Nursing Home Neglect Attorney

There is no excuse for nursing home neglect. When nursing home staff fail to care for their residents, by neglecting them or abandoning them, dreadful consequences often result.

Some of the more common evidence we have witnessed in our practice are the following

• decubitus ulcer or bed sores
• • caused by nursing home caregiver failing to properly reposition or turn a resident who is bedridden or immobilized
• falls
• • patients who have balance problems, whether due to medication or medical condition, must be assisted (which is contained in the chart)

Nursing homes are meant to be a safe place for the elderly where help is provided to those who cannot attend to their own daily needs. Whatever the best intentions of staff and nurses are, often patients fall through the cracks. Unfortunately abuse in skilled nursing facilities is a somewhat common occurrence. It has been reported that there is a rise in the number of abuse claims in many nursing homes within Florida.

Hospitalized senior citizens often become victims of abuse, incompetence, and neglect. In some cases, patient records in nursing homes have been doctored in order to hide problems.

The increase in Florida elder abuse is the same as throughout the country: large corporations expect large profit from nursing homes yet provide less care for patients. These facilities are often understaffed and their nurses and nursing assistants underpaid. These problems are typical throughout the nursing home system.

Instances of Abuse of Elderly in Florida

Typical examples of elder abuse are cases where the elderly patient suffers from bed sores. When neglected and treatment not given for an issue such as this, the sores become so infected the bedsores reach the level of residents' bones, causing infection and pain for the patient. These sores are painful and rather difficult to treat and cure, and arise mainly because of insufficient staff or poor care, leading to inadequate care of the patients' daily living needs. Other areas of concern are personal hygiene, adequate food and hydration and response to patients' daily needs.

In more severe cases, elderly residents' have also become victims of rape, physical abuse and other violence in nursing facilities. Although rare, these situations arise when staff are not properly screened during employment interviews, poorly trained or poor quality staff are hired due to low wages for the position.

There are times these types of cases go unnoticed or undocumented. Family members may contact their local Ombudsman who act as a liaison with the nursing home and the state to deal with severe staff and patient problems. Family members must be proactive when addressing this type of abusive situation. Documentation of events by family members can then be discussed with the Florida local Ombudsman and a nursing home abuse attorney may be brought in to advise and prepare litigation if needed.

Corporation Profit vs. Insufficient Nursing Staff

Skilled nursing facilities are often understaffed with workers who are underpaid for the amount of work they do. Even the best intentions by CNAs (certified nursing assistants) go by the wayside when severely understaffed. When time constraints happen CNA's must provide care to eight to fifteen patients at a time.

This can result in less care taken when feeding a patient, dressing and daily care of patients. As some skilled nursing facilities cut down on staff to increase their profits, the existing staff does not have sufficient time to ensure all their residents get fed, bathed, clothed, gotten up from their bed to their wheelchair or taken to social activities. A lack of hygiene can mean bedsores for an elderly resident. Overworked and underpaid staff at times equate to poor quality care for elderly patients.

Patients Medicated to Keep Quiet

Another issue that may happen in these facilities is inadequate medical care. Doctors do not always visit the patient on a timely basis. Registered nurses (RN) are stretched thin as they too are usually understaffed. The lack of time for quality medical care at times leads to more medication to quiet the patient. Over medication is elder abuse and should be addressed with your nursing home neglect attorney.

With so much going on behind closed doors of Florida nursing facilities, the families of elderly residents must turn to civil litigation for justice. It is often difficult to prove abuse with elderly in a skilled nursing setting. Working with a nursing home neglect attorney who is knowledgeable about Florida state regulations for the elderly is advisable.

Nursing Home Neglect Lawsuit

If you or your loved one has suffered a permanent, devastating, personal injury or wrongful death in the family caused by nursing home neglect or nursing home abuse, then please contact an experienced personal injury attorney at our law firm to seek justice on your behalf.