Orlando Nursing Home Abuse & Neglect Lawyers

As our loved ones grow older, it’s natural to want to ensure the best care possible for them. Aging can come with expanded care needs, which sometimes means finding a nursing home where that care can be constant and attentive. Unfortunately, some nursing home experiences can result in the negligence or abuse of our senior family members.

There has been a measurable increase in elder neglect during the COVID-19 pandemic. With these risks, the choice to place a loved one in a care facility can be even more stressful. Choosing to place a loved one into the care of a facility should be a decision that helps relieve stress, not create more of it.

If you suspect that your loved one is a victim of nursing home negligence, there’s no time to waste. Call Osborne, Francis & Pettis today at (407) 655-3333, or contact us online so that our Orlando nursing home abuse attorneys can help your loved one get the care and dignity they deserve.

“Dealing with the Osborne, Francis & Pettis group is fantastic. They were there for me every step of my case, explaining everything in detail, and their communication skills are impeccable. I would recommend this law group to all my friends and family, just like myself. I contacted the group through a friend. Thanks to the team of Osborne, Francis & Pettis for your hard work and dedication.”

- Tara B. | Client

Nursing Home Statistics in Orlando

Choosing a nursing home for a loved one is a big decision. Families want to feel confident that their parents or grandparents are safe, respected, and cared for. Sadly, some nursing homes fall short, and the statistics can be eye-opening.

Here are some important facts to know about nursing homes and abuse in Orlando and across Florida:

• There are 74 nursing homes and skilled nursing facilities in the Orlando metropolitan area.
• Between 2017 and 2021, there were 993 cases of residents leaving their nursing homes without permission or supervision in Florida. These incidents, known as “elopements,” happened nearly four times a week on average.
• Florida nursing homes care for about 71,000 residents at any given time. While elopements are rare, they can be very dangerous, especially for seniors with dementia.
• The number of seniors (age 65 and older) living in Orlando is growing, from 8.8% in 2010 to 10.9% in 2018.
• In 2022, Florida nursing homes saw a rise in serious violations. Many of these involved issues that put elderly residents in immediate danger.
• Since 2019, the number of serious violations in Florida nursing homes has nearly doubled compared to the previous six years.
• In just one year, 83 nursing homes were cited for creating unsafe conditions for older adults.

What Types of Abuse Can an Orlando Nursing Home Neglect Lawyer Help With?

Abuse covers an extensive scope of possible forms of mistreatment. Whatever form it comes in, though, all abuse and negligence are unethical and can be considered medical malpractice. Five common types of nursing home abuse that most often occur in these settings include:

• Physical Abuse: Any use of force or violence against an elderly person constitutes physical abuse. This includes hitting, pushing, grabbing, or using too much force.
• Sexual Abuse: Forced or non-consensual sexual contact or comments of any kind imposed upon a victim qualify as sexual abuse. Possible forms of sexual abuse in nursing homes include sexual remarks, unwanted touching or kissing, forcing the resident to remove clothing, making residents view pornographic images or videos, rape, and more.
• Financial Abuse: This can happen when someone steals money, changes someone’s will, misuses credit cards, or pressures a resident into giving away property.
• Neglect: When caregivers fail to provide basic needs like food, water, clean clothes, medications, or help with bathing, it’s considered neglect. It can lead to things like dehydration, infections, or poor hygiene.
• Psychological Abuse: Repeated insults, belittling, isolation, or withholding resources can all be forms of psychological abuse. This type of abuse can be harder to spot, but it’s just as harmful.

Warning Signs of Nursing Home Negligence and Abuse

Because abuse can take many forms, it’s not always easy to tell when something is wrong, especially when the signs are subtle.

For each discrete type of abuse, there are multiple possible warning signs. If you suspect that your loved one is being abused, you should be on the lookout for any of the following:

• Physical: Frequent scrapes, cuts, bruises, sprains, dislocated joints, broken bones, or head injuries. If your loved one is being hospitalized often or the staff give vague or inconsistent explanations about how injuries happened, it’s worth asking more questions.
• Psychological: Signs may include sudden mood changes, such as depression, anxiety, or irritability, especially if these symptoms seem to come out of nowhere. Victims might also seem withdrawn, fearful, or unusually quiet. They may avoid eye contact or stop taking part in social activities they used to enjoy.
• Sexual: This can be more difficult to detect, but possible signs include unexplained bleeding or injuries in the genital or pelvic area, trouble walking or sitting, or new diagnoses of sexually transmitted infections (STIs). A sudden fear of certain staff members may also be a warning sign.
• Neglect: If your loved one is showing signs of weight loss, dehydration, poor hygiene, or untreated medical issues, they may not be getting the care they need. Look for dirty clothes or bedding, strong odors, missed medications, or signs that basic needs are not being met.
• Financial: Keep an eye on your loved one’s bank accounts, credit card activity, and personal belongings. Look out for missing money, unpaid bills, unusual purchases, or changes to legal documents like powers of attorney.

Am I Eligible to Work With a Nursing Home Abuse Attorney in Orlando?

In Florida, lawsuits against nursing homes can be filed by a few different parties. The victim themself can file a lawsuit if they are of sound mind and able to do so. If they cannot, a legal guardian can file a lawsuit on their behalf. It is not uncommon for a nursing home resident to lack the ability to file a lawsuit, so a guardian’s action is fairly typical.

Someone acting on the victim’s behalf can also file a lawsuit. This typically requires explicit permission from the victim, except in the case of death. In the tragic event that a loved one has passed away due to abusive behavior in a nursing home, an estate representative can file on the victim’s behalf.

When talking to a loved one about possible negligence or abuse, remember to approach the conversation with the knowledge that they are a victim of their situation. They may be afraid to talk about their experience at first, fearing repercussions for their safety. Consider a few things to make them feel comfortable, such as providing a private place to talk.

Making your loved one feel safe to speak openly is essential to assessing whether or not legal action is needed. If you do suspect nursing home abuse, the Orlando nursing home abuse attorneys at our firm are just a call away at (407) 655-3333 or by filling out our quick online form.

How Can an Orlando Nursing Home Negligence Lawyer Help My Loved One?

They spent their lives caring for you, and now it’s your turn to protect them.

When we place a loved one in a nursing home, it’s because we hope they’ll receive the kind of care, attention, and respect that we may not have the time, training, or resources to give—care that treats them like family. So when someone takes advantage of that trust and harms one of the most vulnerable people in our lives, it’s more than just wrong. It’s unforgivable.

We understand that these cases are emotional, but they also rely on facts, evidence, and insight. A team of Orlando nursing home abuse lawyers will approach the investigation with the urgency needed. Here’s how they help build a strong case for your loved one:

• Understanding the Facility’s Duty of Care: Your attorney will review the admissions agreement and care plan to determine exactly what the nursing home promised to provide and how it broke that promise.
• Reviewing Medical Records: Detailed medical charts often hold the truth. Your lawyer will examine any hospital visits that took place, injury reports, medication logs, and care notes to trace patterns of neglect or abuse. They may also request internal records like care reports or staffing schedules.
• Speaking With Witnesses: Caregivers, other residents, visitors, or even former employees may have seen or heard things that can help uncover what really went on.
• Inspecting the Nursing Home: Your attorney may personally visit the facility to observe the conditions, take photos, and look for hazards or signs of neglect, such as understaffing, unsanitary rooms, or broken safety equipment.

What Damages Can Orlando Nursing Home Abuse Attorneys Recover for My Family?

A nursing home negligence lawsuit may result in the recovery of damages related to the abuse. These can take several forms, but the most common include the following:

• Medical expenses, both past and future, related to the consequences of abuse.
• Pain and suffering for mental anguish experienced by both you and your loved one.
• Lost wages for the time you took off work to care for your loved one due to the neglect.
• Attorney costs.
• Additional financial losses.

In fact, taking legal action with professional support makes a real difference. A 2016 Martindale-Nolo survey found that more than 9 out of 10 people who had a personal injury lawyer received a settlement or award, compared to only about half of those who tried to handle their case alone.

When the well-being of someone you love is on the line, the right attorney can make all the difference. The team at Osborne, Francis & Pettis has recovered millions on behalf of clients who faced negligent treatment, including $2.75 million for a patient who suffered brain damage after being left alone in a psychiatric unit in a hospital and $1.25 million for a woman who had her leg amputated after physicians delayed in diagnosing a foot injury.

Proudly Representing Orlando Residents