Florida Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer

Nursing Home Abuse & Neglect in Florida

Florida nursing homes are meant to provide a safe, caring environment for senior citizens. Yet when facilities fail to meet these standards, nursing home abuse or neglect may occur and put the well-being of residents at risk.

Florida ranks 43 out of 50 on AARP’s Long-Term Services & Supports Scorecard, reflecting below-average nursing home performance compared to other states and raising broader concerns about care quality across the state.

Nursing home abuse can take many forms, including:

• Physical abuse: Violence or unnecessary force against a resident can result in injuries and leave them feeling scared or unsafe within the facility.
• Elder neglect: If staff members fail to meet a resident's basic needs, like providing them with proper nutrition or hygiene assistance, it may be considered neglect. This lack of care can lead to physical and mental decline.
• Sexual abuse: Inappropriate sexual contact between a staff member and a resident may result in injuries, infections, and emotional trauma.

Nearly 30% of Florida nursing homes have serious deficiencies, which are believed to put residents in immediate danger, according to ProPublica. Approximately 65% have been identified as having infection-related deficiencies.

Our Florida nursing home abuse lawyers have the legal experience and resources to challenge the facilities behind your loved one's injuries — and fight for the accountability and justice they deserve.

Signs of Abuse in Nursing Homes

Recognizing the signs of nursing home abuse is crucial to getting your loved one out of a potentially harmful situation. When you visit them or talk over the phone, you should be aware of any shifts in their physical or emotional state.

Signs of abuse in nursing homes can include:

• Bedsores or pressure ulcers
• Behavioral changes, like acting withdrawn or agitated
• Dehydration or malnutrition
• Poor hygiene and unsanitary living conditions
• Unaddressed medical issues
• Unexplained injuries, like cuts, bruises, or broken bones
• Weight loss

If you suspect that your loved one is experiencing nursing home abuse, it's important to take action immediately. You can report the abuse to the facility’s administration, a long-term care ombudsman, or the Florida Department of Social Services.

At Sokolove Law, our nursing home neglect attorneys in Florida can also help you take steps to protect your family member and hold those responsible for their suffering accountable.

Who Can a Florida Nursing Home Lawyer Help?

By getting help from our nursing home abuse lawyers in Florida, you may be able to secure the compensation needed to relocate yourself or a loved one to a safer environment that can provide the care you deserve.

You may be able to work with a Florida nursing home lawyer if:

• You experienced abuse or neglect at a nursing home or long-term care facility
• You’re the immediate family member or estate representative of an elder abuse victim

If your family member passed away due to suspected nursing home abuse or neglect, you may still be able to take legal action by filing a wrongful death lawsuit against the facility where they lived.

How to File a Florida Nursing Home Abuse Lawsuit

At Sokolove Law, our attorneys strive to make filing a Florida nursing home abuse lawsuit as stress-free as possible. We can handle all of the legal legwork for you, so you can focus on supporting your loved one through this challenging time.

In general, our Florida nursing home abuse lawyers can:

• Provide you with a free case review to determine if you may be eligible to take legal action against those responsible for your loved one’s suffering.
• Gather evidence to prove neglect or abuse took place and that the staff or nursing home was responsible. This may include medical records, witness testimony, and more.
• File your nursing home abuse lawsuit in the correct Florida court before any legal deadlines pass.
• Negotiate an elder abuse settlement with the defendant(s), which may allow you to receive compensation without going to court.

If a settlement is unable to be reached, our nursing home neglect attorneys in Florida are prepared to present your case in court and fight for a verdict on your behalf.

Our Past Florida Nursing Home Settlements

We’ve secured over $327 Million for victims of nursing home abuse and their families nationwide. While the average nursing home abuse settlement is around $400,000, we've recovered much higher payouts for many clients.

Some of our past nursing home abuse settlements and verdicts include:

• $1.11 Million for a Florida nursing home resident who suffered a heart attack after being hospitalized for low blood sugar
• $2 Million to a woman with dementia who was denied care
• $1.75 Million for the family of a man who died in a fire caused by neglect
• $1.5 Million to a woman with stage 4 bedsores
• $1.12 Million for a victim of nursing home abuse
• $625,000 to a Florida woman whose mother fell in a nursing home multiple times and ultimately passed away after hitting her head

Compensation from a nursing home abuse lawsuit in Florida can help pay for your loved one’s transfer to a safer facility, medical bills, funeral expenses, and more.

Nursing home abuse case values will vary depending on the unique details of each case, but our experienced lawyers know how to gather the evidence necessary to maximize compensation.

While there’s never a guarantee of results, our Florida elder abuse lawyers will fight hard to get you everything you’re entitled to.

Florida Nursing Home Statute of Limitations

In Florida, a state law known as the statute of limitations gives families only a limited window of time to file a nursing home abuse lawsuit.

The Florida nursing home abuse statute of limitations is 2 years after a loved one’s injury or death, according to Florida Statute § 400.0236.

Once this deadline passes, you won’t be able to take legal action for your loved one's suffering ever again.

Types of Florida Nursing Home Lawyers

At Sokolove Law, our Florida nursing home lawyers can help injured residents and the families of those harmed by abuse, neglect, or unsafe conditions seek justice.

Nursing homes are meant to provide care, supervision, and a safe living environment. When facilities fail to meet these basic responsibilities, residents can suffer a wide range of serious and sometimes life-threatening injuries.

We can handle cases involving: 

• Physical abuse
• Neglect
• Bedsores or pressure wounds
• Accidental injuries
• Chemical restraints
• Falls
• Infections or sepsis
• Malnutrition and dehydration
• Medical malpractice
• Medication errors
• Sexual abuse
• Wrongful deaths

Find out more about the types of cases our Florida nursing home injury lawyers may be able to help with.

Florida Nursing Home Physical Abuse Lawyer

Physical abuse in nursing homes is far more common than many families realize, with one study finding that approximately 45% of nursing home residents have experienced abuse.

Physical abuse can result in visible injuries like bruises, cuts, or fractures. In some cases, abuse may also cause emotional distress and behavioral changes.

Physical abuse of nursing home residents can include: 

• Hitting
• Improper or excessive use of physical restraints
• Kicking
• Punching
• Rough handling
• Shoving
• Slapping

If your loved one has unexplained injuries, shows sudden changes in behavior, or seems fearful of staff, contact our Florida nursing home physical abuse lawyers. We may be able to help you hold abusive staff or facilities accountable.

Florida Nursing Home Neglect Lawyer

Neglect occurs when nursing home staff fail to provide basic care to residents, putting them at risk of serious harm. In a survey of more than 2,000 nursing home residents, 95% reported experiencing neglect or witnessing neglect.

When negligence in a nursing home leads to preventable injuries, worsening medical conditions, and unnecessary pain, then a Florida nursing home neglect lawyer may be able to help those affected take legal action.

Common signs of neglect may include:

• Malnutrition or dehydration
• Poor hygiene
• Pressure wounds
• Unsanitary living conditions
• Untreated medical issues

Florida’s 2022 nursing home staffing law (HB 1239 / SB 804) reduced required CNA care from 2.5 hours to 2.0 hours per resident per day and allowed non-nursing staff to be counted toward staffing minimums. Following these changes, Florida nursing homes experienced measurable declines in quality indicators, according to AARP.

By working with a Florida nursing home negligence lawyer, you can pursue compensation for your loved one’s medical bills and the cost of transferring them to a facility that can provide the level of care they deserve.

Florida Nursing Home Bedsores Lawyer

Nursing home staff are trained to regularly reposition residents to prevent bedsores from forming, and to treat the wounds promptly when they do occur. Without proper care, these sores can worsen quickly and lead to life-threatening infections.

Bedsores or pressure wounds may indicate nursing home neglect, especially when they reach stage 3 or stage 4.

A Florida nursing home bedsore lawyer can help families hold negligent facilities accountable for failing to properly care for their loved one.

“Severe bedsores are one of the clearest signs of nursing home neglect. These wounds take time to form and are almost always preventable with routine care.”
– Ricky LeBlanc, Managing Attorney of Sokolove Law

Florida Nursing Home Accident Lawyer

When facilities fail to maintain safe environments or provide proper supervision, accidents may occur that cause residents to suffer serious or even fatal injuries.

Nursing home accidents may involve:

• Burns from hot food or liquids
• Choking or aspiration during meals
• Cuts or lacerations from sharp objects or unsafe surroundings
• Elopement (wandering or leaving the facility unsupervised)
• Equipment-related injuries, including wheelchairs, walkers, bed rails, or lifts
• Slips, trips, and falls

An estimated 20,000 to 40,000 nursing home residents with cognitive issues elope each year, according to McKnight’s Senior Living. These residents may wander into traffic, fall, become lost outdoors in extreme temperatures, or encounter water hazards.

At Sokolove Law, our Florida nursing home accident lawyers can look into the circumstances surrounding your loved one’s injuries and determine whether the facility’s negligence played a role.

Florida Nursing Home Chemical Restraints Lawyer

Chemical restraints are medications used to control a nursing home resident’s behavior rather than to treat a legitimate medical condition, including powerful antipsychotics and sedatives.

More than 1 in 5 nursing home residents are given antipsychotic drugs, often without a clear medical justification, according to the Long-Term Care Community Coalition.

The use of chemical restraints may lead to: 

• Confusion or disorientation
• Falls
• Lethargy and drowsiness
• Loss of mobility
• Respiratory depression

A Florida nursing home chemical restraints lawyer can help families investigate whether medications were improperly prescribed or administered and hold facilities accountable for prioritizing their convenience over resident safety.

Florida Nursing Home Fall Lawyer

Every year, around half of all nursing home residents experience at least one fall, according to the National Library of Medicine. Falls can result in injuries that may dramatically impact an older adult’s health, independence, and quality of life.

Many nursing home falls are entirely preventable. Facilities are required to assess each resident’s fall risk, flag those who are high risk, and take the appropriate precautions to prevent avoidable harm.

Nursing home falls may occur when:

• Facilities are understaffed
• Residents have to wait too long for help and attempt to move on their own
• Fall risk assessments aren’t completed or updated
• Floors and hallways are cluttered or unsafe
• Medication side effects aren’t monitored, potentially leading to dizziness or weakness
• Mobility aids are broken or ill-fitting
• Residents aren’t properly supervised

Falls in nursing homes can lead to broken bones, head injuries, and even death. Elderly residents who are injured in a fall may experience a loss of mobility and a rapid decline in health.

Our Florida nursing home fall lawyers can examine staffing records, care plans, fall risk assessments, incident reports, and medical records to determine whether a facility’s negligence may have played a role in your loved one’s fall.

Florida Nursing Home Infection Lawyer

Nursing homes are required to follow strict infection control protocols, including proper catheter care, wound cleaning, and hand hygiene. When facilities fail to meet these standards, residents may be placed in harm’s way.

If an infection goes untreated, residents may develop sepsis, which can lead to organ failure or death. Our Florida nursing home sepsis lawyers can help you determine your legal options after a preventable or poorly addressed infection.

Florida Nursing Home Malnutrition Lawyer

Malnutrition and dehydration are serious and often overlooked forms of nursing home neglect. When staff fail to provide residents with adequate food, fluids, or assistance during meals, residents can quickly suffer severe health consequences.

Approximately 20% of nursing home residents are malnourished, with rates rising to more than 65% in some facilities, according to Current Opinion in Clinical Nutrition & Metabolic Care.

Our Florida nursing home dehydration lawyers can also help in cases where residents are not given enough water or assistance with drinking. Common warning signs of dehydration include dizziness, dry mouth or lips, dark or infrequent urine, fatigue, and confusion.

At Sokolove Law, our Florida nursing home malnutrition lawyers know how to investigate whether a facility failed to meet basic care standards or ignored signs that a resident was not receiving proper nutrition or hydration. Let us fight for you.

Florida Nursing Home Malpractice Lawyer

Nursing home malpractice occurs when medical professionals provide substandard care that leads to an injury or allows a health condition to worsen. This can include mistakes involving diagnosing, treating, or monitoring residents.

Because many nursing home residents often have complex medical needs, even small errors can quickly result in serious harm.

Medical malpractice in nursing homes may involve:

• Delayed response to medical emergencies
• Failure to diagnose or treat infections
• Improper wound or post-surgical care
• Lack of appropriate medical supervision
• Medication errors
• Mismanagement of chronic conditions

Nursing home malpractice is often linked to understaffing, inadequate training, or poor communication between staff.

A Florida nursing home malpractice lawyer can review medical records, treatment notes, staffing logs, and expert opinions to determine whether medical negligence caused harm to a resident.

Florida Nursing Home Medication Error Lawyer

Nursing home medication errors, including giving the wrong dose or medication, may have serious and potentially fatal consequences.

During a 3-month period, approximately 90% of residents experienced at least 1 medication error, according to BMC Geriatrics.

Medication errors can happen when staff:

• Administer too much or too little of a prescribed medication
• Dispense a medication intended for another resident
• Fail to monitor residents for adverse reactions or side effects
• Give medications at the wrong time
• Provide expired or improperly stored medications
• Skip or miss scheduled doses

By working with our experienced Florida nursing home medication error lawyers, you can get help holding those responsible for your loved one’s suffering accountable.

Florida Nursing Home Sexual Abuse Lawyer

Over 70% of elder sexual abuse cases occur in nursing homes, according to Minnesota’s Office of Ombudsman for Long-Term Care. Sexual abuse in nursing homes may be carried out by staff, visitors, or other residents.

Residents with cognitive impairments, like dementia or Alzheimer’s disease, may be at especially high risk because they may have difficulty recognizing or reporting the abuse.

If your loved one begins showing signs of sexual abuse, like emotional changes, unexplained injuries in sensitive areas, or new sexually transmitted infections (STIs), reach out to our Florida nursing home sexual abuse lawyers for help.

Florida Nursing Home Death Lawyer

While some nursing home residents pass away due to natural causes, others may die as a result of abuse or neglect within a care facility.

Residents who have experienced abuse have a 300% higher risk of death than those who have not, according to Gitnux.

Wrongful deaths in nursing homes may be linked to issues like: 

• Falls
• Improper use of medical equipment
• Malnutrition or dehydration
• Medication errors
• Poorly trained staff
• Preventable accidents
• Untreated infections

Our Florida nursing home wrongful death lawyers can investigate the circumstances surrounding your loved one’s death and determine whether negligence contributed to their passing.

Those affected may be able to seek compensation for medical expenses, funeral and burial costs, and the emotional impact of losing a loved one.

The Decline of Florida’s Nursing Homes

Between 2019 and early 2024, 425 Florida nursing homes changed ownership — more than 60% of the state's total nursing home inventory, according to AARP. Of those ownership changes, at least 156 facilities were acquired by private equity investors.

Private equity-acquired facilities saw average CMS quality ratings fall from 3.4 to 2.9 stars. Direct care staffing also fell 13% per resident in PE-acquired facilities, resulting in 33 fewer minutes of care per resident per day.

As staffing and oversight decline, these facilities have also experienced higher rates of preventable hospitalizations, suggesting that ownership changes and reduced staffing levels are directly impacting resident safety and outcomes.

Let Our Nursing Home Neglect Lawyers in Florida Help

At Sokolove Law, our nursing home neglect lawyers in Florida have decades of experience supporting those who have suffered abuse at the hands of their caregivers.

Our nursing home abuse law firm has recovered millions on behalf of Florida patients and their families. There are no hourly fees or out-of-pocket costs to work with our team.

We’re committed to providing you with the personal attention your case deserves. We have the resources necessary to stand up to large long-term care facilities and make sure your loved one is protected.

Let us fight for the justice you deserve. Call (800) 995-1212 now or fill out our contact form to get a free, no-obligation case review.

Florida Nursing Home Ratings

The U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) evaluates Florida nursing homes using a 5-star rating system based on health inspections, staffing levels, and quality measures.

In some cases, CMS also designates facilities with chronic issues as Special Focus Facilities (SFFs), which are subject to additional oversight.

Florida nursing homes on the SFF list include:

• Aventura at the Bay in Saint Petersburg
• Groves Center in Lake Wales
• Gulf Coast Village in Cape Coral

Multiple other Florida nursing homes have received a 1-star rating and been cited by CMS for resident abuse. Learn more about some of these facilities below.

Adviniacare at Naples

Adviniacare at 7801 Airport Pulling Road N. in Naples is a for-profit nursing home with 40 certified beds.

Findings from CMS inspections include failure to:

• Adequately train all staff on elopement prevention procedures and emergency response protocols
• Ensure exit alarm systems were effective, audible, and appropriately monitored
• Implement effective fall prevention measures for residents with known high fall risk and repeated prior falls
• Provide adequate supervision to prevent repeated unwitnessed falls within the facility
• Prevent residents from leaving the facility unattended
• Maintain a safe environment free from preventable accident hazards contributing to resident injuries

The inspection results reflect widespread breakdowns in basic safety systems, particularly around supervision, fall prevention, and preventing resident elopement.

Aspire at Evans

Aspire at Evans, which is located at 3735 Evans Avenue in Fort Myers, is a 120-bed facility operated by Aviata Health Group.

Findings from CMS inspections include failure to:

• Protect residents from physical abuse by staff members
• Create and put into place a plan for meeting the resident's most immediate needs within 48 hours of being admitted
• Provide or get specialized rehabilitative services as required for a resident
• Have enough nursing staff to meet the needs of every resident and have a licensed nurse in charge on each shift
• Implement an effective pest control program

These findings point to systemic failures in basic safety oversight, staffing adequacy, and clinical responsiveness, all of which are fundamental to protecting residents in a skilled nursing setting.

Dade City Health and Rehabilitation Center

Dade City Health and Rehabilitation Center at 37135 Coleman Ave in Dade City is a for-profit nursing home operated by Simcha Hyman and Naftali Zanziper.

Findings from CMS inspections include failure to:

• Document the dosage, site, and time of medication administrations along with a nurse’s signature
• Honor a resident’s end-of-life wishes for Do Not Resuscitate (DNR)
• Implement an infection prevention and control program
• Properly store food in the facility’s kitchen
• Provide timely, quality laboratory services to meet the needs of residents

The cited deficiencies reflect breakdowns in clinical documentation, infection control, dietary safety, and honoring resident rights, indicating gaps in both regulatory compliance and day-to-day care coordination.

Palm Garden of Largo

Palm Garden of Largo, located at 10500 Starkey Road in Largo, is a 140-bed facility operated by Palm Garden Health and Rehabilitation.

Findings from CMS inspections include failure to:

• Assist with toileting requests within an appropriate time frame
• Develop and implement a complete care plan that meets all the resident's needs
• Ensure residents were treated with respect and dignity
• Properly investigate allegations of abuse
• Respond to resident call lights in a timely manner

Overall, the inspection results suggest repeated lapses in timely responsiveness, dignity in care, and proper investigation of harm concerns, raising serious questions about resident-centered care practices.

Westside Oaks Rehabilitation & Nursing Center

Westside Oaks Rehabilitation & Nursing Center at 2061 Hyde Park Road in Jacksonville is a 180-bed facility operated by Benjamin Landa.

Findings from CMS inspections include failure to:

• Ensure adequate supervision and safeguards for a resident with known pica and a documented history of ingesting non-food items
• Provide adequate staff training and compliance oversight regarding management of residents with severe behavioral and cognitive impairments
• Help residents who are unable to perform activities of daily living on their own
• Properly store food intended for residents in the facility’s kitchen
• Notify a physician and the resident’s family about a choking incident

These findings highlight a pattern of missed clinical escalation, insufficient supervision for high-risk residents, and failures in basic safety and communication protocols, all of which can directly impact resident well-being and outcomes.

These are not the only Florida nursing homes known for poor conditions or potential wrongdoing.

Florida Nursing Home Lawyer FAQs