According to the Palm Beach Post, a nursing home abuse lawsuit was recently filed against Lakeside Health Center for errors in supervision that led to the death of a 98-year-old woman. Last May, Eva Mae Rhodes was brought into St. Mary’s Medical Center with a core temperature of 103.2, heat stroke, severe dehydration, and second degree burns on a large portion of her body.
Sadly, two weeks later she passed away from her injuries. The Florida Department of Children and Families concluded that her death was attributable to the inadequate supervision she received at Lakeside Health Center, the nursing home where she resided. Now, her family has filed a lawsuit against the nursing home, alleging nursing home abuse.
Is Inadequate Supervision Abuse?
A majority of nursing home residents are not able to remain unsupervised for large portions of the day. Many require round-the-clock care and assistance to perform basic daily activities. Some are in the final stages of dementia, making them particularly vulnerable to injury. Nursing homes have a responsibility to provide supervision and security for their residents, and when they fail to do so, they can – and should – be held accountable. Even without the intent to harm, inadequate supervision is neglect. And neglect is abuse.
Determining the level of supervision that each resident requires depends largely on their physical and mental state. Residents who have reduced capacities will require significantly more supervision than more mobile patients. Nursing home care plans should detail the level of supervision that is required for each resident. Without this in place, accidents – which are sometimes fatal – occur.
Examples of accidents that often occur due to inadequate supervision include:
- Choking
- Suffocation
- Burns
- Falls
- Bed sores
- Drowning
- Medication overdose
Why Does Nursing Home Abuse Occur?
Nursing home neglect and abuse is often the result of inadequately trained staff, understaffing, or a failure to properly screen employees prior to hiring. Overworked, undertrained, and distracted staff members often fail to provide basic care for their residents. When nursing home abuse or neglect occurs, residents and their families have a right to seek justice and hold the negligent institution responsible. An experienced Florida nursing home abuse attorney can help during this difficult time.
Contact Our Compassionate Florida Nursing Home Abuse Attorneys
If your loved one has suffered abuse at the hands of their caregivers or nursing home staff, contact the Florida nursing home abuse attorneys at Zimmet & Zimmet today. Discovering that the entity you trusted to care for your loved one has actually inflicted harm is a horrible feeling. Our lawyers offer compassionate yet aggressive legal representation during this difficult time. Contact us today at (386) 255-6400 for a free initial consultation and review of your case.
