Nursing homes in Hollywood are supposed to be safe places for those who cannot care for themselves. Unfortunately, abuse and injuries can occur in these environments and while the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) and other agencies are supposed to keep an eye out for violence and dangerous conditions in South Florida nursing homes, abuse and neglect can happen.
Violence is one type of situation which can lead to injuries and even fatalities in nursing homes. Violence in nursing homes can stem from many situations, including:
- Nursing home abuse. Nursing home staff can sometimes inflict physical violence on nursing home residents. There have been instances of staff hitting, punching, and otherwise violently assaulting residents.
- Resident abuse. Sometimes, residents have a history of violence or have mental or cognitive conditions which cause them to behave aggressively. This can mean other residents or even staff are targeted and suffer injuries as a result.
- Outsider violence. Sometimes, outside intruders cause violence, and even shootings at nursing homes are not unheard-of. In February 2018, a person was fatally shot in the parking lot of an Augusta, Georgia nursing home and in 2009 eight people were shot in a nursing home in North Carolina. Like any public place and workplace, violence can occur in nursing homes in Hollywood. In addition to shootings, violence of other types can occur due to intruders at a nursing home.
Violence can lead to devastating injuries, including:
- Lacerations
- Shot wounds
- Fatalities
- Broken bones and fractures
- Cardiac episodes
No nursing home resident should have to face violence in their home. There are many things nursing homes in Hollywood can do to prevent violence:
- Hire security staff.
- Separate residents with aggressive tendencies.
- Provide adequate supervision for all residents.
- Have every entrance staffed by someone to greet and sign in visitors.
- Install lighting and cameras to maintain good supervision of the premises.
- Secure the premises, including windows and doors.
- Screen residents and staff.
- Ensure adequate staff to prevent frustration and caregiver fatigue.
- Train staff to correctly handle instances of violence.
- Have a written policy regarding violence and its prevention.
If you have suffered an injury, you may be able to seek compensation for your injuries if the nursing home failed to provide a reasonably safe environment for residents. If you work at a nursing home and are injured due to violence, you may have a workers’ compensation claim, which can help you pay for medical costs and lost time at work.
If you have been injured through a violent incident at a nursing home, contact Flaxman Law Group at 1-866-352-9626 (1-866-FLAXMAN) to speak to a Hollywood nursing home attorney. Your first consultation with us is free and comes with no obligation.