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Tampa Nursing Home Neglect Lawyers
Accomplished representation when nursing homes fail to keep their residents safe and healthy
Nursing homes are required to understand the types of physical, emotional, and cognitive challenges their residents will face on a daily basis. Nursing Homes should understand what federal and Florida laws regulate nursing home safety. At MattLaw, we have more than 35 years of experience fighting for personal injury victims, including nursing home residents. Our Tampa nursing home neglect lawyers represent residents who suffer physical abuse, sexual abuse, bedsores, infections, and other types of harm due to neglect.
Founding partner Matt Powell is a Board-Certified Civil Trial Lawyer by the Florida Bar and holds several other trial advocacy board certifications. His team has the experience and working relationships with nursing home professionals, elder care doctors, and other experts to show why nursing homes should be responsible for neglect and what compensation residents deserve for their injuries and trauma. Call our nursing home lawyers to protect your loved one’s future.
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- How often does nursing home neglect occur?
- What is nursing home neglect?
- What type of harm does nursing home neglect cause in Tampa?
- What are the signs a nursing home resident is suffering due to neglect in Tampa?
- What are the causes of nursing home neglect in Tampa?
- What is the value of a nursing home neglect claim in Florida?
- Do you have a Tampa nursing home neglect lawyer near me?
How often does nursing home neglect occur?
According to SeniorLiving.org, in nursing homes, the most common type of misconduct is physical abuse, followed by neglect and psychological abuse. SeniorLiving.org states that according to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), in 2023, nursing homes received 94,499 health citations.
What is nursing home neglect?
The Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1987 defines nursing home neglect as the “failure to provide goods and services necessary to avoid physical harm, mental anguish, or mental illness.”
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) defines elder care neglect as the failure [of a nursing home] to provide for a resident’s basic needs. These needs include shelter, food, clothing, hygiene, medications, and other types of medical care.
At MattLaw, our lawyers handle all types of nursing home neglect, including the following:
- Dehydration and malnutrition
- Poor hygiene
- Failing to prevent falls
- Isolation of a resident
- The use of physical or chemical restraints
- Failing to prevent physical abuse, sexual abuse, bedsores, and infections
- Failing to monitor residents with dementia, Alzheimer’s, and other cognitive challenges
- Delays in stroke care
- Other types of incompetent medical care
- Failing to monitor a resident’s ability to tend to their other essential health needs – known as self-neglect
- Wandering within the building
- Being forgotten
Nursing home neglect also includes failing to create and implement programs to care for residents who have any type of cognitive impairment, including Alzheimer’s and dementia.
What type of harm does nursing home neglect cause in Tampa?
MattLaw advocates for nursing home residents who suffer any of the following health disorders due to neglect:
- Fall injuries. Most seniors and disabled nursing home residents already have mobility challenges before they become residents. Many already use walkers or canes, or need to walk with caution. Our Tampa nursing home neglect lawyers represent residents who suffer the following types of injuries due to falls:
- Broken bones. Residents can fracture their arms, legs, hips, and other body parts due to falls.
- Traumatic brain injuries and head trauma. Residents who lose their balance can injure their heads when they hit the ground or any furniture.
- Bedsores/Pressure ulcers. Bedsores are a known danger to residents of nursing homes. The nursing home staff needs to regularly ensure that residents, even residents with serious mobility problems, move or are moved so bedsores don’t occur and don’t worsen.
- Bowel and bladder injuries. Nursing home neglect can cause constipation, incontinence, and other bowel and bladder difficulties.
- Infections. Nursing homes in Tampa need to understand the symptoms of many different types of infections, including bedsore infections, urinary tract infections, and other infections. They also need to properly diagnose and treat these infections when they occur. Improper treatment can lead to sepsis, which can be fatal.
- Scabies. This health disorder involves mites that infest the skin. Scabies is very contagious. Nursing homes need to ensure that their facilities are clean so this disease doesn’t spread.
- Strokes. Delays in recognizing a Tampa nursing home resident is having a stroke and arranging for immediate emergency stroke care can be fatal or cause catastrophic harm.
- Abuse. Nursing home neglect includes failing to prevent physical abuse, psychological abuse, sexual abuse, and emotional abuse.
- Fatalities. MattLaw files wrongful death claims on behalf of the family members when nursing home neglect is fatal.
What are the signs a nursing home resident is suffering due to neglect in Tampa?
The nursing home medical staff, family members, and friends should all take the time to notice if a resident shows any of the following signs of neglect:
- Difficulty walking, especially if the difficulty seems to be getting worse than usual
- Poor hygiene, which includes not being bathed, dressed, groomed, or brushing their teeth
- Emotional and mental health signs, which include withdrawal, fear, anger, depression, anxiety, and non-engagement in social activities
- Indications that the resident is not eating well or consuming enough liquids
- Unexplained physical injuries
- Difficulty communicating
- Lack of attention to their daily needs
What are the causes of nursing home neglect in Tampa?
Our Tampa nursing home neglect lawyers have the experience and working relationships with nursing home professionals to show that your loved one’s neglect is due to any of the following causes:
- Understaffing. Many types of neglect occur because nursing homes take on too many residents or fail to have enough staff members for the residents they do have.
- Lack of competency. Nursing homes should understand what qualifications each staff member has and which medical providers they need to employ. Long-term care facilities should ensure that their staff members receive the training they need to keep current with their job duties, including training for caring for residents with cognitive difficulties.
- Failure to conduct background checks. Nursing homes in Tampa should conduct background checks of their employees to ensure there are no worrisome complaints or disciplinary actions involving prospective applicants.
- Failure to create and implement policies and procedures to prevent/minimize neglect. There should be overall safety plans for the entire facility. There should also be individual care plans for each resident.
- Lack of compliance with federal and state nursing home laws. We hold nursing homes liable for neglect when the facilities fail to comply with the relevant regulations, such as respecting the rights each resident has according to federal and state laws.
Our lawyers also work with the Florida Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program. This program advocates for the rights of nursing home residents and other long-term care residents.
We file nursing home claims against every responsible party, including the nursing home, nursing home staff, physicians, and other responsible parties.
What is the value of a nursing home neglect claim in Florida?
At MattLaw, we understand how each day of good health is precious for nursing home residents - and how each day of bad health robs your loved one of part of their life. We work with your loved one’s doctors, and our network of elder care and disability care doctors to verify your loved one’s injuries, determine what medical care can help, and understand how their injuries are affecting every part of their lives.
We demand compensation from neglectful nursing homes for the residents’ current and future:
- Medical costs, including emergency care, hospital stays, surgeries, physician visits, rehabilitative therapy, medications, and assistive devices
- Physical pain and emotional suffering
- Inability to enjoy life’s pleasures
- Loss of bodily function
- Any financial damages
We also file wrongful death claims if nursing home care in Tampa is fatal.
Do you have a Tampa nursing home neglect lawyer near me?
MattLaw meets nursing home residents and family members at our Tampa, Florida office, located at 304 S Plant Ave., Tampa, FL 33606. Our lawyers also conduct conversations by phone and through online conferences such as Zoom. If your loved one cannot travel, we can make arrangements to see your family member at their nursing home, your home, or an alternate location.
Our lawyers are prepared to answer all your questions and guide you and your loved one step-by-step through this difficult time.
Talk with our respected nursing home neglect lawyers now
Most nursing home residents already have physical and mental health problems. Many have cognitive challenges. Any additional suffering due to neglect can be unbearable. At MattLaw, we hold nursing homes and any other responsible parties accountable for preventing your loved one from enjoying their life to the fullest. At MattLaw, we’ve obtained more than $250 million for our personal injury clients. Call our Tampa nursing home neglect lawyers or fill out our contact form to schedule a free consultation. We handle nursing home neglect claims on a contingency fee basis.