Nursing Home Abuse

Currently, there are about 1.5 million people living in nursing homes in the United States. These residents are our parents, grandparents, and friends. They are also very vulnerable to the harsh reality of neglect and abuse of their caregivers.

Kim Kohn of Goudie & Kohn has extensive experience in defending clients against the atrocities of nursing home abuse. Her familiarity with nursing home abuse and neglect cases begin with her role as lead counsel in her former firm, during which she won over $20,000,000 in settlements for her clients.

Before entering your loved one into a nursing home, be sure to

• Ask for healthcare surveys and inspections
• Review the contract
• Review the arbitration clause in the contract
• Ask questions about caregivers, such as ratio of nurses to residents

If your loved one is already in a nursing home and you suspect neglect, contact Kim Kohn at Tampa-area firm of Goudie & Kohn immediately. Ms. Kohn orders medical records immediately and brings in seasoned experts to evaluate these records. Goudie & Kohn takes nursing home abuse so seriously that they have an LPN readily available to provide a professional opinion on abuse claims.

Signs of abuse and neglect include:

• Unexplained bruises
• Weight loss
• Dehydration
• Broken bones
• Pressure sores
• Poor hygiene such as body odor, food stains, and dirty fingernails

Take pictures of these signs of abuse and neglect. Speak to nurses and the nursing home director about your concerns and make sure to document all interaction you have with the staff. In Florida, the statute of limitations for filing a nursing home abuse lawsuit is only two years.

Check out your loved one’s nursing home at the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration.