The thought of placing a loved one into a nursing home can be scary. Whether it be because of natural aging or health reasons, taking this step put your elderly loved one into a home means that you are putting them in the care of someone you do not necessarily know very well. You are trusting that this person, and the team of nurses and caregivers within the nursing home, will treat your loved one with the care and respect they deserve, give them the attention they need both medically and mentally, and keep them safe when you are not able to be there.
A nursing home should be considered a safe space for your most vulnerable loved ones.
When the nursing home breaches their duty of care, our team of Fort Lauderdale attorneys at Wolf & Pravato, a leading personal injury law firm in Fort Lauderdale, will fight for your family.
Did you know that as many as one in six residents of a nursing home or care facility are abused each year? This shocking statistic needs to be stopped. It’s often hard to detect because victims cannot always articulate what is happening to them. In the case that the patients suffers from conditions such as senility and/or dementia, they may not be believed even if they do try to tell someone.
It’s important to be aware of the signs and symptoms to look for to tell whether a loved one is being mistreated or abused within their nursing home. The most prevalent form of elder abuse, according to a survey taken, is neglect or abandonment. This includes a failure to fulfill caretaking obligations such as giving the proper medications, bathing or cleaning the patient, or moving the patient regularly to avoid bedsores. Look out for signs of elder abuse such as:
- Poor physical appearance
- Lack of cleanliness
- Signs of dehydration
- Bedsores
- Unexplained weight loss
- Torn, stained or bloody underclothing
- Frequent infections
Another form of abuse to watch for involves physical harm. Look for things such as broken bones or fractures, unexplained bleeding, bruising, cuts or welts, especially those that may indicate the use of restraints. Physical abuse can be broken up into two categories: striking, as in hitting or shoving a resident, and restraint, which could be seen as necessary if the patient is seen as a threat to others; however, there are state regulations that a nursing home must follow regarding how long one can be restrained. If a patient is constantly being tied down or sedated with drugs to restrain any type of moment, then this is considered physical abuse. Also considered abuse is if a nursing home confines a patient to a solitary or quiet room that they are not able to leave.
It’s also important to watch for signs of emotional abuse, which could include things like reclusiveness, withdrawal or refusal to speak, changes IN mental status, and mood swings. Emotional abuse can be hard to prove since it often shows no visible marks, but it is still very much a form of abuse. Verbal abuse can involve intimidation toward a patient, such as threatening or blaming them if they do something wrong, humiliating or ridiculing them. There are also cases where the staff can abuse their patients without words by ignoring them or isolating them and leaving them feeling unsafe and insecure.
It’s awful to think that there is someone out there who would intentionally mistreat your loved one in an environment that is supposed to be a safe haven, but it happens all too often. It’s up to friends and family members to always keep their eyes and ears open and catch the abuse before it’s too late.
In the event that you do suspect your aging parents or loved ones have been a victim of nursing home abuse in Fort Lauderdale or the greater South Florida area, we at Wolf & Pravato, a leading personal injury law firm in Fort Lauderdale, can alert the proper authorities about the nursing home abuse and take the appropriate steps to ensure that your rights, and the rights of your family member, are protected, especially in the case that the abuse report is lost or altered. Wolf & Pravato distinguishes itself because of decades of experience and the legal resources to handle virtually any case that involves personal injuries or injuries to loved ones. We are just one phone call away from helping to make sure your family member’s rights are protected and they receive the personal care and compensation deserved. We will advocate for full financial recovery through detailed, meticulous preparation for trial. You can trust the personal injury team at Wolf & Pravato to handle your case with the utmost compassion and respect.
Our South Florida law firm, Wolf & Pravato, promises all clients that their cases are guaranteed to be handled by an experienced personal injury attorney, coupled with the most innovative and knowledgeable legal support staff in the profession.
We have a reputation of being a progressive Florida personal injury law firm in Fort Lauderdale and South Florida in general, and have been trusted within the legal community, often being called upon to handle cases that other personal injury law firms may not be able to completely handle on their own. Whether by trial or strategic negotiation, the law offices of Wolf & Pravato wants its clients to be able to return to a normal life, and thus its team will dedicate their time to providing tireless legal representation in every aspect of each and every client’s case.
At Wolf & Pravato, we always have our clients’ best interests in mind. Personal injury cases can sometimes become complicated, requiring a skilled, experienced attorney to handle them correctly. We are ready and able to gather all evidence and retain preeminent experts to review and analyze the facts and circumstances in a timely manner. We are dedicated to building cases to achieve outstanding results for our clients, even in the most difficult and complex cases. No matter what type of injury claim you are pursuing, our talented, experienced, and compassionate team of attorneys is here for you. We are sensitive to the special needs of our injured clients, especially when it comes to the elderly, as we understand the sensitivity of these cases. It is extremely crucial in these situations to make sure you are documenting everything that could be of help to us when reviewing your case so that if your case goes to trial, our attorneys can convey to a jury, through argument, expert witnesses and state-of-the-art trial exhibits, your damages, suffering and future care requirements.
Don’t delay the process when dealing with the seriousness of nursing home abuse. Contact us immediately. We can answer all of your questions, explain your rights, and if we take on your case, we help bring you and your loved one to justice. Wolf & Pravato wants each and every one of their clients to feel at ease and comfortable with their choice in a personal injury law firm. Don’t wait, call us today at 954-522-5800 or schedule a private consultation online.
