1-855-722-2552Sadly, Florida Nursing Home Abuse and neglect is on the rise. If you suspect that your loved one is being abused in a nursing facility, or if they or another resident complains of mistreatment, do not hesitate to notify the authorities. It is against the law for anyone to abuse or neglect residents, including staff, volunteers, family members and guardians, or other residents of the nursing home.
Nursing Home Abuse Report
When writing a Florida nursing home abuse report, it is important to include as many details as possible. It is important to provide enough information to spark the investigation into your elder abuse claim. Make sure that the report is in writing and is dated. Keep copies of the report in the event that the original is lost or tampered with. Be sure to include the following in your nursing home abuse report:
- Who: Include the name, age and address of the victim; the name of the facility where the abuse took place; all individuals in charge of the victim’s care; and a detailed description of the person you believe has committed the mistreatment of the resident.
- What: Describe the nature of the abuse, listing signs of physical abuse including injuries and bruises as well as an estimation of how long you believe the abuse or neglect has been happening.
- Where: Include where in the facility the incident took place (the resident’s room, in the dining hall, etc.).
- When: Account for, as best as possible, the times and dates of all instances of abuse.
Florida Nursing Home Abuse Report Contacts
According to The National Long-Term Care Ombudsman Resource Center, the following individuals, state agencies and citizen advocacy groups should be contacted if you believe there has been foul play in the care of your loved one in a Florida nursing home.
| Florida Long-Term Care Ombudsman | Jim Crotchet | State LTC Ombudsman | Dept. of Elder Affairs 4040 Esplanade Way Tallahassee, FL 32399 | 850-414-2323 |
| Florida Long-Term Care Ombudsman | Don Hering | Deputy State Ombudsman/Field | 701 W. Fletcher Ave. | 813-558-5591 |
| Florida Long-Term Care Ombudsman | Priscilla Zachary | Deputy State Ombudsman/ Headquarters | Dept. of Elder Affairs | 850-414-2329 |
| Office on Aging | Chuck Corley | Dept. of Elder Affairs | 850-404-2000 | |
| Agency for Health Care Administration, Division for Health Quality Assurance | Elizabeth Dudek | Deputy Secretary | 2727 Mahan Dr., Room 3105 | 850-414-9796 |
| Medicaid Fraud Unit Control | Rick Lover | Director | Office of the Attorney General | 850-414-3300 |
| Board of Examiners for Nursing Home Administrator | John D. Taylor | Executive Director | 4052 Bald Cypress Way | 850-488-0595 |
| FL Agency for Health Care Administration | Tom Arnold | Deputy Secretary for Medicaid | Agency for Health Care Admin. | 850-488-3560 |
| Florida Medical Quality Assurance | Mark S. Michelman, MD | Clinical Director | 5201 W. Kennedy Blvd, Ste. 900 | 813-354-9111 |
| Advocacy Center for Persons with Disabilities | Gary Wheaton | 2728 Centerview Dr., Ste. 102 | 850-488-9071 | |
| Florida Department of Elder Affairs | Chris Shoemaker | Management Analyst | 1317 Winewood Blvd. | 850-488-2881 |
| ACTION | Anna Spinella | Chair | 4714 W. Euclid Ave. | 813-837-1714 |
| Families for Better Care, Inc. | Brian Lee | Executive Director | P.O. Box 982 | 850-224-3322 |
| Palm Beach County Long-Term Care Ombudsman | Laura Leite | District Ombudsman Manager | 111 S. Sapodilla Ave., #125 A-B-C | 561-837-5038 |
| Broward County Long-Term Care Ombudsman | David Gillespie | District Ombudsman Manager | 7771 W. Oakland Park Blvd., Ste. 139 | 954-747-7919 |
| Treasure Coast Long-Term Care Ombudsman | Kevin McKeown | District Ombudsman Manager | 1903 S. 25th Street, Ste. 100 | 772-595-1385 |
Nursing Home Abuse Lawsuit
After you have filed a nursing home abuse complaint, you should also consider your legal options for pursuing justice. Nursing home abuse victims and their families should speak to an experienced elder negligence attorney right away. At Gordon & Partners, our nursing home abuse lawyers are dedicated to helping elder abuse victims fight for their rights, obtain the compensation they deserve for their ordeal and, most importantly, put an end to the abuse. For more information on the legal rights which may be available to abuse victims and their families, schedule a no obligation consultation with a member of our legal team today by completing the free case evaluation form on this page.
