Florida Department of Elder Affairs
Statewide Elder Abuse Line: 1-800-962-2873
Florida Elder Helpline: 1-800-963-5337
Broward County Elder Helpline: 954-745-9779
For Nursing Home Abuse: Florida Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program
Additional resources and information are available through the Aging and Disability Resource Center of Broward County.
A picturesque and park-like city of 25,000 located in northwest Broward County, Parkland offers an attractive setting for upscale Florida living. Primarily a residential community, Parkland has made room for some commercial enterprises, but maintains a conservative approach to development. Known as one of Florida’s wealthiest cities, Parkland offers its residents more than 8 miles of scenic pathways, trails and sidewalks. A 50-acre sports park, an equestrian center, and a 20-acre wilderness preserve help to ensure the city’s aura of serenity and open space.
Like other communities nestled along Florida’s Atlantic coastline, Parkland prides itself on the quality of life it provides for its citizens. At Freeman Injury Law, our experienced nursing home neglect and abuse attorneys also are dedicated to ensuring that quality of life is a major consideration, but many of our concerns center on Floridians who reside in the state’s 671 nursing homes.
Our Parkland nursing home abuse and neglect lawyers know that more than 90% of skilled nursing facilities – in Florida and across the U.S. – are cited for deficiencies in the levels of care they provide to residents. Problems noted by nursing home inspectors relate to the physical environment of the facilities as well as the components of nursing care given to residents. Florida’s Agency for Health Care Administration oversees the state’s medical facilities and lists a number of deficiencies common among nursing homes. Environmental issues include fire sprinkler systems, electrical wiring and equipment, accessibility of exits, fire alarms, and heating/air conditioning systems.
As dangerous as environmental issues can be for nursing home residents, our Parkland nursing home abuse and neglect attorneys know that health-related deficiencies can be just as problematic. The AHCA lists these top issues in Florida nursing home care:
When care standards aren’t met, nursing home residents are placed at risk for worsening health problems. Deficient infection control measures mean that infections can spread among residents. Substandard care can result in residents’ developing bedsores which, in turn, can lead to the serious infection sepsis. Residents who are medicated unnecessarily may experience side effects that make them unsteady on their feet, leading to greater risk for falling. Issues with food service can mean that residents become malnourished. Our nursing home neglect lawyers know that most residents are frail when they arrive at a nursing facility. Any adverse conditions can rapidly affect their health and well-being.
The Parkland elder abuse attorneys at our firm also are called on to take action to protect the rights of elderly individuals who still live in their own homes or who reside elsewhere in the community. Abuses of various sorts plague as many as 2 million older Americans, according to studies by the National Center on Elder Abuse. When it comes to financial abuse and exploitation, the figures are even higher – as many as 5 million older people across the U.S. lose income and assets to unscrupulous individuals. Others suffer physical and emotional abuses, are victims of sexual assault, or decline slowly from self-neglect.
If you believe that an elderly member of your family is suffering because of neglect or abuse, call the Parkland elder abuse attorneys at Freeman Injury Law. Our nursing home neglect lawyers will take action to hold nursing homes accountable for the care they’ve given. Our efforts can help all residents in a facility when legal measures require better care to be provided. In the community, our firm can help older residents who have been physically harmed or who have been financially exploited. We believe that quality of life means freedom from fear of abuse and our firm will fight to help elderly citizens achieve that.
Freeman Injury Law – (800) 561-7777 -- Someone on YOUR Side