Tallahassee Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer

Tallahassee Florida Nursing Home Abuse AttorneysUnfortunately, abuse and neglect are common occurrences in Florida nursing homes. Victims include the elderly, infirm, children, disabled, and those rehabilitating after an accident or surgery.

Many families facing the uncomfortable situation that their loved one has been neglected, abused, or mistreated will hire a skilled personal injury attorney specializing in abuse and neglect cases.

Our Tallahassee, FL, nursing home abuse & neglect attorneys have witnessed a substantial increase in cases involving abuse, mistreatment, and neglect occurring in nursing facilities throughout Florida’s capital city.

Did you or your loved one suffer from nursing home abuse in Tallahassee? If so, the affiliate Florida personal injury attorneys at Nursing Home Law Center, LLC can help you achieve justice and compensation for your injuries.

Contact our Tallahassee nursing home abuse lawyers toll-free at (800))-926-7565 to schedule a free case evaluation and discuss your legal options with an experienced attorney for obtaining monetary recovery through a lawsuit or compensation claim.

Nursing Home Abuse in Florida

Nursing home abuse is a serious problem in the United States, impacting the well-being of older citizens in Florida and other states. Thousands of elderly Americans are victimized yearly by caregivers who neglect or intentionally harm them.

Abuse is any mistreatment that causes harm or severe risk of injury to a nursing home resident. It can take many forms, including physical, sexual, financial, and emotional abuse.

Neglect is a type of abuse that occurs when caregivers fail to provide residents with the basic necessities of life, such as food, water, shelter, and medical attention. In worst-case scenarios, abuse can also lead to personal injury or wrongful death due to a lack of access to standard care.

Therefore, families of nursing home patients should be aware of the signs of abuse and neglect, so they can take action to protect their loved ones.

Signs of Nursing Home Abuse

Some warning signs of abuse and negligence include:

  • Bruises, cuts, broken bones, or other injuries that are unexplained or seem to have a pattern of occurrence
  • Sudden changes in behavior, such as becoming withdrawn or agitated
  • Needs not being met such as basic needs, such as food, water, or medical attention
  • Unsanitary living conditions, such as soiled bedding or a lack of personal hygiene

Have you noticed any signs in your elderly loved one? It is vital to investigate all leads to the fullest to determine when and how abuse or neglect occurs.

You should also contact the authorities if you believe a crime has been committed. If the authorities don't heed your concerns, contact our Tallahassee nursing home abuse lawyers for legal assistance.

Five Common Types of Abuse in a Nursing Home

Nursing home abuse cases take different forms, they do not all happen suddenly, or only one time. The following types of abuse occur in assisted living facilities:

Physical Abuse

Physical abuse is any force against nursing home patients that results in injury or pain. It can include:

  • Hitting
  • Shoving
  • Biting
  • Kicking
  • Pinching
  • Burning
  • Use of chemical or physical restraints

Emotional Abuse

Emotional abuse refers to verbal or nonverbal behavior that causes distress to a resident. It can include:

  • Yelling
  • Threatening
  • Insulting
  • Intimidating
  • Isolating

Unfortunately, psychological abuse is the most common type in assisted living facilities.

Sexual Abuse

The elderly in a nursing home may also be subjected to sexual abuse, which is any type of non-consensual sexual contact, including:

  • Unwanted touching
  • Sexual assault
  • Rape
  • Being forced to engage with sexual content

Financial Abuse

Financial abuse occurs when staff or visitors exploit nursing home residents for financial gain. For example, they may steal residents’ money or property, coerce them into signing financial documents, or open credit cards or bank accounts in their name.

Neglect in Nursing Homes

Neglect occurs when the staff fails to provide nursing home residents with the necessities of life, such as food, water, clothing, and medical care. Negligence by the staff and administration can lead to wrongful death or severe injury in nursing homes.

How to Prevent Nursing Home Abuse

Elder abuse in nursing homes can be prevented by ensuring that policies and procedures are in place and that staff is adequately trained.

  • Proper Training: Poorly trained staff is often the root cause of elder abuse in nursing homes. The admin should ensure that all staff, including management, are trained in elder care and abuse prevention.
  • Policies and Procedures: Authorities of a rehabilitation center or the nursing home should implement policies and procedures specifically aimed at preventing elder abuse. These should protect residents' rights, promote communication between staff and residents, and provide a mechanism for reporting abuse.
  • Resident and Family Awareness: Nursing home residents and their loved ones need to know the signs of elder abuse. They should also know how to report abuse if it does occur.
How to Report Nursing Home Neglect

If you suspect your loved one is being abused in a nursing home, you should immediately report it to the authorities. Include as much detail as possible about the alleged abuse when making a report, including the names of any witnesses. You can make a report by calling the nursing home hotline for elder abuse such as 1-800-962-2873.

If you are not sure whether or not the situation constitutes abuse, you can always err on the side of caution and make a report to the relevant authorities. If there is a crime, such as rape or wrongful death, contact the police and file a report.

If the nursing home had full knowledge of the complaints and still did not take any action to prevent or stop the abuse against your elderly loved one, they can be held liable.

You should also consult with a Tallahassee nursing home abuse lawyer to discuss your legal options and whether you may be able to file a lawsuit against the nursing home. Nursing home abuse attorneys have the knowledge and resources necessary to help you receive the justice your loved one deserves.

How a Tallahassee Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer Can Help

Do you suspect your family member was abused at a Tallahassee, FL nursing home? Contact our nursing home abuse attorney to file a claim. A nursing home abuse attorney can help you at every step, from case evaluation to presenting the case in court. Here's how our lawyers can help:

Hold the Facility Accountable

When we take on an abuse case, we are also motivated by the hope that we can help make nursing homes safer for everyone. Our attorneys will work tirelessly to hold the nursing home accountable for its negligence.

Seek Compensation

Our lawyers will help you recover damages for medical costs, pain and suffering, and loss of consortium. While monetary compensation does not remove the family's suffering, it can help cover expenses for treatment, surgery, or the funeral (wrongful death).

Receive Justice

In addition to financial compensation, our lawyers will also work to get justice for your loved one. It can include working to have the responsible parties fired or criminally charged. Your attorney will also ensure that the public is aware of the incident to ensure that it does not happen to anyone else.

If the case goes to court, our lawyers will collect evidence and witnesses to prove the occurrence of abuse against the resident.

Hire a Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer to Resolve Your Compensation Claim

Sadly, the number of abuse cases is likely much higher than those reported because many victims of nursing home abuse tell anyone of the unacceptable actions of caregivers and other patients out of fear or a lack of ability to describe what occurred.

Contact our affiliate Tallahassee nursing home neglect and abuse case law offices today by calling (800) 926-7565 or through an online contact form to schedule a no-obligation, free evaluation. Our attorneys handle all cases involving abuse and neglect on a contingency fee arrangement where we provide immediate legal services without the need for you to pay an upfront fee.

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Client Reviews

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Jonathan did a great job helping my family navigate through a lengthy lawsuit involving my grandmother's death in a nursing home. Through every step of the case, Jonathan kept my family informed of the progression of the case. Although our case eventually settled at a mediation, I really was impressed at how well prepared Jonathan was to take the case to trial. Lisa
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After I read Jonathan’s Nursing Home Blog, I decided to hire him to look into my wife’s treatment at a local nursing home. Jonathan did a great job explaining the process and the laws that apply to nursing homes. I immediately felt at ease and was glad to have him on my side. Though the lawsuit process was at times frustrating, Jonathan reassured me, particularly at my deposition. I really felt like Jonathan cared about my wife’s best interests, and I think that came across to the lawyers for the nursing home. Eric