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NURSING HOME NEGLIGENCE

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Nursing Home Negligence in Florida

Placing a loved one in a nursing home is one of the most difficult decisions a family can make. You trust that the facility will provide safety, dignity, and proper medical care. Unfortunately, too many nursing homes in Florida put profits ahead of patients, leading to preventable injuries, abuse, and even wrongful death.

At Loutos Law, we represent victims of nursing home negligence and elder abuse across Florida. From our base in the Treasure Coast to communities statewide, we fight to hold negligent facilities and corporations accountable for the harm they cause.

What Is Nursing Home Negligence?

Nursing home negligence occurs when a facility or its staff fails to provide care that meets the accepted standard, causing harm to a resident. Unlike unavoidable medical complications, negligence results from carelessness, understaffing, or failure to follow proper procedures.

Common Types of Nursing Home Negligence Cases

01

Failure to Prevent Falls

Falls are one of the leading causes of serious injury in nursing homes. Staff must:

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  • Assess fall risk

  • Provide assistive devices

  • Use bed alarms or railings when appropriate

  • Supervise residents who are unstable

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Neglecting these responsibilities often leads to broken hips, head injuries, or even death.

02

Bedsores (Pressure Ulcers)

Bedsores develop when residents are left in one position for too long. Preventing them requires:

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  • Regular repositioning

  • Clean, dry bedding

  • Proper nutrition and hydration

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Advanced bedsores are painful, dangerous, and entirely preventable with proper care.

03

Malnutrition and Dehydration

Nursing homes must ensure residents receive enough food and water. Negligence includes:

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  • Failing to assist residents who can’t feed themselves

  • Ignoring weight loss or dehydration

  • Serving food that does not meet dietary restrictions

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These failures can cause organ failure, infections, and wrongful death.

04

Medication Errors

Residents often take multiple prescriptions. Errors include:

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  • Giving the wrong medication

  • Incorrect dosing

  • Skipping doses

  • Dangerous drug interactions

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Medication errors can cause strokes, seizures, or rapid decline in health.

05

Failure to Monitor Residents

Elderly residents require regular monitoring. Negligence occurs when staff fail to:

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  • Respond to call lights

  • Notice changes in condition

  • Monitor for wandering or elopement (residents leaving the facility unsupervised)

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Lack of monitoring often leads to avoidable injuries or deaths.

06

Infections and Sepsis

Nursing homes must maintain cleanliness and respond quickly to signs of infection. Failure to do so may result in:

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  • Urinary tract infections (UTIs)

  • Pneumonia

  • Sepsis, a life-threatening condition

07

Physical or Emotional Abuse

Tragically, some residents suffer intentional harm from staff or other residents. Abuse may include:

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  • Hitting, pushing, or restraining residents

  • Verbal abuse, threats, or humiliation

  • Sexual assault or exploitation

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Facilities are responsible for preventing abuse and screening employees properly.

08

Failure to Provide Medical Care

Residents often have chronic conditions requiring medical oversight. Negligence includes:

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  • Ignoring doctor’s orders

  • Delaying hospital transfers

  • Failing to call physicians about worsening symptoms

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These failures often worsen health conditions that could have been managed.

Why Nursing Home Negligence Happens

Sadly, most negligence in nursing homes is preventable and caused by:

  • Chronic understaffing – too few staff for too many residents

  • Inadequate training – unqualified or poorly trained workers

  • Profit over patients – corporations cutting costs at the expense of safety

  • Poor supervision – administrators failing to enforce policies

Consequences of Nursing Home Negligence

The impact of nursing home negligence can be devastating:

  • Broken bones and head injuries

  • Chronic infections

  • Loss of mobility

  • Emotional trauma

  • Permanent disability

  • Wrongful death

Families often discover injuries too late, after serious harm has already occurred.

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Real-World Examples of Nursing Home Negligence

  • A resident falls repeatedly because staff failed to implement fall precautions, resulting in a fatal head injury.

  • A bedridden patient develops stage IV bedsores after being left in the same position for days.

  • A resident is given the wrong medication, leading to a stroke.

  • Staff ignore signs of infection until sepsis develops, causing death.

  • A resident suffers emotional trauma from repeated verbal abuse by caregivers.

Florida Law and Nursing Home Negligence

Florida provides special legal protections for nursing home residents under the Florida Statutes, Chapter 400 (Nursing Home Residents’ Rights). These rights include:

  • The right to be treated with dignity and respect

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  • The right to adequate and appropriate healthcare

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  • The right to be free from abuse and neglect

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When nursing homes violate these rights and harm occurs, they may be held liable for negligence or abuse.

Damages Available in Nursing Home Negligence Cases

Victims and their families may recover compensation for:

  • Medical expenses related to injuries caused by negligence

  • Pain and suffering for the resident

  • Loss of enjoyment of life

  • Funeral and burial costs in wrongful death cases

  • Punitive damages in cases of extreme misconduct

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How Loutos Law Helps Victims of Nursing Home Negligence

At Loutos Law, we fight for the dignity and safety of vulnerable nursing home residents. Our approach includes:

We help clients by:

  • Investigating facility records and staffing policies

  • Interviewing witnesses and staff

  • Working with medical experts to prove negligence

  • Holding corporations accountable for prioritizing profit over care

We have the resources and trial experience to take on major nursing home chains and healthcare providers across Florida.

Steps to Take If You Suspect Nursing Home Negligence

  • Seek medical care immediately for your loved one.

  • Document everything – take photos of injuries, keep records of conversations, save medical reports.

  • Request copies of facility records and care plans.

  • Contact Loutos Law for a free consultation to review your case.

Frequently Asked Questions
About Nursing Home Negligence in Florida

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LOUTOS LAW

Protects Florida Nursing Home Residents

Nursing homes should be places of care, comfort, and dignity—not neglect and abuse. At Loutos Law, we stand up for vulnerable residents and their families across Florida.

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If you believe your loved one has been harmed by nursing home negligence, contact Loutos Law today for a free consultation. We’ll fight for justice, accountability, and the safety your family deserves.

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