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If you have concerns about nursing home abuse, you should not ignore them. Neglect and abuse are pervasive issues in Florida’s nursing homes, and every year, numerous residents suffer at the hands of their caretakers. If your loved one has been abused, there are steps you can take immediately, and you can hire an experienced Fort Myers nursing home abuse attorney at Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A. to help you at no out-of-pocket cost to your family.

Nursing home abuse can take many different forms. If you have concerns about any form of abuse, it will be worth reaching out to an experienced attorney to help. This article provides an overview of some of the telltale signs of abuse in nursing homes—but, if you have concerns for other reasons, do not hesitate to consult a nursing home abuse attorney promptly for those issues as well.

Telltale Signs of Resident Abuse in Florida’s Nursing Homes

The term “nursing home abuse” does not have a strict definition. Rather, this is a broad term that covers numerous different forms of mistreatment in the nursing home setting, including both harmful acts (i.e., hitting or kicking) and harmful omissions (i.e., failure to help immobile residents).

With this in mind, as a family member of a nursing home resident, there are many telltale signs of which you should be aware. If you witness any of these signs, an experienced Fort Myers nursing home abuse attorney at Spivey Law Firm can help you decide what steps to take on your loved one’s behalf:

Physical Abuse

Physical abuse can involve hitting, kicking, pushing, tripping, and any other form of intentional physical harm. It can also involve the use of physical restraints and other forms of physical punishment (punishment is not appropriate in any circumstances). Some of the telltale signs of physical abuse in nursing homes include:

• Bruises
• Burns
• Fractured or dislocated bones
• Lacerations or scars
• Other signs of physical trauma
• Residents fearing certain caregivers or staff members
• Questionable explanations of the cause of residents’ physical injuries

Sexual Abuse

Any form of nonconsensual sexual conduct or any other form of unwanted sexual interaction can constitute sexual abuse in the nursing home setting. This includes everything from nonconsensual touching and intercourse to showing residents sexually explicit photos or videos. Some of the telltale signs of sexual abuse in nursing homes include:

• Changes in mood
• Emotional withdrawal
• Injuries in the genital region
• Residents fearing certain caregivers or staff members
• Residents being unwilling to discuss what happened to them
• Sexually transmitted diseases
• Symptoms of anxiety or depression

Emotional Abuse

Nursing home residents can suffer emotional abuse either independently or in conjunction with one or more of the other types of abuse discussed in this article. Yelling at residents, berating residents, and calling residents names or slurs are all forms of emotional abuse, as are things like withholding basic necessities and putting residents in fear for their safety. Some of the telltale signs of emotional abuse in nursing homes include:

• Anxiety
• Changes in mood
• Depression
• Emotional withdrawal
• Loss of appetite
• Not wanting to be left alone
• Fear

Neglect

All nursing homes in Florida have a legal duty to meet their residents’ basic needs. When a nursing home fails to meet a resident’s basic needs—whether intentionally or due to negligence, understaffing, or other issues—this constitutes neglect. Some of the telltale signs of neglect in nursing homes include:

• Bed sores (pressure ulcers)
• Inability to obtain information about a resident’s care or health
• Preventable injuries
• Symptoms of dehydration
• Unexplained weight loss (or other symptoms of malnutrition)
• Unsanitary living conditions
• Unused medications

Abandonment

Abandonment is a severe form of neglect. Neglect is classified as abandonment when it involves leaving an aging resident without the care or support he or she needs for an extended period of time. Similar to other forms of neglect, whether abandonment is intentional or inadvertent, there is no excuse, and residents who suffer physical or psychological harm deserve much better. Some of the telltale signs of abandonment in nursing homes include:

• Bedsores and other injuries that have been left untreated
• Elopement (leaving the nursing home unsupervised)
• Lack of personal hygiene
• Symptoms of dehydration and malnutrition
• Unsanitary living conditions
• Unused medications
• Other signs that the resident and the resident’s living conditions have been ignored

While these are some of the most common signs of abuse in nursing homes, this list is not exhaustive. If you have concerns about an aging loved one’s safety, security, or wellbeing in a Florida nursing home for any reason, you should contact Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A. promptly.

What To Do if You Have Concerns About Abuse in a Florida Nursing Home

For family members who have concerns about nursing home abuse, it is important not to wait to seek help. Abuse and neglect typically are not one-time events, and, in any scenario, they can have serious and long-term consequences. An experienced Fort Myers nursing home abuse attorney at Spivey Law Firm can help you understand your family’s legal options and make informed decisions, and we strongly recommend speaking with an attorney right away.

Schedule a Free Consultation with Fort Myers Nursing Home Abuse Attorney Randall L. Spivey

For over three decades, Attorney Randall L. Spivey has practiced law in Florida. He is a Board-Certified Civil Trial Attorney by the Florida Bar Association, where less than 1% of all attorneys in Florida are Board Certified in Civil Trial Law. He is also rated by Martindale-Hubbell as a Preeminent Attorney, which is the highest level for professional excellence and the highest level of skill and integrity. Randall L. Spivey is also recognized as a Florida Super Lawyer for attaining a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement by Super Lawyers magazine. Further, Randall L. Spivey has been selected as a Top 100 Trial Lawyers, an honor given to only a select group of lawyers for their superior skills and qualifications in the field.

Do you have concerns about abuse in a Florida nursing home? If so, we encourage you to contact Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A. promptly for a free consultation. To speak with Fort Myers nursing home abuse attorney Randall L. Spivey in confidence as soon as possible, please call us at 239-337-7483 or toll-free at 888-477-4839 or tell us how we can reach you online at SpiveyLaw.com today.