Sumter County, Florida Nursing Home Abuse Attorney

Handling nursing home and assisted living facility claims in Bushnell, Center Hill, Coleman, Webster, Wildwood and The Villages

When you choose a nursing home or assisted living facility for your elderly loved one, you trust that the organization will live up to its duty to enforce a high standard of safety and care. Nursing homes and assisted living facilities have a duty of care to make sure that those housed in their facilities receive support and maintenance. Nursing home abuse is unacceptable and against the law. When negligence or abuse happens, fortunately there is something you can do.

Sadly, many nursing homes and assisted living facilities are notorious for placing profits over people, which can lead to neglect and abuse. Our Sumter County Nursing Home Negligence and Abuse Attorneys at Whittel & Melton are here to help you get the answers you need to put an end to your loved one’s suffering and hold the facility responsible for their horrific actions.

What are the Signs of Nursing Home or Assisted Living Facility Neglect or Abuse?

Seniors are vulnerable members of our society and can be abused or taken advantage of in many ways. Any of the following symptoms and signs may indicate abuse or neglect is happening at a nursing home or assisted living facility:

• Lack of supervision, residents wandering around, or insufficient staffing levels
• Bedsores, ulcers, and other skin infections
• Slip and falls or trip and falls that result in broken bones, fractures, or other injuries
• Malnutrition, unnecessary weight loss, or dehydration
• Medication errors by staff

If you have any reason to believe that your loved one is suffering from nursing home abuse or neglect, there are certain red flags to keep an eye out for. Unexplained bruises, welts, or scars on your loved one could point to physical abuse. Emotional abuse may cause your loved one to have unusual behavior. Listen for any threats, mean or hurtful language, or controlling behavior by the caretaker as these can all be signs of emotional abuse. Signs of sexual abuse may include unexplained STDs or infections as well as bruising on or near the genitals. Signs of financial abuse include unexpected changes to a will, unusual ATM withdrawals, and missing cash or valuables from your loved one’s room. Neglect can be quite common in nursing homes and assisted living facilities. Some signs of neglect are dirty or unclean rooms. Bedsores can also indicate neglect as these occur when a resident is left for too long in one position. If your loved ones are not being bathed on a regular basis, then this is also a form of caregiver neglect.

What if my Loved One is not Getting Adequate Nutrition?

One of the legal requirements of nursing homes and assisted living facilities is to provide proper nutrition and hydration to residents. The most common forms of nursing home neglect or abuse are poor diet and lack of water. With that said, look out for these signs if you suspect your loved one may be suffering from malnutrition:

• Clothes fitting looser than usual
• Cracks around the mouth
• Lips that are pale
• Dentures that no longer fit
• Thinning or sparse hair
• Wounds that won’t heal
• Confusion
• Sunken eyes
• Unexplained weight loss

There are various health problems associated with malnutrition and dehydration, which include:

• Higher risk of contracting infections, illnesses, and viruses
• Confusion
• Muscle weakness
• Bedsores or ulcers
• Pneumonia

Nursing homes should be providing their residents with well-balanced, palatable meals. If you are currently choosing a nursing home or assisted living facility for your loved one, you can ask to sample a meal from the facility. You may also wish to speak with the staff dietician about how they choose their meal plans for the facility.

Coronavirus in Sumter County Nursing Homes and Assisted Living Facilities

COVID-19 has hit nursing homes and assisted living facilities hard, resulting in many illnesses and deaths. Here are the facilities in Sumter County that have reported cases of coronavirus:

1. BUFFALO CROSSING HEALTHCARE AND REHABILITATION CENTER

3875 Wedgewood Ln, The Villages, FL 32162

1 Positive Resident Transferred and 7 Positive Staff Members

2. OSPREY POINT NURSING CENTER

1104 N Main St, Bushnell, FL 33513

2 Positive Residents Transferred

1 Total Verified Deaths including 1 Resident Death

Contact Us in Sumter County Today

This is a difficult time for everyone, but having a loved one in a nursing home or assisted living facility only gives you one more very serious thing to worry about. This can be mentally and emotionally taxing as all you can do is worry since you cannot visit your loved ones right now to check on them and make sure they are being given appropriate care.

During this crisis, our Sumter County Nursing Home Negligence and Abuse Attorneys at Whittel & Melton are here to answer your questions. If your loved one has received a confirmed positive COVID-19 diagnosis or has been exposed to a known or suspected outbreak at a nursing home or assisted living facility in Bushnell, Center Hill, Coleman, Webster, Wildwood or The Villages, we can help you understand what steps to take next. We welcome you to contact us today online or call 352-793-9390 for a no pressure, no risk and no fees attached consultation.