Report nursing home abuse immediately if you suspect any wrongdoing, as it is a serious problem occurring daily across the U.S. Nursing home abuse is a grave crime that can lead to fatalities if not addressed. Alarming statistics show that 1 in 6 people over the age of 60 experience some form of abuse in nursing homes, elder care facilities, or hospitals. Therefore, it’s crucial to act swiftly if you become aware of any abuse in such environments.

Understanding Signs of Abuse

If you have a loved one in a nursing home or know of someone staying in one, you must be aware of the signs of abuse and stay on the lookout for potential signs of neglect or abuse. While both of these are very serious matters, it’s beneficial to know the difference between abuse and neglect. Abuse is defined as the intentional use of aggression or infliction of pain; this can be in the form of both emotional and physical abuse. Similarly, neglect is defined as failing to provide someone with the proper care and services to keep them free of harm or pain.

Types of Abuse and Neglect: 

• Assault: signs of assault can come in many forms; examples include kicking, punching, slapping, choking, physical restraints, or even any unnecessary aggressive force. 
• Deprivation: the intentional deprivation of food or water over a prolonged period 
• Sexual Assault: rape or any form of sexual assault is a common form of abuse 
• Medication: the use of improper medication, such as psychotropics that a physician did not approve 

Signs of Physical or Verbal Abuse and Neglect: 

• Dehydration 
• Bruising 
• Broken or fractured limbs 
• Concussion 
• Emotional withdrawals 
• Rapid changes in weight 
• Unexplainable injuries 
  • Cuts, bruises, etc. 
• Unexpected or unexplained death 
• Unsanitary living conditions 
• Extreme changes in behavior 
  • Sensitive, panicky, depressed/manic state

Where to Report Nursing Home Abuse

Report nursing home abuse immediately if you or someone else witnesses signs of it. It’s your duty to act. If you are a doctor, social worker, or government worker, the law mandates that you report the nursing home abuse case at hand. Some states even require all citizens, regardless of their occupation, to report any incidents of nursing home abuse.

When you report nursing home abuse, be sure to include every detail you have regarding the neglect or abuse, as even small details can be crucial evidence. Reporting known nursing home abuse can save someone’s life. Delaying action could allow the abuse to worsen and spread to other patients.

Fortunately, there are many resources available in Riverview to help you report nursing home abuse. These include:

• Contact the managerial staff at the nursing home: If signs of abuse are found, the first step should be reporting it to the managerial staff at the nursing home. Sadly, our personal injury lawyers know from experience that these issues often stem from poor leadership, so this could end up being a dead end. Still, it is helpful in your case to start with them. 
• Call the Police: If the managerial staff has not taken action, the next thing you can do is report the nursing home abuse to the police. Our legal experts will note that photo evidence or clear proof will be helpful here.
• CMS: You can also report the abuse to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. 

What To Do After You Report Nursing Home Abuse 

After you have reported nursing home abuse to the authorities, you should contact an attorney specializing in nursing home abuse. They can help you take the proper steps to move the elder to a new facility or back home.

When searching for a new elder care facility in Riverview, there are some key criteria our personal injury lawyers recommend keeping an eye out for. First, the new home or care facility should be located near the family’s home so it is easier to visit and remain aware of their living conditions. With regular visits, the odds of future nursing home abuse become much more unlikely.

It should come as no surprise that overall cleanliness is incredibly important too. This is the clearest sign of how the facility is run and where its standards are. Finally, be cautious regarding a nursing home’s staff-to-patient ratio. Places that don’t invest in maintaining the proper staff tend to be problematic.

Problems That May Arise While Reporting Abuse 

Unfortunately, many problems can arise when reporting nursing home abuse since the staff is involved.

If the victim has dementia or Alzheimer’s disease, this can make it very difficult to prove neglect or abuse is taking place. Our nursing home abuse lawyers have dealt with very sad cases that dragged out that much longer due to the difficulty they faced proving the victim was not even fully aware of the abuse they were experiencing. Families with loved ones who have dementia or Alzheimer’s will need to regularly check in to maintain full awareness of their mental and physical well-being. 

Personal injury laws in Florida give you the right to react to this decisively. If you’re ready to learn exactly what you can do to protect your elderly loved ones, you should contact our law firm in Riverview.

Contact the Nursing Home Abuse Lawyers at Calandro Law 

At Calandro Law, our nursing home abuse lawyers will do everything in their power to ensure you gain the peace of mind and compensation you deserve. We’ve successfully helped other families in this situation and can help your family. If you choose to file an abuse or neglect claim in Florida, you’ll want an experienced personal injury lawyer on your side.

If you are ready to get the justice you and your family deserve, contact Calandro Law today at (813)-563-6463 to request a free legal consultation.