Ford, Dean & Rotundo, P.A.Ford, Dean & Rotundo, P.A.2026-07-03T13:50:04Zhttps://www.forddean.com/feed/atom/WordPress/wp-content/uploads/sites/1103041/2023/03/cropped-fdr-site-icon-32x32.jpgOn Behalf of Ford, Dean & Rotundo, P.A.<![CDATA[Know sepsis: The silent killer in assisted living facilities]]>https://www.forddean.com/?p=509272026-07-03T13:50:04Z2026-07-03T04:00:45ZWhat causes sepsis?
Sepsis begins with an infection. The danger grows when the body reacts too strongly to that illness. Instead of fighting only harmful germs, the immune system starts to harm healthy tissue and organs. Several infections can trigger that response. Bacteria remain the most common cause, but viruses, fungi and parasites can also lead to it.
Most cases begin with pneumonia, urinary tract infections, skin wounds or problems in the digestive system. Without quick treatment, the risk may become more serious as more organs are affected. Early medical care can help slow its progression.
Why is sepsis called the silent killer?
Older adults often show different warning signs than younger people. That makes sepsis harder to spot. A 2025 research study of Florida long-term care facilities also found workforce shortages, limited infection prevention resources and uneven staff training, which can delay early recognition.
Several factors make sepsis especially difficult to detect. Some of them include:
Warning signs may seem mild. Early symptoms can appear as sudden confusion, unusual sleepiness, poor appetite or small temperature changes instead of a high fever.
Chronic health conditions can hide warning signs. Diabetes, heart disease and weakened immune systems can make infections more serious while making sepsis harder to identify early.
Common infections may seem less serious at first. Urinary tract infections and pneumonia often worsen before anyone realizes how serious the condition has become.
Small changes sometimes go unnoticed. Missed observations or slow responses to physical or behavioral changes may give an infection more time to spread.
These warning signs often resemble normal aging or dementia. As a result, families usually depend on caregivers to notice small changes before the condition becomes critical.
Protecting your parents through early action
Unusual changes deserve attention as soon as they appear. Even small shifts in appetite or behavior need prompt medical review because they can point to a dangerous infection. If those signs were missed or treatment came too late, the facts may deserve careful evaluation.
When delayed diagnosis or poor care raises concerns, legal guidance can help your family understand what happened. That review may also show whether the facility met its responsibilities and help protect your parents’ interests.]]>On Behalf of Ford, Dean & Rotundo, P.A.<![CDATA[Bedsores lead to a record jury award against a nursing home]]>https://www.forddean.com/?p=509232026-06-30T01:07:18Z2026-06-30T01:07:18ZWhat led to the lawsuit?
The family members of an 82-year-old nursing home resident were devastated to learn that their family patriarch had died. The resident went to the hospital for heart issues, which physicians quickly determined were the result of insufficient medical care. The elder man eventually died due to the medical complications he experienced.
Although the pursuit of justice is often not rapid, the family did eventually prevail in civil court years after their loss. A jury that heard the case awarded the family $14.7 million due to the tragic consequences of the undiagnosed and untreated bedsores that eventually claimed the resident's life.
Such cases highlight how important it is for grieving families to have independent medical insight and legal advocacy when residents in nursing homes suffer unnecessarily due to neglect or abuse. Families may struggle to prove that a nursing home failed to provide reasonable care. They may agree to unnecessarily low settlements. They may even struggle to collect on a judgment, especially if the facility lacks adequate insurance coverage.
Reviewing the reason for potential nursing home negligence claims with a skilled legal team can help families explore their options. Those dealing with preventable injuries, illnesses and tragedies may have grounds to take legal action.]]>On Behalf of Ford, Dean & Rotundo, P.A.<![CDATA[Did a nursing home fail to address dementia-related malnutrition?]]>https://www.forddean.com/?p=509212026-06-19T01:02:10Z2026-06-19T01:02:10ZDementia can affect appetite and independence
Older adults experiencing dementia may struggle to recognize when they are hungry. It is necessary for the staff of a nursing home to track when residents eat and to ensure they receive the minimum nutrition necessary for their health.
Particularly when an older adult struggles with dementia, self-regulated nutrition may not be a safe and sustainable practice. The facility may need to monitor their nutrition and offer supplements, possibly in the form of a feeding tube in more extreme cases.
Malnutrition can exacerbate the symptoms of dementia and worsen an older adult’s prognosis. If care providers do not ensure that older adults receive adequate nutrition despite their dementia-related challenges, the older adult may have a much more rapid decline and could also incur higher overall long-term care costs than those who receive sufficient nutrition regularly.
Given the well-known association between malnutrition and dementia onset, families could have grounds for a nursing home negligence lawsuit. Reviewing internal records can help families hold long-term care facilities responsible for failing to properly support vulnerable adults.]]>On Behalf of Ford, Dean & Rotundo, P.A.<![CDATA[How often does someone need to move to avoid bedsores?]]>https://www.forddean.com/?p=509122026-06-06T12:55:56Z2026-06-06T12:55:56Zone to two hours if someone is in a bed.
In other words, even if nursing home staff helps an elderly person change positions every single day, it may not be enough to prevent bedsores. This can lead to serious injuries, especially if they get infected, and allegations may arise that the nursing home staff was negligent as a result of this development.
Every situation is unique
Another thing to remember is that every person in a nursing home has a unique situation and their own personal health history. One person may be more susceptible to bedsores than another. For instance, someone who is in a wheelchair may need to move more frequently than someone who is in a bed. A person who can perform simple tasks on their own, such as going to the bathroom, may naturally move more often than someone who cannot.
It is important for nursing home staff to carefully analyze everyone's unique situation and to provide the type of support and care that they need accordingly. If this does not happen and it leads to serious injuries, such as the development of bedsores, family members will need to know what legal options they have to pursue compensation for medical bills, pain and suffering and more.]]>On Behalf of Ford, Dean & Rotundo, P.A.<![CDATA[What to do when your family member elopes from a care facility]]>https://www.forddean.com/?p=509092026-05-27T17:21:43Z2026-05-27T17:19:18ZRecognizing facility liability
Elopement is a term used in long-term care when a resident leaves a facility undetected. Florida law requires care facilities to protect their residents from such risk. That responsibility includes measures such as door alarms, proper staffing and care plans built around each resident's needs.
A facility may be considered negligent if it failed to meet the standard of care that a reasonable long-term care provider would have followed under similar circumstances. The central question is whether the facility was aware of the resident's risk level and whether it responded to that risk in a meaningful way.
Taking immediate action after an incident
If your family member has left a care facility without supervision, consider doing the following:
Contact law enforcement and provide a recent photo, a physical description and any relevant details about your family member
Notify the facility in writing and request an account of the incident, including when staff last saw the resident and which safety measures were in place
Record every detail as it comes — dates, staff names, conversations and your loved one's condition upon their return
Request copies of the incident report, staffing logs and your family member's care plan
Gathering these details firsthand provides a clearer picture of the event while memories are still fresh. Taking this initiative puts you in a stronger position to advocate for your loved one and determine the best next steps for their care.
Filing a complaint with state authorities
Florida families can submit a complaint through the Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program, which operates under the Department of Elder Affairs. This program looks into concerns about the quality of life and care for residents of nursing homes, assisted living facilities and adult family care homes.
You can file by phone, email or through the online portal. A local ombudsman is then assigned to look into the matter, and the program keeps the identity of the person who filed it private unless they give permission to share it.
You may also report concerns to the Agency for Health Care Administration, which licenses and regulates care facilities across the state. A report to this agency could lead to an inspection or a review of whether the facility met its obligations under state rules.
Pursuing a legal claim for resulting harm
If your loved one sustained injuries or suffered other harm after an elopement, you may have grounds to bring a civil claim against the facility. Such a claim may allow you to recover damages such as medical costs, the expense of moving to a new facility and compensation for pain and suffering. If the elopement led to a resident's death, a wrongful death claim may also be worth exploring with legal counsel.]]>On Behalf of Ford, Dean & Rotundo, P.A.<![CDATA[How CCTV footage can help prove nursing home abuse]]>https://www.forddean.com/?p=509062026-05-22T15:49:43Z2026-05-22T15:49:43ZFlorida nursing homes are required to maintain safe environments, and many facilities have extensive surveillance systems installed throughout their premises. What those cameras capture can become some of the most powerful evidence in an abuse case.
CCTV footage can document abuse in real time, like capturing a staff member striking a resident, restraining them improperly or neglecting their basic needs over extended periods. Even when cameras do not capture the abuse itself, surveillance footage can still provide valuable context. It may show who entered a resident’s room, how long staff ignored calls for assistance or whether proper safety checks were performed.Unlike witness testimony that can be disputed or contradicted, credible video evidence is difficult to dismiss. Footage clearly showing a caregiver acting outside acceptable standards of care can establish liability in a way that few other forms of evidence can match. It can also corroborate a victim's account, contradict a facility's official incident report or reveal a pattern of mistreatment that goes well beyond a single isolated incident.
Preserving the footage before it disappears
Video evidence is only useful if it still exists. Many nursing homes routinely overwrite security footage, meaning critical recordings may vanish before families realize abuse has occurred. That’s why you need to act quickly. Preserving evidence may involve sending a formal preservation letter demanding that the facility retain all relevant surveillance recordings, incident reports and electronic records connected to the abuse claim.Beyond preventing deletion, proper preservation also helps protect the integrity of the evidence. CCTV systems may contain gaps, overwritten segments or edited sections provided by the facility. Ensuring that footage is preserved in its original format can be essential in later legal proceedings, especially when authenticity is challenged.Don’t underestimate the value of legal guidance, particularly when time-sensitive evidence like CCTV recordings is involved. Proper legal intervention helps ensure that surveillance footage is preserved, authenticated and effectively used to support your claim.
]]>On Behalf of Ford, Dean & Rotundo, P.A.<![CDATA[Could bedsores cause sepsis?]]>https://www.forddean.com/?p=508962026-05-08T20:55:47Z2026-05-08T20:55:47ZYes, bedsores can lead to sepsis. These wounds can become infected, and sepsis occurs when the body overreacts to that infection. Rather than simply fighting the infection itself, the body’s immune response becomes exaggerated, and the immune system may begin attacking the body’s own tissues and organs.
Sepsis is very dangerous and requires immediate medical attention. In some cases, it can even become fatal. That is why it is so important to watch for signs of infection and understand exactly what steps to take.
When is sepsis more likely?
Sepsis is more likely anytime there is a greater risk that a person’s bedsores could become infected. For example, if someone is being neglected and the bedsores are not being properly cleaned or treated, an infection may develop.The location of the bedsores can also play a role. For instance, sores located in areas frequently exposed to urine or stool may face a higher risk of infection.Additionally, nursing home residents are often around other elderly individuals who may be dealing with infections, illnesses and other health complications of their own. If staff members are not following proper hygiene and sanitation practices, bacteria and other harmful substances may spread from one resident to another.
Addressing nursing home negligence
In all of these ways, someone living in a nursing home may face an elevated risk of developing a serious health complication like sepsis. If this occurs, the necessary medical treatment can be extremely expensive.It is important for family members to understand their legal options, especially if they believe nursing home negligence ultimately caused the bedsores and the resulting sepsis infection.
]]>On Behalf of Ford, Dean & Rotundo, P.A.<![CDATA[Professional burnout can impact nursing home care standards]]>https://www.forddean.com/?p=508922026-04-22T22:45:38Z2026-04-22T22:45:38ZWhy is nursing home worker burn out so common?
Nursing homes often schedule professionals for long shifts of between eight and 12 hours. Their wages may not be particularly competitive, and there are staffing needs 365 days a year, regardless of holiday celebrations.
Professionals at nursing homes face constant demands from their employers and the residents in their care, as well as the risk of violence from people experiencing dementia. All of that can combine to trigger professional burnout.
Professional burnout can manifest as workers cutting corners when cleaning or providing patient care. This can lead to the spread of infection or residents not getting the support they need. It can also result in nursing home workers failing to identify and promptly treat conditions that could worsen with time, including bedsores, sepsis and the early warning signs of dementia. When exhausted, burned-out professionals let their personal struggles affect the standard of care at a nursing home facility, the vulnerable residents in their care pay the price.
Families may have grounds for a nursing home negligence or abuse lawsuit when caregivers actively mistreat residents or fail to meet their needs. Keeping records of how workers behave and the standard of care at a facility can help concerned family members be effective advocates for their vulnerable loved ones.]]>On Behalf of Ford, Dean & Rotundo, P.A.<![CDATA[6 Things to Do the Second You Suspect Nursing Home Abuse in Miami]]>https://www.forddean.com/?p=508902026-04-13T13:50:56Z2026-04-11T18:15:16ZStep one: Document relevant evidence
Bruises and other visible injuries require photographs, if not medical reports, to validate the injuries an older adult sustained. Collecting medical records and any other relevant evidence can help validate claims that nursing home professionals mistreated or neglected an older adult.
Step two: Call the Florida Abuse Hotline
You can call 1-800-96-ABUSE (1-800-962-2873) or report concerns about abuse online using the Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF) digital portal.
Step three: Contact the Florida Long-Term Care Ombudsman
The Florida Long-Term Care Ombudsman is a volunteer organization that investigates complaints and advocates for the rights of those in long-term care facilities. You can notify them of your concerns by calling 1-888-831-0404 or submitting a complaint on their website here.
Step four: File a complaint with AHCA
The Florida Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) helps establish and enforce care standards across the state. Long-term care facilities must comply with baseline requirements in order to continue operating lawfully in Florida. The AHCA can investigate claims of negligent care, especially in cases where neglect could have funding eligibility implications.
Step five: Contact local law enforcement
In cases where there is evidence of physical or sexual abuse, reporting the matter to local authorities is of the utmost importance. In addition to holding the facility accountable for allowing abuse to occur, it may be possible to prosecute the individuals intentionally harming the vulnerable older adults in their care. Local law enforcement can also assist in cases involving financial abuse, including exploitation, theft and identity theft.
Step six: Consult with an elder law attorney
There are legal professionals who specifically address issues that affect older adults. Their insight can help your family manage the other five steps recommended above.
An elder law attorney can assist you at every stage of the reporting process and facilitate a lawsuit if necessary. They can provide the guidance you’ll need to understand your rights and the obligations of long-term care providers when seeking justice.]]>On Behalf of Ford, Dean & Rotundo, P.A.<![CDATA[Are frequent falls a warning sign of understaffing in nursing homes?]]>https://www.forddean.com/?p=508882026-04-06T16:59:47Z2026-04-06T16:59:47ZAs people age, falls become more frequent due to balance issues, medications or chronic health conditions. These falls are often an indicator that an elderly loved one is no longer safe living independently and that it may be time for nursing home placement.
That’s the primary reason why families become upset when the falls continue to occur. And while some of those falls may be avoidable, they can sometimes point to the larger problem of understaffing.
Why falls are a serious concern
For an older adult, a simple fall can result in broken hips, head injuries or other serious complications that may require hospitalization or long-term care. According to JMIR Aging, elderly people with hip fractures have a significantdecrease in survival, often dying within one year of their injury.Adequate staffing is critical in nursing homes. Residents rely on staff to help them get out of bed, walk to the bathroom or transfer to a wheelchair. Staff members must be available to monitor residents and respond to their needs. When there are too few caregivers on duty, important tasks may be overlooked or delayed. Understaffing can contribute to falls in several ways:
Delayed response times: Once the resident presses the call button for help, it may take a staff member longer to respond. The resident attempts to walk on their own and falls.
Lack of supervision: Residents are assessed upon arrival at the nursing home. Residents at high risk of falls often require close monitoring. Supervision can suffer when caregivers are responsible for too many residents.
Improper transfers: Moving a resident from a bed to a wheelchair or assisting them while walking may require more than one caregiver, especially when the resident is bariatric. When staffing levels are low, staff may attempt to handle these tasks alone, increasing the risk of injury to the staff person and the resident.
It’s easy to dismiss frequent falls as “just a part of aging,” but if your loved one is experiencingrepeated falls, it may be worth taking a look at the circumstances. If you suspect understaffing may be contributing to your loved one’s falls, you may want to explore your legal options as well as consider reporting your concerns to the Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA).
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