are left immobile for too long
- Medication errors
- Falls due to lack of supervision or use of bed guardrails, lap belts, etc.
- Unsanitary bedding, unclean rooms or common areas
- Lack of hygiene
- Negligent medical care, including failure to diagnose and treat bedsores and infections
- Leaving residents isolated in their rooms, lack of community or social activities
- Lack of adequate security to prevent thefts or assaults from outside parties
- Failure to prevent or remedy tripping and slipping hazards, such as wet floors or objects left on the floor
Contact Sarah Steinbaum PA Today
If you have a loved one in a Florida nursing home and notice changes in their physical health or mental or psychological state, they could be suffering from abuse or neglect. Nursing home administration and staff are likely to claim the resident’s failing health is age-related and not care-related; it can take the help of skilled and experienced experts to spot signs of abuse and neglect and investigate accordingly. Sarah Steinbaum PA is here to help. Call us today at 305-358-7676 for a no-cost, confidential consultation. We’ll take the time to understand your situation and let you know how we can help, and there’s never any fee if we can’t recover compensation for you.
