Florida Nursing Home Lawyer Blog
Making the decision to put your elderly loved one in 24-hour-care can be emotional and difficult. In Florida, families should be concerned with the quality of care being provided, as well as the potential for negligence and abuse. In a recent case, a nursing home resident who suffered from Alzheimer’s and dementia was abused by his caretakers. According to local reports, the nursing home aides were caught after the victim’s son installed hidden cameras in his room. He decided to install the cameras after he noticed unexplained bruising on his father.
The certified nursing assistants were 28 and 35-years-old, working at Palm Garden. Since the discovery of the abuse, the aids have been charged criminally, for the battery of a person over the age of 65. The two nursing assistants as well as several other staff members were suspended without pay, according to the chief operating officer of Palm Healthcare Management. Palm Healthcare Management is responsible for the hiring and oversight at the Winter Haven nursing home facility. The case is still under investigation and the aids as well as the nursing home management company could also face civil lawsuits.
According to reports, the 76-year-old nursing home patient was diagnosed with dementia and psychosis. His son installed hidden cameras in his room to help identify where the bruises were coming from. The video cameras captured the aids physically harassing the patient when they repositioned him in bed. More footage documented one of the defendants and a second employee trying to move the patient from his wheelchair to bed and the aids appeared to stomp on his feet or legs. On a separate occasion, other employees were changing the victims’ clothes when they grabbed his wrists and struggled. They pinned down the man’s legs, grabbed his wrists, and slapped him on the head. When he tried to sit up, the employees ran out of the room. Both defendants are being held without bond.
In addition to the criminal charges in this case, the nursing home aids, nursing home, as well as the management company could be held liable for the abuse and injuries. Our Fort Lauderdale nursing home abuse attorneys are committed to providing strategic and informed advocacy to victims of nursing home abuse and their loved ones. We will take a comprehensive approach to collect evidence, preserve witness statements and accounts, and ensure that all documentation is protected. In the event of abuse, it is important to consult with experienced advocates as soon as possible. Taking civil action against negligent individuals or entities can help to prevent future injuries or wrongful death.
With for-profit care centers on the rise in Florida and nationwide, patients as well as their loved ones should be concerned about the potential for injuries, including neglect, malnutrition, bedsores, falls, and physical abuse. Untrained or unscreened workers, as well as understaffing can create significant hazards for patients. If you suspect that a loved one has suffered neglect or abuse, consult with an experienced nursing home injury attorney has soon as possible.
Freeman Injury Law — 1-800-561-7777 for a free appointment to discuss your rights.
More Blog Entries:
A Silent Killer: Untreated Bedsores Can Be Lethal, June 5, 2014, Broward County Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer Blog
Alzheimer Patients Especially Vulnerable to Nursing Home Abuse, Neglect, April 15, 2014, Hollywood Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer Blog