St. Lucie County Elder Neglect Lawyers Freeman Injury Law Home
Nursing Home Abuse in Fort Pierce
About Nursing Home Inspections
The federal government’s Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services contracts with state agencies across the U.S. to inspect and license nursing homes that care for Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries.
Onsite inspections include observations of the ways in which care is given, interactions between residents and staff, and the overall environment of the facility. Clinical record reviews are conducted, along with interviews of residents, their family members, care-giving staff, and nursing home administrative staff.
Inspection teams include at least one registered nurse, along with other trained professionals, including those who can accurately assess a facility’s fire safety status. More than 150 regulatory standards apply to nursing homes.
In Florida, the agency charged with inspecting and licensing nursing homes is the Agency on Health Care Administration.
Source: Medicare.gov
“The Sunrise City,” Fort Pierce, enjoys an enviable location on Florida’s Atlantic coast. Serving as the seat of St. Lucie County, Fort Pierce is home to Indian River State College and the Smithsonian Institution Research Center. Reverance for the waters of its Indian River Lagoon and the Treasure Coast’s beautiful shores have made Fort Pierce a center for manatee observation and headquarters for the Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute. Among South Florida’s older communities, Fort Pierce is home to some 44,000 residents.
An ability to link past and present has made Fort Pierce a charming blend of traditional and new Florida. At Freeman Injury Law, our Fort Pierce nursing home abuse attorneys are pleased to serve the residents of Fort Pierce and other historic communities throughout South Florida when they need proven legal skills to stop instances of elder abuse and neglect.
The Fort Pierce nursing home neglect lawyers in our firm have delivered on their promise of uncompromising representation for elderly residents of our community and those who reside in nursing homes. We have seen the effects of caregiver abuse and the harm that’s caused when nursing homes don’t provide a high level of resident care. The experience our attorneys have as advocates for elderly and vulnerable residents of nursing facilities can help halt the cycle of abuse and poor care.
Nursing homes throughout Florida (and the U.S.) are frequently cited for deficiencies in the care they provide and for problems with the facility environment that can pose safety hazards to residents. Our Fort Pierce nursing home abuse and neglect attorneys know that the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration – the licensing and inspection authority for nursing homes – has pointed to deficiencies in care standards in nearly half of the state’s facilities during the past year. When care standards aren’t met, the results can quickly show themselves in declining resident health. Weak and bedridden residents develop bedsores because they aren’t turned frequently enough. Those bedsores can spell disaster when they allow bacteria to enter the body and sepsis results. A malfunction of the immune system, sepsis proves fatal to about half of the 750,000 elderly and other susceptible Americans who develop it each year.
Our experienced Fort Pierce nursing home neglect lawyers know that substandard care often means unsanitary conditions in nursing homes. When the environment is unclean, infections can spread quickly, causing complications for already chronically ill residents. And when nursing home staff neglect residents who need help moving about, the rate of falls increases. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nursing home residents fall at a rate twice that of their peers who live at home. Some 1,800 nursing home residents lose their lives to fall-related injuries each year, and 20% of residents who experience non-fatal falls must deal with serious injuries.
The Fort Pierce elder abuse and nursing home neglect attorneys at Freeman Injury Law, can help concerned family members determine if abuse or neglect are affecting the quality of life of their elderly loved ones. We know that care-giving situations – whether in a nursing facility or in an individual’s home – can be complex and that many factors can affect the health of elderly citizens. Our experience with elder-care issues and our knowledge of the law enables us to accurately assess circumstances and determine whether abuse or neglect claims are appropriate. Our firm is committed to protecting the rights of elderly residents of Fort Pierce and other communities and facilities across South Florida. When innocent victims suffer harm because of the abuse or negligence of those entrusted with their care, we’ll take action to pursue compensation for the damage that’s been done.
The nursing home abuse and neglect attorneys at Freeman Injury Law, offer elderly victims and concerned family members a free consultation to discuss your abuse or neglect claim. Call our offices today to take the first step toward ending elder abuse.
Freeman Injury Law – (800) 561-7777 -- Someone on YOUR Side
