Tampa Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer
Families entrust nursing homes to provide care for their elderly parents and other relatives. While no facility is perfect, residents have a right to expect a certain basic standard of care in any nursing home. Yet far too often we hear stories of facilities that fail to meet even a minimum level of care–and in some cases actively promote abuse of their residents.
There is never any justification for physically, emotionally, or financially abusing anyone placed in the care of a nursing home or assisted living facility. And if you know someone who has been subjected to abuse, the time to take action is now. An experienced Tampa nursing home abuse lawyer can walk you through the process.
Florin Gray is a team of dedicated Florida attorneys who represent nursing home abuse victims and their families. We understand the complex web of rules and regulations that these facilities must follow. And we know how to fully investigate cases of abuse to help ensure any problems are exposed and the responsible parties held legally accountable for their actions.
Identifying the Types of Nursing Home Abuse in Florida
Florida law defines “abuse” of a nursing home resident to include “any willful act or threatened act by a [caregiver] which causes or is likely to cause significant impairment to a vulnerable adult’s physical, mental, or emotional health.” Abuse can take the form of inaction or omissions as well as direct actions. We typically see nursing home abuse fall into one of these categories:
- Physical abuse. This refers to any physical harm inflicted on the resident, either by a staff member or even another resident. This can include being restrained unnecessarily with straps or ties. Residents with certain mental health disorders are at an especially high risk of physical abuse.
- Emotional abuse. This refers to any form of verbal or psychological conduct used to threaten or control a resident. Some common examples include repeatedly subjecting the resident to verbal insults and isolating them from family members and other residents.
- Financial abuse. This is when someone steals a resident’s money or other valuable property. Financial abuse often occurs covertly, such as a staff member coercing a resident into giving them access to their bank account or credit cards.
- Sexual abuse. Given the vulnerable physical and mental condition of many nursing home residents, they are particularly vulnerable to sexual abuse. Any form of unwanted sexual contact–no matter how brief–is abuse under the law.
- Abandonment. As shocking as it may sound, some nursing homes and assisted living facilities will abandon their residents–kicking them out without warning or informing any family members.
Don’t Delay, Contact Florin Gray
Federal and state laws afford nursing home residents a number of legal protections against abuse. This includes the right to take legal action against any nursing home or staff member whose actions constitute abuse in any form. A skilled Tampa nursing home abuse lawyer can review your family member’s case and advise them of their options. Contact Florin Gray today to schedule a free consultation.
