Sources: American Health Care Association; American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging; SafetyForum.
Perched between the Everglades and Lake Okeechobee, Belle Glade is situated on some of the richest land in Florida. Serving as the Sunshine State’s “gateway to the Everglades,” Belle Glade is midway between the Gulf and Atlantic coasts. Sugar cane is the area’s traditional crop, but the Palm Beach County community also is known for its appeal to vegetable growers. Belle Glade’s motto, “Her Soil is Her Fortune,” remains true today as the city retains a largely rural atmosphere. However, Belle Glade’s proximity to Lake Okeechobee also makes the city an attractive locale for fishermen and boaters.
Belle Glade nursing home abuse and neglect attorneys at Freeman Injury Law, know that our community is rich in its ability to offer residents an Old Florida lifestyle combined with access to the latest in today’s amenities. When they need dependable legal services, we dedicate our efforts to helping the citizens of Belle Glade protect their peaceful way of life. However, our elder abuse lawyers know that even the most serene of U.S. communities sees its share of problems that befall the most vulnerable citizens.
Our experienced Belle Glade nursing home neglect and elder abuse lawyers know that the physical and mental impairments that often accompany age can conspire to make older Americans vulnerable to many types of abuse. Some suffer intentional injury from physical abusers, while others endure verbal and other sorts of emotional abuse. Frail elderly people are unable to repel sexual assaults. They may be at the mercy of relatives or other caregivers who could choose to abandon them, perhaps taking their hard-earned savings or other assets, too.
Not only are elderly citizens at risk in their own homes, but they also face dangers when they must rely on nursing homes for shelter and care. About 40% of U.S. nursing home residents have some form of dementia and nearly all require significant help with such daily activities as eating, getting dressed, moving from bed to chair, and caring for personal hygiene needs. About half of nursing home residents are 85 years of age or older. The Belle Glade nursing home abuse lawyers in our firm believe that abusers of helpless nursing home residents must be identified and held accountable for their actions. Our firm has the resources and the legal know-how to investigate suspected abuse cases. When we find elderly or vulnerable nursing home residents suffering, we can take action to protect their rights and to force improvements in the safety and overall care that nursing facilities offer.
The Belle Glade nursing home neglect attorneys at Freeman Injury Law, recognize the fact that residents of nursing facilities are also placed at risk when their needs are neglected. That may happen because nursing homes are understaffed, or because employees are indifferent, underpaid, and untrained. Most nursing homes in Florida are for-profit businesses, raising the possibility that their focus will center on the bottom line instead of residents’ needs.
When you visit loved ones in nursing homes or in their own homes, look for these signs of abuse and neglect: persistent infections, injuries sustained in falls, unexplained injuries, bruises, cuts, broken bones, broken eyeglasses, weight loss, bedsores, development of the serious medical condition sepsis, poor personal hygiene, changes in mood or behavior. The list of possible signs of neglect and abuse can be lengthy. Our Belle Glade elder abuse lawyers know that the important factor is vigilance on the part of those who have contact with elderly loved ones. If you see suspicious circumstances, don’t be afraid to speak up to nursing home managers and to caregivers. If you need help to confirm your suspicions, contact our experienced nursing home neglect and abuse attorneys. We know how to examine the complexities of elderly residents’ care and living conditions. We also know how to protect their rights and to pursue justice when they’ve been harmed by those entrusted with their care.
If you suspect elder abuse or neglect is causing harm to someone you care about, call our offices and ask for a free consultation with the Belle Glade elder abuse lawyers at Freeman Injury Law. You pay us nothing unless we recover damages for your elderly loved one.
Freeman Injury Law – (800) 561-7777 -- Someone on YOUR Side