Finding the right health care facility in Florida for those needing around-the-clock attention is getting more difficult by the day. Nursing homes are typically over-populated with residents and under-staffed at the same time, which often does not bode well for those receiving care. Problems vary widely ranging from inadequate time devoted to each resident to completely failing to provide basic amenities like taking a bath. Each case is unique in some regard, but many of them fall into similar categories when claims of abuse require investigation.
The problem with starting an investigation in the current healthcare climate is that there can be legal hurdles that nursing home companies use to their own advantage. Many states have suspended regular inspections of nursing homes while at the same time families are denied an opportunity to visit with their interned family members. And this can be a deadly combination in a general nursing care network of for-profit nursing homes. In fact, practically the only people who can inspect the care facilities are elder abuse attorneys who are retained by families who think something nefarious is happening to their loved ones.
And some state legislatures have compounded the problem by giving nursing home corporations exemption from some types of liability for substandard care. This all spells trouble for the elderly community who are prime targets for the spreading of disease during this time. Experienced Florida elder abuse attorneys understand this dilemma because they deal with these issues on a daily basis.
Even when a family is not sure whether abuse is occurring to their family members in these suspect nursing homes, it is always best to discuss the potential problem with a senior abuse attorney who understands the signs of possible mistreatment of patients. This is true regardless of the level of care necessary to help the residents function on a daily basis. What people may see externally may not be exactly what is happening for those needing acute care.
The best advice for these families is simple. It is better to err on the side of caution than to let the nursing facility deny visitation with their loved ones. Contacting a nursing home abuse attorney in Florida is never a bad decision, and an attorney can request a court order to inspect any facility for potential abuse and liability issues.
