Abuse and neglect can take a variety of different forms at nursing homes and medical facilities, and unfortunately, medical malpractice and negligent care are common in facilities for the elderly. In addition, serious crimes are sometimes committed against senior citizens, such as physical, sexual or mental abuse or financial exploitation. If you have a relative or friend living in a nursing home or medical facility, the thought of this type of treatment is beyond horrifying.
Elder abuse is especially prevalent in, and is of much concern to, the State of Florida. Since Florida has such a large elderly population, there are ample opportunities for nursing home abuse and neglect to occur. Florida even has its own Department of Elder Affairs and an elder abuse hotline, which are intended to address this very serious problem. Seniors frequently fail to report nursing home and medical facility abuse, because they are fearful of the repercussions, or out of sheer embarrassment. An elderly person may not know that he or she is being abused until it is too late. This occurs, especially, in cases of financial exploitation or fraud. In cases of physical and sexual abuse, victims fail to report wrongdoings because they feel a tremendous about of shame and helplessness. It is of utmost importance that relatives and friends of elderly people recognize some of the most common indicators of elder abuse.
The signs of nursing home and medical facility abuse and neglect can be subtle. If your elderly relative or friend has experienced instances of dehydration, wandering, unexplained injuries, frequent falls, or bed sores, he or she may be a victim of neglect or abuse in his or her nursing home or medical facilities. You should also be mindful of your elderly relative’s or friend’s demeanor. A radical change in personality could be the result of mental abuse or berating by nursing home or medical facility staff. Nursing home and medical facility abuse is very diverse in the legal world. When an elderly person is abused, personal injury law, contract law, medical malpractice law, and sometimes criminal law can be implicated.
If you suspect that an elderly relative or friend has been abused or neglected in a nursing home or medical facility, call us at Del Amo Law. Legal action could help stop a facility’s abusive practices and your elderly relative or friend may be entitled to compensation for his or her injury. If your relative or friend died as a direct result of medical neglect, abuse, or malpractice, your family could be entitled to wrongful death damages. Call us at Del Amo Law, where our lawyers can speak with you about whether you could possibly be entitled to compensation for your injury. You can reach our office at 305-443-7005 or toll-free at 888-447-7005.
