Tampa Nursing Home Abuse Attorney
If you or someone you love suffered neglect or abuse at the hands of a Florida nursing home, it’s crucial to hold these facilities accountable for their actions and help prevent future incidents. Florida has high standards for nursing home care; but, there are thousands of cases of abuse every year—many of which go unreported. To learn more about nursing home abuse and neglect in Florida, speak with the skilled Tampa nursing home abuse attorneys at Moore Law today.
Watch for Warning Signs of Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect
If your family member is in a nursing home and you suspect issues, it’s essential to watch for the various warning signs. Some residents may not have the mental or emotional capacity to acknowledge and report the abuse to other staff or be scared. Some abusive staff goes as far as scaring the patients and threatening them to keep quiet.
Common signs of nursing home abuse could include:
- Bedsores
- Unexplained wounds or injuries
- Sprains and broken bones
- Weight loss
- Signs of malnutrition
- Repeated medication errors
- Wrist injuries consistent with restraints
- Soiled bedding
- Unclean room
Types of Nursing Home Abuse
There are several different types of nursing home abuse. The first is physical abuse, which involves direct physical contact with the resident. This contact may include kicking, hitting, shoving, burning, etc. Watch for existing wounds and healed ones. Watch your family member’s behavior and how they react when the staff is there.
The next type of abuse is emotional abuse. When staff uses actions or words to scare or humiliate your family member, it can be emotional abuse. Watch for your family member to have changes in personality, be agitated readily, depressed, not want to see visitors, etc.
No one wants to imagine sexual abuse in a nursing home, but it happens sometimes. Sexual abuse is more common with residents who can’t give consent due to incapacitation or being mentally unstable. Sexual abuse isn’t just from staff to patients; it can also involve other residents or visitors. Examples of sexual abuse can involve unwanted touching, rape, exposing someone’s genitals, etc. Watch for underwear stains, blood or bruising around the genitals, sudden infection or STD diagnosis, behavioral changes, and more.
There is also the risk of financial abuse. Some staff members befriend residents to access the resident’s financial accounts, alter their estate planning documents, and more. Monitor your loved one’s bank accounts and ensure you know where the official estate planning documents are.
Nursing Home Neglect
Neglect happens when the staff isn’t providing adequate care to the residents. With high turnover rates, long hours, and low job satisfaction, it’s no surprise complaints of neglect are on the rise. Staff are spread thin and may struggle to get a resident their food and water timely. They may not move the resident enough or change the sheets regularly. Patients who are at high risk for falls are left unattended for long periods.
Contact a Tampa Nursing Home Abuse Attorney
If you suspect abuse or neglect in your loved one’s facility, speak with our Tampa nursing home abuse attorneys right away. Contact Moore Law today to schedule an initial consultation.
