FAQs About Nursing Home Abuse
If you have made the difficult decision to admit your loved one into a nursing home, you likely have many concerns. You may worry whether they will be lonely, how often you will be able to visit, and whether they will receive the quality care you know they deserve. Nursing home abuse is so egregious, people never expect it to happen. Unfortunately, it is all too common in Florida. Below, our Tampa nursing home abuse lawyer outlines the most common questions we hear, and the answers to them.
What are the Signs of Nursing Home Abuse?
Some of the most common signs of nursing home abuse and neglect are as follows:
- Bedsores, particularly when they are in an advanced stage
- Injuries resulting from falls
- Skin rashes, particularly when combined with foul odors of urine or feces
- Sudden and significant weight loss
- Bruises, which may indicate physical abuse
- Withdrawal from others and social activities, indicating emotional abuse
- Sudden fearfulness or anxiousness
- Bloody, stained, or torn undergarments
- Staff refusal to allow residents to be alone with visitors or others
- Mysterious bank account withdrawals, missing possessions, or changes in estate or financial documents
How to Report Nursing Home Abuse in Tampa?
Florida has a nursing home abuse hotline that is available 24 hours a day and seven days a week. The number is 1-800-96-ABUSE. You can also use the form on the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration’s website.
What Causes Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect?
Sadly, there are many causes of nursing home abuse and neglect. The most common of these include:
- Understaffing in nursing homes, usually because owners and administrators are trying to protect their bottom line
- Undertrained, underpaid, overworked, or poorly qualified staff members
- Individual risk factors for residents, such as being a woman, as they are at higher risk of abuse
- Poor management, supervision, and accountability
- Vulnerability of residents, who are not always capable of reporting abuse and neglect
Can I File a Nursing Home Abuse Lawsuit?
Nursing home abuse and neglect results in very serious losses. These include physical injuries, pain and suffering, as well as psychological and mental damage. You may have also had to take time off of work to find a new facility for your loved one, or to care for them on your own. You should not have to bear the responsibility of paying for your loved one’s medical expenses, therapy, lost income, and other losses on your own. By filing a lawsuit, you can recover compensation for any harm caused and get your family the positive outcome all of you need.
Contact Our Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer in Tampa
If you have questions about nursing home abuse and neglect, you need sound legal advice. At Kohn Law, our Tampa nursing home abuse lawyer can answer your questions and help you file a claim against the facility and offending staff members so your family recovers the maximum settlement you are entitled to. Call us today at 813-428-8504 or chat with us online to schedule a free review of your case and to get the legal help you need.
Sources:
apps.ahca.myflorida.com/hcfc/
leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0400-0499/0400/0400.html
