Was your loved one a victim of abuse in a retirement home in Clearwater, Florida? Like nursing home residents, retirement home residents are common targets for abuse. An experienced Clearwater retirement home abuse lawyer at Roman Austin Personal Injury Lawyers can help your family fight for compensation for medical expenses, pain and suffering, and other losses.
Our lawyers have over 50 years of combined experience handling complex injury cases. We’ve helped our clients recover over $100 million – and counting.
To learn more about how we can help you hold the responsible parties accountable, contact our law offices in Clearwater, Florida to schedule a free consultation today at (727) 787-2500.
How Roman Austin Personal Injury Lawyers Can Help With a Retirement Home Abuse Lawsuit in Clearwater
The decision to enter a retirement home can be a challenging one. When you trust a facility for protection and they violate that trust, the emotional results can be much more dramatic. You deserve an experienced Clearwater personal injury attorney to help you through this difficult time.
Our team at Roman Austin Personal Injury Lawyers has earned a Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent Rating. We’ve also been rated by Super Lawyers and Tampa Bay’s Top Trial Lawyers.
You can trust us to:
- Gather evidence to support your case
- Determine who is legally responsible for your damages
- Document your losses and assess your case value
- Negotiate with the insurance companies on your behalf
- Advocate for you in court if necessary
Elder abuse is never acceptable. If you were a victim, contact a Clearwater personal injury lawyer who can help you get the compensation you deserve today.
What Is a Retirement Home?
Retirement communities can take on many forms. A retirement home may be a single building or a neighborhood consisting of multiple buildings. Typically, retirement home residents require minimal assistance with basic activities of daily living.
However, some residents require more assistance than others. Some enter a retirement community because they anticipate the need for future assistance. Many retirement communities provide assisted living and medical care options that become available when residents do need these services.
Retirement homes are designed to improve the health and well-being of older Americans during their retirement years. Many offer group activities and social options that might not otherwise be available to residents.
Some services that retirement homes may offer include:
- Transportation to and from medical appointments
- On-call emergency assistance
- Physical therapy clinics
- Wellness clinics
- Skilled nursing facilities
- Specialized therapies, including speech, massage, and occupational therapies
Your loved one deserves to be treated with respect regardless of the level of care required. Unfortunately, the potential for abuse exists when residents are taking advantage of any of these services.
Types of Retirement Home Abuse and Neglect
There are five primary types of retirement home abuse:
- Physical abuse
- Verbal abuse
- Sexual abuse
- Financial abuse
- Neglect and nursing home negligence
Any type of elder abuse can be devastating for your loved one. If you suspect that your family member was abused or neglected in a nursing home or retirement community, contact our Clearwater nursing home abuse attorneys for a free case review today. We can help you protect your loved one from further abuse and start fighting for fair compensation.
What Are the Warning Signs of Retirement Home Abuse?
The warning signs of abuse can vary widely depending on the type of abuse involved. It’s important to remember that your loved one may have a difficult time reporting the abuse. Other retirement home residents may suffer from cognitive disabilities or memory issues–which makes them particularly vulnerable to abuse.
That makes it particularly important to pay close attention to the signs and symptoms of abuse.
Signs of Physical Abuse
Physical abuse can be perpetrated by retirement home staff members or other residents.
Some signs of physical abuse include:
- Broken bones and fractures
- Frequent fall injuries
- Unexplained bruising
- Marks around the wrists or ankles, which can be a sign of improper use of restraints
- Fear of speaking around staff or residents
Retirement homes also have a responsibility to provide reasonably safe living conditions for residents. That includes providing adequate security to prevent abuse or violence.
Signs of Verbal Abuse
Humiliation, belittling, and threatening behaviors can have a dramatic impact on retirement home residents.
Some signs of emotional abuse include:
- Changes in personality
- Self-hugging, rocking, and other regressive behaviors
- Thumb-sucking
- Mumbling
- Withdrawal or fear
Emotional abuse can cause severe depression. It can also have a physical impact on your loved one’s well-being.
Signs of Sexual Abuse
Sexual abuse can include rape or any type of unwanted sexual contact. Unexplained STDs or genital infections can be a warning sign that your loved one is being sexually abused, as can pelvic injuries or bruising around the genitals.
Signs of Financial Abuse
Retirement home residents may be particularly vulnerable to financial exploitation. While a resident may be fully capable of managing their own finances, they may also be susceptible to manipulation at the hands of staff members.
Some signs that your loved one is being financially exploited include:
- Unexplained financial transactions
- Changes in beneficiary designations on retirement accounts or life insurance
- Changes to your loved one’s will
- Unexplained asset transfers
- Missing belongings
Identity theft is also a problem in retirement communities. These types of financial abuse can threaten your family’s financial stability if they aren’t caught quickly.
Signs of Neglect
Some signs that your loved one is being neglected include:
- Bed sores
- Poor hygiene
- Unsanitary conditions
- Weight loss, which can be a sign of malnutrition or dehydration
- Untreated medical conditions
The potential for neglect increases when your loved one requires more extensive assistance with daily activities.
What Are the Long-Term Consequences of Retirement Home Abuse?
The long-term consequences of retirement home abuse can haunt your loved one for the rest of their life.
Some of the potential consequences of abuse include:
- Untreated medical conditions
- Development of ancillary medical conditions
- Severe depression
- Anxiety disorders
- Fear and distrust
- Reduced life expectancy
- Infections, blood clots, and other physical conditions
- Financial insecurity
- Wrongful death
Your loved one may require treatment for both physical and emotional injuries. That makes it important to hold the responsible parties accountable for your past and future costs.
Why Does Retirement Home Abuse Occur in Clearwater?
Retirement home abuse happens for many different reasons.
Depending on the circumstances, it may occur because of:
- Understaffing
- Failure to properly screen retirement home staff members
- Failure to adequately train and supervise employees
- Failure to call a doctor for medical care when necessary
- Negligent security, which can allow violent crimes to occur
- Failure to properly supervise residents with mental disabilities or cognitive decline
- Failure to respond to complaints from family or visitors
Ultimately, the retirement home itself is responsible for securing your loved one’s safety. As employers, retirement homes can often be held liable for the acts of their employees. At Roman Austin Personal Injury Lawyers, our Clearwater retirement home abuse attorneys will pursue compensation from anyone who can be held legally responsible for your family’s losses.
What Is My Clearwater Retirement Home Abuse and Neglect Case Worth?
Your case value will depend on the nature of the harm your family has suffered.
Relevant factors include:
- The medical bills, treatment costs, and out-of-pocket expenses you have incurred
- Damage to your loved one’s health and well-being
- The nature of the abuse and the at-fault party’s acts
- How the injury impacts your loved one’s quality of life
Our nursing home abuse lawyers will examine all relevant factors to determine your case value. Just call our law firm in Clearwater to learn more.
What Compensation Can I Recover for the Harm I Suffered in Clearwater, Florida?
You’re entitled to seek compensation for all of your losses. If your case is successful, you can recover compensation to account for both financial and non-financial losses.
Examples of the types of compensation you may receive include:
- Past medical bills
- Future medical expenses
- The cost of relocating to a new retirement home or assisted living facility
- Restitution in cases involving theft and financial exploitation
- Your lost wages while you care for your loved one
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Anxiety, depression, and other mental health disorders
- Attorney’s fees and costs
- Punitive damages to punish the abusive party for intentional wrongdoing
Our lawyers in Clearwater are passionate about helping our clients get justice. To learn more about how we’ll fight for the full compensation you deserve, call for a free consultation today
How Long Do I Have To File a Personal Injury Lawsuit If My Loved One Was Abused in Florida?
The statute of limitations for most Florida retirement home abuse cases based on negligence is two years. You have two years from the date of the abuse to file a personal injury lawsuit.
However, for cases involving intentional torts like assault or battery, the deadline is four years.
Our lawyers know that abuse may occur over a period of time. We can help ensure that you meet the relevant deadlines in your case.
Contact a Clearwater Retirement Home Abuse Lawyer for a Free Consultation
Retirees can be particularly susceptible to abuse and neglect. A Clearwater retirement home abuse lawyer at Roman Austin Personal Injury Lawyers can help your family fight for the compensation you need. Just give us a call today.
