Nursing Home Abuse Attorney in Opa Locka, FL

Elder abuse in the United States is all too common. Unfortunately, it is one of the most under-reported types of abuse. It is also under-studied.

The National Council on Aging defines elder abuse as “physical abuse, emotional abuse, sexual abuse, exploitation, neglect, and abandonment.”

It is tough to read that definition and think about any of that happening to the people we love. In a nursing home setting, we have entrusted the care of our elderly family members to trained staff – the people we last expect to harm them.

Physical abuse can include both intentionally and unintentionally harming our loved ones. Sometimes, nursing home staff hit elderly residents out of malice and frustration. Other times, they are rough with them when performing routine duties like bathing and feeding.

Emotional abuse includes verbal assaults, threats of abuse, intimidation, and harassment.

Neglect can include not giving a resident their medications, not feeding them on a regular schedule, not bathing them regularly, and not tending to wounds appropriately.

Financial abuse can mean that the nursing home staff has used a resident’s sensitive information to steal their identity or gain access to their finances. This can also include billing a resident’s insurance for procedures that are never performed.

Sexual abuse includes touching, fondling, intercourse, or other sexual activity when the resident does not consent or does not understand what is going on. This is one of the worst kinds of abuse that can happen in a nursing home.

Some studies show that one in 10 elders report emotional, physical, or sexual abuse.

The US population is trending older, with the number of Americans projected to more than double from 46 million today to over 98 million in 2060. This will certainly mean that there will be more nursing homes needed to care for our older relatives. The time to get nursing home abuse under control is now, not later.

Your Next Steps

The moment you suspect that your loved one has been abused, contact the police. Ensure that the emergency is taken care of, then contact the Dante Law Firm, P.A.. Our nursing home abuse attorneys will work to ensure your family is compensated for any damages and injuries caused by a nursing home and their staff. You can contact us by clicking here or calling 305-949-2526 for a free consultation.