Protecting the Elderly from Abuse and Neglect

A Polk County man was recently awarded $1.2 billion in damages for the wrongful death of his 69-year-old mother, a woman he loved like “treasure.” Arlene Townsend apparently fell 17 times during her three-year stay at a nursing home and ultimately died due to the facility’s lack of care. A large nursing home corporation had taken over the nursing facility and proceeded to reduce the budget and staff required to provide its seniors with essential services. The large award that this man received, $1 billion of which was punitive damages, was meant to send a clear message that nursing home resident mistreatment in Florida will no longer be tolerated.

Neglect and abuse has many faces

Despite state regulations that set forth guidelines for identifying and investigating instances of nursing home abuse and neglect, it is often hidden from view. Victims often do not report their neglect or abuse due to their mental decline or fear of angering their caregivers. Some cases of abuse, such as sexual harassment and financial exploitation, are harder to detect.

Common forms of elder abuse and victimization are:

• Wrong medication or dosages
• Unsafe and unsanitary facilities
• Inexplicable cuts and bruises
• Preventable falls and pressure bedsores
• Dehydration and malnourishment

An aggressive team of experienced attorneys and medical experts can establish whether the facility has committed abuse and neglect by examining facility records and retaining testimonies from the patient, if possible, and staff.

A Florida lawyer known for compassionately and skillfully representing victims of nursing home abuse and neglect can be very effective in obtaining compensation for Clearwater victims.