With the large population of Baby Boomers and people in general living longer, older adults are increasingly moving into nursing homes and other elder care facilities. Unfortunately, there also seems to be an increase of these patients suffering injuries of neglect from those who are responsible for their care. Florida nursing homes, convalescent homes, rest homes and elder care facilities have an obligation to actively care and treat their patients with adequate medical attention, dignity and respect.
Many families today are faced with the decision to place their loved one in a nursing facility because they may not live close by or they can’t provide the medical care they need in their own home. Once the decision has been made for their loved one to reside in a nursing home they believe the facility is capable to handle the basic care and medical needs of their family member. However, this is not always the case.
When a patient is injured in a nursing home, it’s not always noticeable or apparent what exactly happened. The warning signs of neglect can be subtle and in some cases there might not be any physical evidence. However, a nursing home can be liable if it fails to meet the basic obligations of care and the resident was injured as a result. All residents deserve to be safe from all kinds of abuse and neglect.
What are Some Examples of Medical Malpractice in a Florida Nursing Home?
Examples of the medical negligence we’ve seen in elder care facilities include:
- Prescription drug errors. This can include the failure to check for drug interactions, not giving the medication correctly or at the appropriate times, giving the wrong medicine all together and overmedication.
- Understaffed, overworked staff, inattentive staff or poorly trained staff.
- Abuse of medical restraints or the use of illegal restraints.
- Failure to report medical concerns to the doctors or registered nurses.
- Ignoring residents’ stated medical concerns.
- Isolating residents.
- Unsanitary facility.
What are the Causes or Warning Signs of Nursing Home Neglect?
All too often the family of the nursing home resident doesn’t live nearby. This makes it difficult for the family to know if the loved one is adequately being cared for. There is also the possibility that the patient is not able to communicate that they have been wrongly hurt or neglected. Neglect can be identified by the following changes:
- Malnutrition
- Dehydration
- Weight loss
- Bedsores from failing to turn or move the resident
- Falls resulting in various types of injuries
- Withdrawn behavior in the resident or abnormal changes in their behavior
- Failing to sustain friendly interaction with their fellow nursing facility residents
- Alterations in appearance or personal hygiene
- Unsafe premises or environmental hazards
- Failure to receive adequate medical treatment
Experienced Florida Attorneys in Nursing Home Neglect Cases
When you entrusted the care of your loved one to a nursing home facility and their staff, it’s devastating to find out that they have been mistreated or neglected. So often, residents of nursing homes are in weakened physical, mental, and emotional conditions, and neglect of any kind could result in serious injury or death. Nursing homes have an obligation to actively monitor and care for their elderly patients which also includes preventing them from any physical, mental or emotional abuse.
If your loved one has been hurt as a result of a nursing home’s negligence, you are entitled to compensation. Jim Dodson Law’s experienced medical malpractice attorney is experienced in handling many types of negligence cases in Florida. We are here to answer any questions you might have and provide you with the expertise required to successfully handle your case. Call us today at 888-207-0905 or contact us online to discuss the details of your case.