In 2015, an article ran in the Palm Beach Post saying ,“If you plan on retiring soon, Florida is the place to be.” In the Aug. 30, 2015 article, the Post’s staff writer discussed how WalletHub compared 150 of the largest cities in the United States based on affordability, the number of activities, healthcare, and the quality of life.
After conducting its research, WalletHub determined that Tampa ranked No. 1 on the list, with Cape Coral ranking No. 4, Orlando at No. 5, and finally Port St. Lucie at No. 8. While West Palm Beach did not land in WalletHub’s list of 2015’s best and worst cities to retire, it still has a significant number of nursing homes in the area.
Florida is more than the Sunshine State, it’s a popular destination for retirees due to its year-round warm weather and affordability. When you have such a high saturation of elders people, there are plenty of nursing homes ready to care for aging adults when their families can no longer provide them with adequate care.
Unfortunately, nursing homes across the nation are notorious for nursing home abuse and neglect. Even the finest, most expensive facilities have been cited by regulatory agencies, and the subject of personal injury and wrongful death lawsuits.
Defining Nursing Home Abuse & Neglect
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), “Elder abuse is an intentional act, or failure to act, by a caregiver or another person in a relationship involving an expectation of trust that causes or creates risk of harm to an older adult (age 60 or older).”
The major forms of nursing home abuse, include:
- Physical abuse (e.g. hitting, biting, choking, suffocation, pushing, slapping, kicking, pinching, burning etc.)
- Sexual abuse (forced unwanted sexual contact)
- Emotional or psychological abuse
- Neglect
Let’s take a closer look at neglect: Much like child neglect, neglect of an elders individual can include dehydration, malnutrition, soiled clothing, bedsores, unhygienic living quarters, foul smells in the resident’s room, a lack of bathing, and a lack of necessary healthcare.
If your loved one is in a nursing home and you suspect neglect or abuse, please understand that nursing home abuse is widespread and underreported. Many facilities and their staff will go to great lengths to deny allegations of neglect or abuse. So, you need a professional’s help.
If you are concerned that your loved one is a victim of neglect or abuse, especially if they are suffering from dementia or Alzheimer’s, we urge you to contact our firm for assistance!