Elder Abuse

You trusted a nursing home or assisted living facility to care for someone you love. You believed they would treat your mother, father, grandparent, or spouse with dignity, compassion, and respect. Instead, you've discovered signs of neglect, abuse, or exploitation. Maybe it's unexplained bruises, severe bedsores, dramatic weight loss, or a loved one who suddenly seems afraid or withdrawn. Maybe it's missing money or pressure to sign over assets. Whatever you've discovered, you're probably feeling guilt, anger, and an overwhelming need to protect your loved one.

You're not alone, and this is not your fault. Elder abuse happens more often than most people realize, and recognizing the warning signs takes courage. At Emas Law Group, we hold negligent nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and caregivers accountable for the harm they cause to Florida's most vulnerable citizens.

Types of Elder Abuse and Neglect

Elder abuse takes many forms. Understanding the different types of abuse and neglect is the first step to protecting your loved one and holding the responsible parties accountable.

Physical Abuse – Hitting, slapping, pushing, restraining improperly, or causing bodily harm. Warning signs include unexplained bruises, burns, broken bones, cuts, or injuries that don't match the facility's explanation.

Neglect – Failing to provide adequate food, water, hygiene, medical care, or assistance with daily living. Common signs include severe bedsores (pressure ulcers), malnutrition, dehydration, poor personal hygiene, untreated medical conditions, and soiled clothing or bedding.

Emotional and Psychological Abuse – Verbal assaults, threats, intimidation, humiliation, isolation, or ignoring the resident. Warning signs include sudden behavioral changes, fearfulness around staff, withdrawal, anxiety, depression, or reluctance to speak when caregivers are present.

Financial Exploitation – Stealing money or property, forging signatures, coercing residents to sign documents, or misusing power of attorney. Red flags include unexplained withdrawals, missing valuables, sudden changes to wills or financial documents, and unfamiliar names on bank accounts.

Warning Signs of Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect

Trust your instincts. If something feels wrong during visits to your loved one, investigate further. Common warning signs include:

• Unexplained injuries, bruises, burns, cuts, or broken bones
• Bedsores (pressure ulcers), especially in advanced stages
• Significant weight loss, malnutrition, or dehydration
• Poor personal hygiene, soiled clothing, or unsanitary living conditions
• Untreated medical conditions or missed medications
• Sudden behavioral changes—withdrawal, fearfulness, agitation, or depression
• Staff that refuses to leave you alone with your loved one
• Missing money, jewelry, or personal belongings
• Unexplained financial transactions or changes to legal documents
• Facility with chronic understaffing or high employee turnover

If you notice any of these warning signs, act immediately. Document what you see with photographs, take notes, and contact an attorney. The facility may try to explain away injuries or blame the resident—don't accept their excuses without an independent investigation.

Bedsores Are Almost Always Preventable

Bedsores—also called pressure ulcers or decubitus ulcers—are one of the most common signs of nursing home neglect. They develop when immobile residents are left in the same position for too long, cutting off blood flow to the skin. Severe bedsores can become infected, reach down to the bone, and cause life-threatening complications.

Here's the truth: bedsores are almost always preventable. With proper care—regular repositioning, adequate nutrition, clean and dry skin, pressure-relieving mattresses—residents should never develop severe pressure ulcers. If your loved one has bedsores, it's a clear sign the facility failed to provide basic care.

Bedsores are classified in four stages. Stage 3 and Stage 4 bedsores—where tissue damage extends into muscle or bone—are especially serious and often result from prolonged neglect. Facilities know this, which is why they often try to hide bedsores, claim they developed elsewhere, or blame the resident's medical condition. Don't let them shift responsibility.

What Compensation Can You Recover for Elder Abuse?

Nursing home abuse and neglect cases can result in significant compensation, including:

• Medical Expenses – Treatment for injuries, infections, malnutrition, and other conditions caused by abuse or neglect
• Pain and Suffering – Compensation for physical pain, emotional distress, humiliation, and loss of dignity
• Punitive Damages – In cases of gross negligence or intentional abuse, Florida law allows punitive damages to punish the facility and deter future misconduct
• Wrongful Death – If abuse or neglect caused your loved one's death, you can pursue wrongful death compensation for funeral expenses, loss of companionship, and emotional suffering

How We Fight Nursing Home Abuse Cases

Elder abuse cases require thorough investigation, medical expertise, and aggressive advocacy. We don't accept the facility's explanations at face value. Instead, we:

• Obtain and review all medical records, care plans, and facility documentation
• Work with medical experts to establish causation and the extent of harm
• Investigate staffing levels, training records, and prior complaints against the facility
• Interview witnesses, including other residents, family members, and former employees
• Consult forensic accountants in cases of financial exploitation
• Hold the nursing home accountable through aggressive litigation

Nursing homes and their insurance companies will fight hard to avoid responsibility. They have teams of lawyers whose job is to protect profits. That's why you need experienced attorneys who aren't intimidated by corporate defendants and know how to build a compelling case.

Take Action to Protect Your Loved One

If you suspect elder abuse or neglect, you must act quickly:

1. Ensure your loved one is safe – If necessary, move them to a different facility or arrange alternative care
2. Get medical attention – Have a physician examine your loved one and document all injuries or signs of neglect
3. Document everything – Take photographs, save records, write down dates and observations
4. Report the abuse – File a complaint with Florida's Department of Children and Families or call the Florida Abuse Hotline at 1-800-962-2873
5. Contact an attorney – Don't wait. Evidence disappears, witnesses forget, and facilities may try to cover up what happened

Your loved one deserves dignity, respect, and proper care. When nursing homes fail to provide that care, they must be held accountable. At Emas Law Group, we fight to protect Florida seniors and recover compensation for the harm caused by elder abuse and neglect. Contact us today for a free, confidential consultation—we'll help you understand your rights and options.