St. Petersburg Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer

Our St. Petersburg nursing home abuse & neglect attorneys have noticed an alarming rise in the number of civil and criminal cases involving neglect, abuse, and mistreatment of residents in nursing facilities throughout Hillsborough and Pinellas counties.

Even though these numbers are disturbingly high there are likely hundreds of cases that are never reported to authorities because the abused elder does not have the capacity to say what has happened, or believes it will get them into trouble if they say anything to anyone.

Did your loved one suffer abuse in a nursing home in St. Petersburg? If so, the affiliate Florida personal injury attorneys at Nursing Home Law Center LLC may be able to help you seek justice. Contact our St. Petersburg nursing home abuse lawyers at (800) 926-7565 (toll-free phone call) to schedule a free consultation.

 All confidential or sensitive information you share with our legal team remains private through an attorney-client relationship.

Nursing home abuse occurs when residents are harmed physically, sexually, financially, or psychologically by the staff members or other residents. Such abuse may result in medical emergencies, trauma, or death.

Nursing home negligence is also a type of nursing home abuse. It occurs when staff members fail to provide adequate care or protection for residents, resulting in injury, mental and physical anguish, or even death.

If you suspect a loved one is being abused or neglected in a nursing home, it is crucial to take action. The first step is to complain to the authorities. If they don't pay heed to your complaint or are aware of the misconduct and aren't taking active steps to stop it, you can hire a nursing home abuse attorney to file a claim against the facility.

Receive a free consultation from our nursing home abuse lawyer to discuss your case.

The National Center for Elder Abuse and the National Institute on Aging regularly conduct studies and gather data to estimate the prevalence of abuse in nursing homes. Here are some findings of abuse in nursing homes:

• The National Ombudsman Reporting System (NORS) data shows that 14,258 of the total (188,599) complaints submitted by nursing home residents or their families against the facility involved gross neglect, abuse, or exploitation.
• Studies show that abuse of nursing home residents by fellow residents is a bigger problem than their abuse by the staff.
• Events resulting from nursing home negligence result in nearly $2.8 billion in annual expenditure in Medicare hospital costs.

Abuse can take different forms in nursing homes, such as physical or sexual. Prolonged abuse can result in high medical bills or wrongful death.

Physical Abuse

If a staff member or resident is causing physical harm to a nursing home patient, this is considered physical abuse. It can range from minor injuries like bruises to more serious ones such as broken bones or cuts. In some cases, physical abuse can even be life-threatening.

Sexual Abuse

Sexual abuse could be any sexual contact between a nursing home patient and someone who does not have the consent to engage in that type of activity with them. It can include anything from unwanted touching to rape.

Sexual abuse could also include exploitation where the victim is forced to engage in watching pornography or sex acts performed by others.

Emotional Abuse

Emotional abuse is verbal or nonverbal behavior that causes psychological harm to a nursing home resident. Name-calling and belittling are common types of psychological abuse.

Likewise, a staff member may also try isolating the resident from their friends and family. In an assisted living facility, residents suffering from psychological abuse can develop anxiety and depression.

Financial Abuse

If a staff member or another person is taking advantage of a nursing home patient's finances, this is considered financial abuse. Financial abuse can involve:

• Stealing money from the resident
• Using the resident's credit cards
• Coercing the resident into signing legal documents pertaining to their finances

If you or a family member is a victim of abuse at an assisted care facility in St. Petersburg, you may be able to file a nursing home abuse claim. Our St. Petersburg nursing home abuse lawyers offer free legal consultation to discuss your legal options.

The elderly residents in assisted living facilities may be reluctant or scared to speak up about the abuse for various reasons. Here are some signs that may indicate that your loved one is suffering from nursing home abuse:

• Sudden Mood Changes: If your loved one is usually cheerful and outgoing but suddenly becomes withdrawn and depressed, this could be a sign that something is wrong.
• Bruises, Scratches, or other Unexplained Injuries: Any bruises, scratches, bed sores, or other injuries on your loved one's body could be a sign of abuse. Poor personal hygiene and lack of proper medical attention are also considered negligence. Meanwhile, injuries around the genital area could be due to sexual assault.
• Changes in Eating or Sleeping Habits:If your loved one suddenly stops eating or starts losing weight, they may be experiencing abuse and neglect at the nursing home.
• Medication Errors: Many senior citizens and disabled people take pain medication and other drugs to manage their health conditions. If you notice that your loved one is experiencing more health problems or side effects from their medication, it could be because the nursing home staff is not giving them the correct dosage.

Since abuse takes many forms, it's important to notice the warning signs of abuse in nursing homes early on. Serious violations, such as medication errors and violent sexual acts, can prove fatal, especially if the elderly patient is already frail.

St. Petersburg nursing home abuse lawyers are skilled in representing victims of nursing home abuse and their families. These lawyers have experience investigating claims, negotiating with insurance companies, and litigating cases on behalf of their clients.

If you or a loved one has been a victim of St. Petersburg nursing home abuse, you may be entitled to monetary compensation for your injuries as per the Florida law around nursing home neglect and abuse. A St. Petersburg nursing home abuse lawyer can assist you in the following ways:

Gather Evidence

Nursing home abuse lawyers help family members gather evidence to support their claims. This may involve:

• Reviewing Medical Records: Your lawyer will review your loved one's medical records to look for any signs of abuse or neglect.
• Interviewing Witnesses: A nursing home abuse lawyer may interview witnesses, including other residents and staff members, to collect more information.
• Consulting Experts: In some cases, a nursing home abuse lawyer may consult with experts, such as medical professionals, to better understand the extent of the injuries suffered.

Seek Compensation

A St. Petersburg nursing home abuse lawyer can help you recover fair compensation for:

• Medical Costs: Most nursing home abuse claims involve significant medical expenses. You may be able to recover the cost of medical treatment, future medical care, and any other related costs.
• Pain and Suffering: You may also be able to recover damages for the physical pain and emotional suffering that you have experienced as a result of the nursing home's negligence or abuse.
• Punitive Damages: Depending on the severity of the abuse and neglect, you may also be able to recover punitive damages. These are designed to punish the nursing home and discourage future instances of abuse and neglect.

In most cases, you'll be able to get a free case evaluation to discuss your St. Petersburg nursing home abuse claim in light of federal regulations. Schedule your free consultation as soon as you notice warning signs of abuse to ensure the nursing facility responsible for the negligence is held accountable.

Do you suspect that your loved one has been neglected, abused, or mistreated while residing in a nursing facility in the St. Petersburg area? It is crucial to intervene immediately to protect the victim from additional harm.

Many families will hire southwest Florida personal injury attorneys who specialize in nursing home abuse cases and can represent the family and a nursing home resident victimized by abuse or mistreatment.

The St. Petersburg nursing home abuse attorneys at Nursing Home Law Center LLC can assist in informing the proper authorities to file a formal complaint. Our dedicated Florida elder abuse attorneys specialize in nursing home law, personal injury, and elder abuse and can file a claim for compensation on your behalf to seek the financial recompense you deserve for your injuries, damages, and losses.

We encourage you to contact our affiliate St. Petersburg law offices today at (800) 926-7565 or through an online contact form to schedule a free, no-obligation full case review. All cases involving nursing home abuse, neglect, and mistreatment are handled on a contingency fee arrangement, meaning you are not required to pay any upfront fees.

For additional information on Florida laws and information on nursing homes look here.

Resources:

• NCBI: Older People Abuse in Nursing Homes
• HRW: Worry Over Neglect in Long-Term Care Facilities