Nursing Homes / Assisted Living Facilities

Most nursing homes and assisted living facilities in the Jacksonville area treat their residents with respect and dignity while making sure their medical and basic needs are met. Others, unfortunately, provide below average treatment and care for their residents. Even worse, some nursing homes and assisted living facilities in Jacksonville are guilty of nursing home abuse and neglect. The most common results of nursing home neglect and abuse include pressure sores, infections, failure to diagnose medical conditions, sexual abuse, falls, malnutrition and dehydration.

Nursing home abuse and neglect is on the rise throughout the nation as the elderly population continues to increase. According to the National Center on Elder Abuse, 36 percent of the country’s nursing homes have violated elder abuse laws. Florida, with its large senior citizen population, is particularly vulnerable to nursing home abuse and neglect.

There are fifty-four nursing homes in the Jacksonville metro area and towns such as Orange Park, St. Augustine, Fernandina Beach, Macclenny and Ponte Vedra. While most of the time, these facilities provide appropriate care, nursing home neglect and abuse does occur. Florida’s Agency for Health Care Administration ranks nursing homes every year in its Nursing Home Guide. The most recent report shows that many Jacksonville nursing homes ranked low in critical areas, such as quality of care, quality of life, administration, providing appropriate hydration and nutrition, and treating residents with respect and dignity. In fact, nearly one-third of the nursing homes in the city of Jacksonville received a one-star inspection rating – the lowest rating possible on a five-star scale.

Why does nursing home abuse and neglect occur? Many nursing homes are understaffed and therefore are unable to spend the necessary amount of time with residents. The National Center on Elder Abuse reports that 91 percent of the country’s nursing homes have inadequate staff to properly care for their residents. Because many nursing homes residents suffer from dementia or Alzheimer’s, many cases of nursing home and neglect go unreported.

How can you tell if your loved one is suffering from nursing home abuse or neglect? Visit frequently and look for signs of nursing home abuse or neglect, such as sudden changes in disposition, bruising, withdrawing emotionally, or unexplained fevers or illness. Make it your job to question medical staff regularly to ensure your loved one is getting the care they deserve.

Nursing home neglect and abuse cases are subject to a strict statutory process, much the same way as are medical negligence claims. Because of this, it is important to hire a firm with experience in nursing home and medical negligence claims. In addition, because it is important to hire well qualified experts to prove how the nursing home failed to provide adequate care, a law firm should have the resources available to thoroughly prosecute the claim. At The Lawrence Law Group, P.A., we have both the experience and resources to vindicate residents' rights.

Contact us for a free consultation. If we, as Jacksonville Nursing home abuse lawyers, accept your case, you will pay us nothing unless we make a recovery for you.