Nursing homes should be places of refuge for the elderly and infirm. Too often, however, the facility entrusted to provide 24/7 care fails in its duty.
Contact a Kissimmee nursing home abuse & neglect lawyer if you or a loved one were mistreated in a long-term care facility. Our dedicated personal injury attorneys at Colling Gilbert Wright have a reputation for aggressive advocacy on behalf of vulnerable people and a long record of success.
Mistreatment in Long-Term Care Facilities
Nursing home residents are vulnerable. Their physical frailty may make them dependent on others for help with daily activities such as toileting, bathing, and getting out of bed. Conversely, some nursing home residents still function well physically, but their cognitive decline means they require close supervision.
Personnel at nursing homes often mean well, but poor training and understaffing can lead to neglect. Unfortunately, sometimes facilities hire people who abuse or scam residents. Whatever the reason, people living in Kissimmee care facilities may experience various forms of neglect or abuse, and our attorneys could help you hold the nursing home liable for mistreatment.
Physical
Physical neglect can take many forms, from ignoring poor patient hygiene to not monitoring their food and fluid intake to failing to turn the patient often to prevent bed sores. Severe neglect can hasten a patient’s death. Physical abuse can include slapping, pinching, or punching a patient or using the threat of physical force to coerce or control them.
Emotional
Leaving the patient alone for extended periods or ignoring their requests can be emotional neglect. Emotional abuse can include mocking or humiliating the patient, intentionally isolating them, and preventing them from communicating with loved ones.
Sexual
Any form of non-consensual sexualized behavior can be sexual abuse. Offensive teasing, unnecessarily exposing a patient’s private parts, groping, forcing genital contact, and forcing intercourse on a patient are all forms of sexual abuse that happen in nursing homes.
Financial
Nursing home residents can control their money unless they have been judicially declared incompetent or have designated someone to manage their finances. Sometimes nursing home staff members ingratiate themselves with a resident or try to intimidate them to gain access to their money.
Holding Assisted Care Facilities Accountable for Mistreatment
Nursing homes must provide appropriate care to the residents. When they fail to do so, you could approach the facility with documentation of the complaint.
You could request that the situation be corrected and seek assurances that they introduce procedures to prevent a recurrence. When appropriate, you could contact the state’s long-term care ombudsman program to file a complaint.
If the nursing home is unresponsive or you receive an unsatisfactory response, you can involve a legal professional. Florida Statutes § 95-11 allows two years to file a lawsuit for negligence, medical malpractice, and wrongful death. When negotiations do not produce a reasonable settlement, our Kissimmee attorneys at The Florida Firm could help you file suit against the nursing home and present a compelling case to the jury.
Potential Damages in a Nursing Home Abuse Case
When a nursing home patient’s health is compromised by poor care or their quality of life is diminished by abuse or neglect, the nursing home should pay for the harm it caused. Patients may be eligible for compensation for medical costs related to injuries they suffered, relocation if they choose to move to a different facility, and money in acknowledgment of their physical pain, emotional suffering, humiliation, and lost ability to enjoy life.
When there is clear evidence that a nursing home was grossly negligent or intentionally harmed the resident, you could also claim punitive damages. There is usually a cap on punitive damages, but a judge may award an amount that exceeds the cap in some cases.
Our experienced lawyers in Kissimmee have obtained substantial compensation for victims of nursing home neglect and abuse. While it is not possible to predict the amount a patient or their family may receive, our law firm has achieved settlements or verdicts against nursing homes exceeding $1 million in numerous cases.
Speak With a Kissimmee Nursing Home Abuse & Neglect Attorney Now
When local lawyers need to hire an advocate for their loved ones, they come to us at The Florida Firm. They know we treat clients with compassion and get outstanding results. Contact a Kissimmee nursing home abuse & neglect lawyer at Colling Gilbert Wright, and we could help you hold the facility accountable. Schedule a free consultation today to discuss your case.