If your loved one already lives in a nursing home or is about to become a resident, you’ll want to make sure they’re aware of their rights. You also need to know what to do if you have any reason to believe that their rights are being violated. While most Florida nursing homes offer a caring, professional environment, there are far too many that don’t.
If you think your loved one is being mistreated, Lytal, Reiter, Smith, Ivey & Fronrath is ready to help. We will perform a thorough investigation into what is happening, and then make sure anyone who is committing abuse faces full accountability.
You can give us a call at (561) 655-1990 for a free consultation, or you can contact us online.
The following is a look at the rights that all Florida nursing home residents share and how we can help if those rights are being violated or if abuse is occurring.
Get everything in writing when admitting your loved one
In most instances, the children of a senior citizen going into a nursing home will meet with administrators and be briefed on the care plan. This will involve discussing a wide range of topics including the rights of the soon-to-be resident, what care is and isn’t approved preferred treatment in certain circumstances, and their general rights as a patient such as privacy and proper care.
Make sure that you thoroughly review the care plan and get a copy of the original care plan and any amendments or modifications. Make sure your loved one receives a copy, too.
Don’t be afraid to ask questions
You obviously want to be as comfortable as possible with the facility where your family member will live. There are several questions you should ask when searching for a facility. Here are just a few to keep in mind:
- What kind of care will my loved one receive on a daily basis?
- Does the home have particular areas for memory care, rehab, or ventilator care?
- Will my loved one have to get up and go to bed on a set schedule, or will they be able to choose when they start and end their day?
- What kinds of meals will be available? Will the kitchen be able to provide a specialized diet my loved one will need?
- Is the staff certified? If so, what kinds of certifications do they have?
- What’s the ratio of staff members per resident? How many staff members are available 24 hours a day?
- Will staff members knock before they enter my loved one’s room?
Rights of Florida nursing home residents
These are just some of the many rights of Florida nursing home residents that must be observed at all times.
- The right to receive visits from relatives, their personal doctors, government representatives, service providers, and more.
- Private and uncensored communication.
- The right to obtain Medicare and Medicaid benefits if necessary, and not be forced to leave the facility should those benefits be granted.
- The right to be treated without regard to the way they make payments to the facility.
- The right to choose their own doctors.
- The right to always be informed of the medical care they receive and to refuse any treatment they don’t want.
- The right to not be mentally or physically abused.
Our attorneys are here for you
At Lytal, Reiter, Smith, Ivey & Fronrath, our Florida nursing home abuse lawyers are fierce advocates of our most vulnerable population, our beloved senior citizens. We take allegations of abuse incredibly seriously and fight to make sure nursing home residents’ rights are protected.
Don’t hesitate to call (561) 655-1990 if you believe your loved one is being abused or threatened in any way.
