Entrusting your parent or loved one to a nursing home or managed care facility is never easy, and requires a commitment of faith on your part and theirs.
The explosion of the elder care industry has made sub-standard facilities for the elderly all too common. Ocala is home to a burgeoning senior population, and nursing homes and retirement communities have popped up all over Marion County to accommodate them. Nearby community The Villages is one of the most popular destinations for retirement in the country. Many of these locations are perfectly fine for your loved ones, but not all nursing homes properly care for their residents.
At Morgan & Morgan, we recognize nursing home abuse in Florida for its grave injustice, and its large but unfortunate scope in our elder-friendly state. Our elder abuse lawyers are proud to have helped families throughout the state get justice for relatives who have been abused, neglected, traumatized, or injured by nursing home negligence and staff abuse.
Contact us to find out if they can help you too.
The Increasing Problem of Nursing Home Abuse
Americans are living longer than ever, but they’re still plagued by a variety of conditions and diseases that make long-term elder care facilities the most viable option for treatment.
According to the Florida Agency for Healthcare Administration, there are currently 681 nursing homes in Florida, with room for more than 83,000 residents.
Unfortunately, a licensed nursing home does not guarantee quality. The demand for affordable elder care has skyrocketed, and so has the number of nursing facilities in both Florida and the United States. As a result, the level of care has slipped at some homes, which could result in suffering for your loved one.
Common Signs of Nursing Home Abuse
There are a variety of signs of nursing home abuse, and the Florida Department of Elder Affairs has put together a guide that can help you understand how to see and prevent abuse from occurring.
Nursing home abuse can often be difficult to pin down. Relatives suffering from dementia or another illness can have a hard time communicating, making it difficult to share their experience with you.
Furthermore, loved ones can often experience injuries under normal conditions without any wrongdoing.
While these signs may not always indicate nursing home abuse or neglect, Florida residents who observe them should consider investigating further. These signs include:
- Bedsores
- Unexplained and recurring bruises
- Dehydration or malnutrition
- Consistently poor hygiene
- Extreme fear or anxiety
- Unexplained infections
- Unexplained injuries
If you inquire about your loved one’s condition and the response you get from the staff is a defensive, unreasonable, or otherwise deceptive answer, it may be time to contact an Ocala attorney.
Our Florida elder care abuse lawyers know where to look to determine if negligence and abuse have taken place, and can advise you about how to safeguard your loved one.
Contact Our Florida Nursing Home Abuse Attorneys in Ocala
People who believe their elderly loved ones have experienced nursing home abuse or neglect often don’t know what to do, and the next steps can be unclear.
If you have these suspicions and have not received satisfactory answers from your loved one’s nursing home or care facility, it may be time to consider retaining an attorney to help you investigate.
Fill out our free, no-risk case evaluation form if you’re ready to seek justice today.