Signs of Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect

We all want our elderly loved ones to be treated with respect and dignity when they are in a nursing home or long-term care facility. It is heartbreaking and traumatizing to suspect, and subsequently learn, that the nursing home staff has been neglecting or abusing your relative.

Below are some common signs of nursing home negligence and abuse you can look for if you suspect your elderly relative is being neglected or abused by nursing home staff:

• Bedsores;
• Unexplained falls;
• Dehydration;
• Sudden loss of weight;
• Mood swings; and
• Sudden bouts of crying.

Always look for the signs listed above, or any other physical or behavioral trait you think is unusual.

Nursing Home Reform Act Applies to Florida Nursing Homes

The Nursing Home Reform Act (NHRA), a federal law, establishes a baseline for the level of care that is required in nursing homes and long-term care facilities across the United States. The NHRA requires nursing homes to “provide services and activities to attain or maintain the highest practicable physical, mental, and psychosocial well-being of each resident in accordance with a written plan of care.” Along with federal law, there is also state law that applies.

How Florida’s Resident Bill of Rights Empowers Elderly Residents to Take Legal Action

The Florida legislature also took action to protect nursing home residents by enacting a nursing home resident “bill of rights.” These rights include, but are not limited to:

• The right to be free from physical or mental abuse;
• The right to receive adequate health care;
• The right to be treated with dignity and respect;
• The right to be informed of his or her medical condition and proposed treatment;
• The right to refuse medical treatment;
• The right to private communication;
• The right to organize or participate in resident groups;
• The right to participate in the planning of all medical treatment; and
• The right to have privacy in treatment and caring for personal needs.

Taking Action

If you suspect your elderly loved one is being neglected or abused, you have to take action sooner rather than later. Why? Because there is a statute of limitations for filing a nursing home abuse or negligence claim. You may only have two years from the date your loved one was admitted to the facility to take legal action, depending on the fact of your case.

Contact an Experienced Florida Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer Today

Our Florida nursing home abuse law firm has its Florida office located in Jacksonville, but we will come to you, wherever you are in Florida. The experienced professional staff at our firm is available Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and at other times by appointment. Contact us online, or call us at 904-358-1304 or toll-free at 888-366-5904. If you suspect your loved one has been abused or neglected, contact Gillette Law, P.A. today.