A recent Naples Daily News story about Florida’s worst nursing homes has many wondering about how to find the best nursing home injury attorney. The paper reported “dozens of Florida nursing homes” with long records of safety violations operating with little risk of repercussion.
Fifty-four Florida nursing homes repeatedly receive low safety scores and rack up dozens of violations, according to the story. Residents and their families have filed lawsuits against 46 of those nursing homes. The lawsuits charge the nursing homes with neglect or abuse, or other types of mistreatment. Nearly 200 nursing home residents connected to the lawsuits died.
Moreover, advocate groups like Families for Better Care say that regulators have been too lax in enforcing safety rules. Brian Lee, who heads the group, says lack of oversight puts thousands of Florida’s most vulnerable residents at risk. “You have these facilities string along for years and they never shut down. They just continue on,” Lee told reporters. “What does it take to close down a bad nursing home?”
The paper collected information on abuse and neglect complaints in Florida nursing homes going back to 2013:
Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect
Among the worst offenders among Central Florida nursing homes is Rosewood Health and Rehabilitation Center in Orlando. Rosewood had more than 100 violations. The Florida Agency for Healthcare Administration (FAHCA) Nursing Home Guide lists Rosewood on its Nursing Home Watchlist for frequently delivering substandard care. Colonial Lakes Health Care in Winter Garden has racked up more than $140,000 in fines for nearly 100 violations. In addition, Colonial Lakes is on the FAHCA Watchlist.
In the worst cases in Polk County, Wedgewood Healthcare Center in Lakeland and Palm Garden in Winter Haven were both listed as having numerous fines and violations.
Anyone with relatives in nursing facilities should check the AHCA Nursing Home Guide as well as the Medicare site, Nursing Home Compare. You should remember that personal visits are particularly important to a nursing home resident’s well-being. If nursing home negligence, abuse or medical malpractice has harmed someone you love, contact the Nursing home abuse attorneys at Martinez Manglardi. Call 407-846-2240 for a free consultation. Offices throughout Central Florida.
