Fort Lauderdale Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer
Nursing home abuse is not only devastating to victims and their families, but it is also a severe violation of residents’ rights and in some cases, a crime. Due to its large aging population, Florida has many nursing home facilities and some of them are right here in Fort Lauderdale.
While many nursing homes provide the necessary standard of care, that is not always the case. Below, our Fort Lauderdale nursing home abuse lawyer outlines the different types of abuse and what victims and their loved ones can do when someone has suffered harm due to it.
Types of Nursing Home Abuse
When many people first think of misconduct in long-term facilities, they often think of physical abuse. Physical abuse includes hitting, pinching, pushing, and pulling residents, or making physical contact with a resident in a manner that results in injury. While this type of abuse does occur in nursing homes, it is not the most common.
In fact, emotional abuse is the most common type to occur in nursing homes. This form of nursing home abuse involves threatening, intimidating, and yelling at residents, or isolating them. Any action that results in psychological trauma for residents can constitute emotional abuse.
Financial abuse is also very common in nursing homes. This can involve stealing directly from a resident or their room, but nursing home staff members are typically less direct than that. Financial abuse often involves nursing home staff members manipulating or tricking residents into designating the staff member as power of attorney, including them in the will, or otherwise deceiving residents for the staff member’s own financial gain.
Sadly, the above are just some types of abuse that happens in nursing homes. Sexual abuse, neglect, and abandonment are other common types of nursing home abuse.
Signs of Nursing Home Abuse
It is critical that loved ones understand the most common signs of nursing home abuse. This is the only way to identify it and stop it from happening. The most common signs of nursing home abuse are as follows:
- Broken bones
- Cuts and welts
- Signs of being restrained, particularly on the wrists or ankles
- Sudden and unexplained weight loss
- Signs of dehydration, such as dry skin and chapped lips
- Dirty clothing or bedding
- Unkempt residents’ rooms
- Sudden changes in a resident’s behavior, such as becoming withdrawn
- Unexplained withdrawals from financial accounts
- Sudden and unexplained changes in estate planning documents
- Unexplained STDs
- Bloody or torn undergarments
Tragically, the above are just a few of the most common signs of nursing home abuse. Any time you notice anything unusual or your loved one suffers harm without an explanation, it is important to speak to an attorney.
Call Our Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer in Fort Lauderdale Today
No one should ever have to suffer from nursing home abuse. If you believe your loved one is being mistreated, it is critical to speak to our Fort Lauderdale nursing home abuse lawyer at Spencer Morgan Law today. Our experienced attorney can advise on your case and help your family obtain the full and fair settlement your loved one is entitled to. Call us today at 305-423-3800 or chat with us online to schedule a consultation and to learn more.