Many families struggle with deciding to move an aging relative into a nursing home or assisted living facility. If you are unable to provide your loved ones with the care they need, you should be able to trust the facility responsible for ensuring their safety. However, when the healthcare facilities and staff fail to keep your relatives safe, the consequences can be devastating.

When your family member has suffered an injury due to neglectful or abusive nursing home staff, get in touch with a compassionate personal injury attorney. You and your relative may be able to collect compensation for the pain endured. With the guidance of a Jupiter nursing home abuse lawyer, you could build a strong case against the at-fault party.

What Rights Do Nursing Home Residents Have in Jupiter?

Florida Statutes § 400.022(1) states the rights of nursing home residents. A home must provide private and uncensored communication and adequate information about their medical condition and proposed treatment plan.

A loved one also has the right to receive health, social, and legal services and withdraw consent for certain medications, treatments, and procedures. When a resident denies treatment, medical staff must inform them of the potential consequences.

Any violation of this law may warrant a lawsuit. When nursing home staff or administration violate a person’s legal rights, a dedicated abuse attorney in Jupiter could help take legal action through the Agency for Healthcare Administration. We could also help a family better understand their legal protections.

Common Types of Assisted Living Facility Claims

A nursing home resident may file a claim against their living facility for neglect and many types of abuse. When a family member sustains an injury while on the nursing home’s property and under their care, they may have a valid case. Some of the most common types of nursing home abuse claims involve negligent actions such as:

  • Failure to provide adequate supervision
  • Failure to adequately protect a resident from suffering abuse or injury
  • Improper, aggressive, or abusive treatment of the resident
  • Failure to provide proper or sufficient medical care to residents
  • Negligence on behalf of ill-trained, inexperienced, or unprofessional staff
  • Failure to properly maintain facilities or equipment
  • Withholding or forcing consumption of food or water

With the help of a nursing home abuse lawyer in Jupiter, a person could effectively seek compensation and hold any wrongdoers accountable for their unlawful actions. Reach out to us with any questions about what type of behavior is grounds for a lawsuit.

HOW to KNOW a LOVED ONE IS BEING ABUSED OR NEGLECTED?

Ideally, your loved one would be able to tell you directly. However, communication can be extremely difficult in situations like these. Possible blocks in communication can come from memory loss, cognitive struggles, or fear of retaliation from the abuser.

If you believe your loved one is being abused, you can look for these signs:

  • Poor hygiene
  • Bed sores
  • Weight loss
  • Despondent mood
  • Anxiety
  • Depression
  • Fear
  • Withdrawal
  • Odd purchases
  • Stress
  • Sudden hoarding of money and goods
  • Bruises
  • Broken bones
  • Burns
  • Lack of medication
  • Overall skin discoloration
  • Soreness when sitting
  • Bladder control issue
  • Urinary tract infections or STIs

WHAT SHOULD I DO IF I SUSPECT ELDERLY ABUSE OR NEGLECT?

Immediately report it. A common misconception is that you have to have proof in order to report suspected abuse. That is not the case. As an individual or family surrogate decision-maker, you are strongly encouraged to speak up on behalf of your loved one and report the abuse. If you are a professional employee of a nursing home or elderly care facility, you are required to report the abuse if it happens while you are working. There can be legal repercussions if you fail to do so.

Your first step is to contact law enforcement, especially if it is an emergency situation. A medical examination may be required of the victim. If this is the case, be sure to contact the victim’s guardian or point of contact in case she needs a family surrogate decision-maker present through this process.

For further support, you can contact the National Center on Elder Abuse, the Adult Protective Services, or the Long-Term Care Ombudsman. All three resources provide exceptional information that can point you in the right direction to recovery for you and your loved one.

Your last step is to contact a trusted legal professional to hold the nursing home or its workers accountable for their abuse. The state of Florida has its own laws against this type of abuse, and nursing homes in our state also have specific regulations they have to abide by. Your focus and attention should be on the victim of the abuse, so let us dedicate our attention and drive to building a strong case for you in the meantime.

Seek Legal Advocacy from a Jupiter Nursing Home Abuse Attorney

Nursing home abuse is an unfortunately frequent occurrence, particularly in areas where such facilities are in high demand. Abuse can take many forms, but the damage it causes is often severe. A Jupiter nursing home abuse lawyer could rid you of any sense of helplessness.

We seek to protect your rights, build a strop case, and help you obtain sufficient compensation. Call our office today to get started by scheduling an initial consultation.