Melbourne Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer

There has been a renewed focus of the quality–or lack thereof–of Florida nursing home care since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Many of our state’s most vulnerable elderly residents are forced to endure substandard and often dangerous conditions in facilities that are often understaffed and poorly managed. And even the most diligent and dedicated of nursing home workers can fall prey to abusive practices that place the lives and safety of their residents at risk.

If you have a loved one in a nursing home and suspect they are the victims of abuse or neglect, you cannot–and should not–stand by silently and do nothing. An experienced Melbourne nursing home abuse lawyer can help you review the situation and advise you of the appropriate legal steps to take. At the Pendas Law Firm, we advise clients of their rights under Florida law. And we will not hesitate to take action in defense of those rights.

The Rights of All Florida’s Nursing Home Residents

Florida law guarantees certain basic rights for all residents of licensed nursing home facilities. These rights include but are not limited to:

• the right to civil and religious liberties;
• the right to private and uncensored communication with family, friends, and other visitors;
• the right to reasonable access to legal counsel, government representatives, and other health and social service providers;
• the right to present grievances to the nursing home’s staff or a government agency;
• the right to manage their own financial affairs;
• the right to refuse medication or treatment and to be informed of the consequences of such decisions;
• the right to adequate and appropriate health care and protective and support services; and
• the right to be free from mental and physical abuse, including corporal punishment, extended involuntary seclusion, and physical and chemical restraints, except where authorized for a limited amount of time by a physician or required due to medical emergency.

In short, admission to a nursing home does not strip a resident of their basic rights to be treated like a human being. A nursing care facility and its employees can be held legally liable for acts of abuse or neglect, including physical abuse, sexual abuse, depriving the resident of access to medical treatment, or stealing their money.

Contact The Pendas Law Firm Today

A significant portion of nursing home abuse goes unreported and undetected. This is often because the victimized residents lack the ability to advocate for themselves due to physical or mental infirmity. It is then left to family members, friends, or even other nursing home staff to speak up on behalf of the victim.

The signs of nursing home abuse are often fairly obvious: Unexplained injuries, bedsores, unsanitary conditions, unexplained withdrawals from the resident’s bank account, and so forth. If you do see any of these signs or any other suspicious behavior that could indicate possible abuse, it is important to say something.

A qualified Melbourne nursing home attorney can sit down with you and review your concerns. Contact the Pendas Law Firm today to schedule a consultation.