Nursing Home Assisted Living Elder Abuse Attorney Miami

When you place an elder loved one in a nursing home or assisted living facility in Miami, you expect the staff there to give them the same care and respect that you do. In many cases, that is exactly what happens, but unfortunately, there are unscrupulous people who take the opportunity to mistreat and abuse those who are unable to fight back. The discovery that a loved one has been abused in a place that is meant to take care of them can leave you feeling angry, dejected, and even a little guilty for sending them there. However, take the opportunity to fight back and make sure that no other elderly person gets mistreated.

You should contact Robert J. Fiore to learn your legal rights. He has over 34 years of experience taking on nursing homes whose staff commit the unforgivable act of elder abuse. He can use his considerable expertise to help you recover the compensation that your family deserves because of the indignity and abuse your loved one suffered in a negligent nursing home. So contact nursing home and assisted living elder abuse Robert J. Fiore so that your loved one can get the justice, respect, and dignity they deserve.

Types of Nursing Home Abuse

There are many different ways that nursing home staff can abuse the residents that live there, and not all of them are physical. You will need to look closely to find out about certain types of abuse because the signs may not always be immediately obvious. The following are the different types of abuse that elders can suffer in a nursing home.

Physical Abuse

When the nursing home staff physically abuses the residents, it does not just mean active abuse, which is when the staff is physically hitting them. It could also mean that they are force-feeding them, overmedicating them, or using excessive physical restraints on them. In other words, the staff is using far more force than is necessary. Active abuse is the easiest type of physical abuse to spot since it can leave telltale bruises. The excessive use of restraints will also leave marks on the victim’s wrists or ankles. Unfortunately, signs of force-feeding and overmedication are harder to observe.

Emotional or Psychological Abuse

This is when the staff of the nursing home berates, castigates, or threatens the residents there. The intent of this type of abuse is to emotionally manipulate the residents and to keep them in line so that they behave in a way that the staff wants them to. The staff may threaten to withhold meals or medication or to limit family visitations. Aside from the psychological toll inflicted by this type of abuse, it can also cause physical effects as well since the stress could result in heart or blood pressure irregularities and other physical problems. Sudden drastic changes in behavior and a general nervousness or skittishness around staff are the main warning signs of emotional abuse.

Financial Abuse

This is also called financial exploitation or material exploitation, both of which are apt terms because they involve the improper or illegal use of a resident’s money, assets, or property. Financial abuse can be any of the following actions:

• Cashing a resident’s checks without their permission
• Tricking or forcing a resident to sign important documents such as wills or contracts
• Staff members using the money or property of the resident for their own benefit
• Forging residents’ signatures on important documents
• Improperly taking advantage of the power of attorney

Financial abuse may not leave any physical effects but it can be devastating nonetheless. It can drain the resident’s finances and leave them penniless. That is why it is important to monitor their finances and take note of any irregularities. 

Sexual Abuse

This type of abuse is as straightforward as it is appalling. It is usually committed towards individuals who are far too weak to resist and who are too fearful to report it. Sexual abuse can also happen to residents who may have Alzheimer’s or dementia so they may not realize what is happening. Sexual abuse can be committed by the nursing home staff but also by visitors, strangers, or even other nursing home residents.

Warning Signs of Nursing Home Abuse in Miami

Some signs of abuse are easily noticeable while others are more subtle, it really depends on the nature of the abuse. Any of the following indicators are signs that a nursing home resident is being abused:

• Unexplained bruising or bleeding
• Malnourishment, dehydration, or weight loss
• Bedsores
• Nervousness when staff are present
• Emotional or psychological withdrawal
• Sudden financial difficulties
• Changes in their will
• Unpaid bills
• Power of attorney changes
• Diseases or infections

Residents may not come forward and admit what is happening to them out of fear, shame, or mental incapacity, which is why their behavior, appearance, and finances need to be closely monitored.

Robert J. Fiore Will Fight Back Against Nursing Home Abuse in Miami

Nursing home and assisted living abuse of the elderly is a despicable act against vulnerable, and often powerless individuals. That is why they need to be protected and their abusers brought to justice. Nursing home and assisted living facility abuse attorney Robert J. Fiore is the one who can do both. He can deploy his extensive experience to right the wrongs inflicted upon your loved ones and see that their abusers face justice. Contact Robert J. Fiore if your elder family member has been abused in a nursing home or assisted living facility.