Identifying Nursing Home Abuse
There may come a time when you are forced to make the difficult decision to place a vulnerable family member into an assisted living facility. A lot of faith is put in the hands of the facility, and the last thing we want to think about is potential abuse or neglect. Unfortunately, nursing home abuse remains all too common in Florida. Further, this type of abuse is insidious and, frequently, very difficult to identify. If you have noticed any of the warning signs of nursing home abuse, please contact an experienced Tampa nursing home neglect attorney for immediate assistance.
The Top Five Signs of Nursing Home Abuse or Neglect
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Significant physical or mental changes: All physical and psychological changes require an explanation. For example if your loved one suddenly developed frequent bedsores or unexplained bruising, you need to follow up on those issues. Further, if your loved one has become unusually withdrawn, you also need to investigate that change. Major changes suggest something is wrong. It may be the signs of a previously unknown medical condition, or it could be a sign of abuse and neglect. Regardless, you need answers.
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Poor nourishment or Dehydration: Malnourishment and dehydration can do tremendous damage to the health of a vulnerable person. These are major signs that your loved one is being mistreated. Nourishment and hydration are very basic issues. If the nursing home cannot even keep up with these base level tasks, what else is going on?
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Problems with staff: Always keep an eye on the staff of the nursing home. Do they seem well trained? Do they respond to your concerns? If there are general issues with staff, that usually indicates that the residents are at high risk. For example, if the staff is frequently changing, that is a bad sign. The nursing home should always be properly staffed. There should be an adequate number of well trained employees on site, who are ready to answer your questions.
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Your loved one is avoiding a particular employee: Sometimes the issues with staff involves one employee, or select few employees. If your loved one seems to avoid particular employees, that strongly suggests something wrong. You need to dig further into that issue. That specific employee may be the one who is mistreating the residents.
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You have a general bad feeling: Nursing home abuse and neglect is notoriously difficult to catch. Ultimately, you need to trust your instincts. If something feels ‘off’, then that is usually a major warning sign. Bad feelings require further investigation. Do not just let it go. Even if you are worried that you do not have proof that neglect is occurring, you should speak to an experienced attorney. Your case may need to be reported to the Florida Department of Elder Affairs, and protective action may need to be taken.
Contact Our Office Today
Our compassionate legal team knows just how heartbreaking it is to see a vulnerable loved one abused in a nursing home. At The Pawlowski//Mastrilli Law Group in Tampa, our experienced nursing home neglect attorneys will help you put an end to the abuse, and will guide you through further legal action. If you have any questions about nursing home abuse, please do not hesitate to contact our office today to set up your free case evaluation.
