Citrus County Injury Attorney Blog
Citrus County ALF Elder Neglect Attorneys Whittel & Melton
Retirement homes, nursing homes, and assisted living facilities (ALFs) are places we should be able to trust our loved one’s care with. Each year, millions of American families place those near and dear to their hearts in the hands of these facilities for short-term and long-term care. We hold these places responsible for making sure our loved ones needs are met. The truth is, though, many of these facilities are not living up to our standards of care. Even worse, many of these facilities abuse and neglect the residents left in their care.
If you even just suspect that maybe someone you love is being abused or mistreated, do not wait to speak with a Citrus County Nursing Home Negligence Lawyer at Whittel & Melton. If you think you have an assisted living facility abuse claim, call us right away at 352-726-0078.
What Constitutes Nursing Home Neglect or ALF Abuse?
Abuse and neglect in nursing homes is a real problem. An ALF or nursing home should be a safe haven for the elderly, sick and injured to reside. The environment is no longer safe when residents are neglected and/or abused. Elderly mistreatment can take many different forms, including:
- Verbal abuse
- Emotional abuse
- Physical abuse
- Sexual abuse
- Neglect
- Errors with prescriptions and medication doses
- Not administering rehab or therapy when needed
- Exploiting residents for money
- Medical malpractice
- Healthcare fraud
Why Does Abuse or Neglect Happen?
Sadly, many of these cases can be chalked up to overworked staff, inadequate training of team members, and staff shortages. Whatever the excuse, neglect or abuse should never be tolerated. This is where our team of dedicated attorneys can step in and help. We will investigate the facts of you or your loved one’s case and do everything in our power to achieve justice on your behalf. While we can’t take back what has been done, we can help you move forward and hold the facility accountable for their negligence so that no one else suffers any harm.
What Are Signs of Abuse?
There are many behavioral signs that your loved ones may show if they are being neglected or abused in a nursing home or ALF. Some of the most common signs of abuse include:
- Bruising – this includes bruising in abnormal places or unexplained bruises.
- Dehydration
- Malnutrition
- Broken bones
- Pale complexion
- Bed sores
- Excessive weight loss
- Poor hygiene
- Unusual personality traits
- Missing personal items
- Unexplained falls, cuts, scrapes, etc.
Other signs to look for at a nursing home or ALF that may indicate abuse or neglect include unattended residents/patients roaming around, filthy conditions including the presence of bugs and rodents, and lack of proper heating and cooling systems in place.
Contact Us Today For a Free Consultation – 352-726-0078
The best thing you can do to ensure the health and safety of a loved one living in a nursing home or ALF is to discuss their care with them. Make observations when you visit and ask your loved one about anything that seems suspicious to you. Be direct and ask if they are being abused or suffering in any way from staff member abuse. Let them tell you about their living conditions when you are not there.
Even if your loved one has not openly discussed abuse or neglect with you, if you have witnessed any wrongdoing or suspect that they are being mistreated or abused, get help right away. When your loved one’s health is at risk, it is never a good idea to hesitate or delay. Call us today at 352-726-0078 to schedule your free consultation. We can begin helping you immediately.
If you cannot come to us, we can come to you. We help nursing home abuse and ALF elder neglect victims throughout Citrus County, including Inverness, Crystal River, Beverly Hills, Lecanto, Homosassa, Dunnellon, Hernando, Sugarmill Woods, Citrus Springs and Floral City.