When the nursing home staff of your loved one’s facility acts suspiciously or oddly, it may signal professional misconduct or possible elder abuse or neglect. According to the Department of Elder Affairs in the State of Florida, nursing homes should provide 24-hour care, health monitoring, personal care, nutritious meals, therapy as needed, and social activities.
When families make the difficult choice to place their loved one in a nursing home, they want to ensure that their loved one’s quality of life will increase and that they will receive the supervision and care they need on a daily basis. If you suspect that the nursing home staff’s odd actions indicate some form of abuse or neglect, consider consulting a Jacksonville odd actions on the part of the staff lawyer at Pintas & Mullins Law Firm to help you learn more about how to receive justice for your loved one. Call (800) 842-6336 today.
Nursing Home Staffing Requirements
The Florida Health Care Association (FHCA) indicates that every single nursing home in the State of Florida should follow these staffing requirements:
- Certified nursing assistant for 2.3 hours every day per every resident
- Licensed nursing staff of an hour of direct care every day per every resident
- A minimum of 120 hours of care per day based on an eight-hour shift, a minimum of 15 full-time employees, and a minimum of three licensed nurses at any point in time.
Unfortunately, many nursing homes remain understaffed. In some cases, nursing homes attempt to cover up the fact that they have a high turnover rate in staffing or remain understaffed in order to ensure that they receive government certifications and the ability to continue to take federal aid as compensation for residents.
Understaffing in Nursing Homes
Some estimates place understaffing in nursing homes at 90%. Understaffed nursing homes have residents that experience a greater risk of falling, malnutrition, bedsores, dehydration, infections, and death.
Nursing homes often struggle to keep staff due to financial constraints. When members of the staff leave, it places a higher burden and responsibility on the remaining staff, causing burnout and errors to occur due to exhaustion and overwork.
The remaining staff must work overtime to compensate for the high turnover rate leading to missed meals, incorrect administration and preparation of medications, and failure to ensure the overall safety of patients. As indicated by the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI), understaffed nursing homes result in improper care for residents.
For a free legal consultation with a Odd Actions on the Part of the Staff Lawyer serving Jacksonville, call (800) 794-0444
Nursing Home Staff Behavior
In many ways, the nursing home staff is the link between you and your family member. They should always remain helpful and understanding at all times. Some of the behavior that could signal that there are serious issues in a nursing home can include the following:
Failure to Answer Questions
If a nursing home fails to answer your questions regarding your loved one’s health or care immediately, you may grow suspicious. If a nursing home staff member does not have the answer to your question, you both should take immediate steps to find out.
Any form of evasive answer or failure to determine the correct answer is definitely odd and can point to either neglect or abuse. A significant red flag is when you directly question the fact that your loved one has injuries or has any type of change in their physical or emotional health, and there is no explanation or some other form of complete dismissal. You have a right to have all of your questions answered to ensure your loved one’s safety and health remain protected.
Disorderly, Disorganized, and Chaotic
If the nursing home staff fails to answer their phone, fails to answer questions, fails to provide food or daily needs to patients, or the entire atmosphere seems chaotic, it may signal that they remain understaffed and overworked. Some questions to ask are whether the staff has overall bad or adversarial attitudes or whether they appear to take direct care of residents.
Look at how the management handles these events when you witness them. If you believe that your elderly loved one lives in a nursing home with a disorderly, disorganized, and chaotic staff, they may have a greater risk of suffering abuse or neglect.
Comments from Your Loved One
If your loved one does not suffer from a degenerative cognitive condition, such as Alzheimer’s disease or dementia, they may tell you directly that the staff’s odd behavior represents their inability to properly care for them consistently on a daily basis. Talk to your loved one, and find out whether they regularly receive their medications, food, water, or have their bed repositioned in a timely manner.
Failure to do so can result in elder abuse or neglect. If your loved one tells you that they have suffered any kind of abuse or neglect as a resident in a nursing home, contact Pintas & Mullins Law Firm to learn more about how a Jacksonville odd actions on the part of the staff lawyer can help ensure your loved one receives justice.
Jacksonville Odd Actions on the Part of the Staff Lawyer Near Me (800) 794-0444
How Getting in Touch with Our Legal Team Can Help
If you are unsure of your next steps because of the odd behavior of the nursing home staff where your elderly loved one lives, you have the legal right to know what is going on and ensure the safety of your family member.
Consider hiring a Jacksonville odd actions on the part of the staff lawyer at Pintas & Mullins Law Firm at (800) 842-6336. They can help you better understand your legal options and hold those accountable for any emotional or physical trauma, abuse, or neglect your loved one experienced.
Call or text (800) 794-0444 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
