Sarasota Nursing Home Abuse Attorneys: Protecting Your Loved Ones from Neglect and Mistreatment
When you chose a nursing home, you expected that the facility would treat your loved one with the care, attention, and respect that they deserve. If you suspect that the facility has failed to meet those basic expectations, leading to serious physical and emotional harm, it’s crucial to seek help immediately.
At Buckman, Buckman & Castellano, P.A., our legal team is here to support you. Since 1998, we have been providing skilled and aggressive legal representation to families confronting nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and home health aides who have mistreated their loved ones. You will work directly with an experienced lawyer who will take immediate steps to protect your loved one and pursue the compensation your family is due.
Contact us today for a free and confidential consultation.
How Do You Recognize Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect?
Unfortunately, your loved one may be unable to report abuse or neglect. They might suffer from conditions like Alzheimer’s disease, making it impossible for them to communicate what has happened. In other cases, they may stay silent out of fear of retaliation.
Look for potential signs of nursing home abuse and neglect, such as:
Physical Abuse:
- Flinching when in the presence of staff members or other residents
- Bruises, cuts, or other marks with similar shapes and patterns
- Friction burns on the ankles or wrists (possibly from restraints)
- Symptoms that indicate improper medication administration, possibly due to theft—a growing problem in Florida nursing homes
Emotional Abuse:
- Sudden onset of anxiety or depression
- Withdrawn, silent, or unusual behavior
- Avoidance of certain staff members or fellow home residents
- Difficulty with sleeping
Sexual Abuse:
- Bruises or marks in the breast, buttock, or genital areas
- Vaginal or anal bleeding
- Development of a sexually transmitted disease
- Avoidance of certain staff members or other residents
- Other behavioral changes
Neglect:
- Lack of hygiene or proper personal care
- Unwashed clothes and bedding
- Signs of dehydration such as dry, flaky skin
- Signs of malnutrition such as weight loss
- Injuries from falls
Financial exploitation can also occur when an elderly loved one lives in a nursing home or assisted living facility, or if they receive care from a home health aide. Suspicious bank activity or missing items such as jewelry or other valuables should raise red flags.
What Should You Do If You Suspect Nursing Home Abuse?
If you have any reason to suspect that your loved one has suffered abuse or neglect in a nursing home in Sarasota or elsewhere in Florida, take action immediately. If you believe that they face an imminent threat of harm, call 911. Otherwise, consider these steps:
- File a Report with the Facility:
- Report the abuse or neglect to the facility’s administrator. Document the date of your report and the nature of the mistreatment.
- Report the Abuse to State Officials:
- If the facility ignores or fails to address your concerns, report the abuse to the Florida Abuse Hotline at 1-800-96-ABUSE or file a report online at the Florida Department of Children and Families website.
- Contact a Lawyer:
- Don’t wait to contact Buckman, Buckman & Castellano, P.A. We will protect your loved one and guide you through the process of reporting the suspected abuse or neglect. Our North Port abuse claim lawyer is here to ensure your family gets the legal support it deserves during this difficult time.
Why Should You Hire a Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer?
Law enforcement officers, as well as state and federal officials, can investigate reported nursing home abuse and neglect. Their investigations may result in fines, changes in the home’s policies, or, in severe cases, the closure of the facility. However, these actions do not address compensation for the medical expenses, physical pain, emotional distress, and other harm that your loved one and your family have endured. You need an attorney to pursue these issues.
At Buckman, Buckman & Castellano, P.A., we will provide skilled legal representation and highly personalized attention. We will explore all legal options to pursue the best possible outcome for your family, including recovering just compensation for your damages.
When you work with our nursing home abuse attorneys, you can expect:
- Personalized Attention: You will meet face-to-face with a knowledgeable and compassionate attorney from our firm at the start of your case. Your attorney will also provide regular updates, return your calls, and answer all your questions.
- Thorough Investigation: We conduct independent investigations, review documents such as the admission agreement, care plan, facility records, and medical records. We may also review video evidence and interview witnesses. In your loved one’s case, we may identify factors like:
- Negligent hiring, training, and supervision
- Inadequate staffing levels
- Poor facility maintenance
- Negligent security
- Lack of proper facility policies and procedures
- Comprehensive Service: We have the experience and resources to handle related matters, such as estate planning issues like living wills, durable power of attorney, and health care surrogate documentation.
Our law firm accepts all nursing home injury cases on a contingency fee basis. You will not pay a fee unless we secure compensation for you, reflecting an agreed-upon percentage of any settlement or court award.
Contact Our Sarasota Nursing Home Abuse Lawyers
Buckman, Buckman & Castellano, P.A., P.A., is a family-run law firm that serves individuals and families in Sarasota, Bradenton, Venice, North Port, and surrounding areas in Florida. We understand how deeply a family suffers when one member is injured due to another’s wrongdoing. We will be by your side, fighting for you every step of the way.
If you believe that your loved one has suffered abuse or neglect at the hands of a nursing home, assisted living facility, or home health aide, contact us for immediate help.
Contact us for a free consultation
We work with clients in Sarasota, Venice, Bradenton, North Port, Tampa, Orlando, Jacksonville and throughout Florida. Get in touch with us today and tell us what happened to you. We will review your case for free and with no further obligation from you.
Buckman, Buckman & Castellano, P.A.
