Miami Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer - Your Loved One Deserves Better

Nursing home abuse takes many forms. Families should be aware of the different types of abuse that can occur in residential care facilities:

Physical Abuse

Physical abuse includes hitting, pushing, slapping, restraining, or any use of force that causes bodily harm to a resident. Signs include unexplained bruises, fractures, burns, and injuries in various stages of healing. Overuse of physical or chemical restraints also constitutes physical abuse.

Emotional and Psychological Abuse

Verbal abuse, threats, intimidation, humiliation, isolation from family and other residents, and ignoring a resident's needs are forms of emotional abuse. Victims may become withdrawn, depressed, anxious, or fearful - particularly around certain staff members.

Neglect

Neglect is the most common form of nursing home abuse. It occurs when a facility fails to provide the basic care a resident needs - adequate food and water, hygiene assistance, medication management, mobility assistance, and treatment of medical conditions. Bedsores (pressure ulcers), malnutrition, dehydration, and untreated infections are hallmarks of neglect.

Financial Exploitation

Financial exploitation involves the unauthorized use of a resident's funds, property, or assets. This can include forging signatures, stealing personal belongings, coercing changes to wills or financial documents, and charging for services not provided.

Sexual Abuse

Any non-consensual sexual contact with a nursing home resident constitutes sexual abuse. Residents with cognitive impairments, such as dementia, are particularly vulnerable because they may be unable to report abuse or give consent.

Common Causes of Nursing Home Abuse

Most nursing home abuse and neglect is not the result of a single "bad actor." It is typically caused by systemic failures within the facility:

• Understaffing - Facilities that do not employ enough nurses and aides to meet residents' needs. When staff are overwhelmed, care suffers - medications are missed, call lights go unanswered, and residents are not repositioned to prevent bedsores.
• Inadequate training - Staff who are not properly trained in patient care, fall prevention, infection control, and recognizing signs of abuse.
• Failure to screen employees - Facilities that do not conduct thorough background checks may hire staff with histories of abuse or criminal conduct.
• Poor management and oversight - Lack of supervision, failure to enforce care protocols, and prioritizing profits over patient care.
• Failure to follow care plans - Each resident should have an individualized care plan. Failure to follow it can constitute neglect.

How We Investigate Nursing Home Abuse Cases

Nursing home abuse cases require thorough investigation. Our attorneys take the following steps:

1. Review the resident's medical records, care plans, and medication logs
2. Obtain and analyze AHCA inspection reports and deficiency citations
3. Review the facility's staffing records and employee files
4. Interview witnesses, including other residents, family members, and current or former staff
5. Consult with medical experts to establish causation and the standard of care
6. Preserve and review security camera footage when available

Our Miami personal injury lawyers also handle medical malpractice cases that may overlap with nursing home neglect claims.