New Port Richey Nursing Home Negligence Lawyer
Nursing homes provided skilled nursing care to vulnerable adults around the clock. Many residents are elderly, but anyone could find themselves in a nursing home after an accident or injury, particularly one that leaves them incapacitated.
Family members naturally expect that nursing homes will provide a high level of care and attend to their loved one’s needs. The reality in many nursing homes is far different. Dozens of nursing homes in Florida are cited each year by the state for dangerous conditions, including understaffing and abuse. Yet these homes are never shut down but continue to operate, accepting new patients. The result is that many nursing home residents are injured in preventable accidents, or else they end up sick because no one is providing necessary care.
This is an outrage. If you suspect a loved one is being ignored, contact a New Port Richey nursing home neglect lawyer at Florin Gray today.
Signs of Nursing Home Neglect
Many family members have no idea what is going on in the nursing home. They might visit once every week or month for a half hour. Nonetheless, you might notice certain signs that should raise alarm:
- A resident is unkempt and hasn’t bathed in a while
- The room is dirty or untidy
- Lights don’t work or bulbs haven’t been replaced
- The resident has bedsores
- The resident looks malnourished or dehydrated
- Residents attack each other
- The resident has wandered away from the premises
- There were unexplained trips to the hospital
Neglect has many causes. In some homes, there is not enough staff on duty. Chronic understaffing spreads nurses too thin. They cannot adequately attend to the needs of all patients, so sometimes residents are not fed, bathed, or given medicine. Some nursing homes understaff deliberately to save money.
In other cases, nursing home staff could be poorly trained or inadequately supervised. Some nurses have drug or alcohol addictions and steal medicine from patients or otherwise are too strung out to work properly.
What to Do if You Suspect Neglect
First, we recommend reaching out to a lawyer. Our firm can connect with the nursing home management to request patient records and possibly interview staff on duty. The nursing home might uncover abuse or neglect and take remedial action. Either way, we put them on notice.
Second, we can review evidence and decide whether to sue the nursing home. These facilities owe a duty of care to their residents. They must follow federal and state laws that protect residents and recognize their rights. When nursing homes fail in this duty, they are legally liable for a resident’s injuries.
Nursing home neglect is unacceptable. A neglected resident might require medical care to treat fractures, bruises, head injuries, and the effects of dehydration or malnutrition. They can also suffer intense pain and embarrassment.
We Hold Nursing Homes Accountable—Contact Us
Florin Gray, is committed to the well being of the most vulnerable members of society. Contact us today to find out more about how we can help.
