Florida has consistently had some of the highest case counts of COVID-19 since the pandemic began. Lax regulations from the state government, tourists visiting from around the world and the rushed reopening of nonessential businesses have contributed to the virus running rampant in Florida. As of mid-July, over 271,000 people in Florida have tested positive for the coronavirus. Over 4,000 victims have died.
One of the most alarming aspects of the COVID-19 pandemic has been its impact on nursing homes. Nursing home residents are a high-risk group for the coronavirus. It is critical for a nursing home to upgrade its cleanliness and sanitation protocols to fight the virus, as well as take other steps to proactively protect residents. Unfortunately, not all nursing homes in the state are reacting appropriately. If you have a loved one in a nursing home in Tampa Bay during COVID-19, find out what you can do to help keep him or her safe.
Hillsborough County has about 280 nursing homes and long-term care facilities. The Tampa Bay Area also encompasses hundreds of facilities in Pinellas, Hernando and Pasco Counties. So far, 37 nursing homes in the Tampa Bay area have reported residents testing positive for COVID-19. Many nursing homes in Tampa Bay have had dozens of cases, as well as resident deaths.
Brandon:
Clearwater:
Dunedin:
Lakeland:
Largo:
Lutz:
New Port Richey:
Oldsmar:
Palm Harbor:
Pinellas Park:
Plant City:
Safety Harbor:
Seminole:
St. Petersburg:
Sun City Center:
Tampa:
Tarpon Springs:
Zephyrhills:
If your loved one resides at a nursing home on this list, contact it for more information about the number of cases and how the facility is handling the matter. Try to communicate with your loved one often through phone, video or email. Florida’s list of COVID-19-positive facilities is constantly growing. Stay vigilant in contacting the nursing home taking care of your family member for updates.
Federal and state lawmakers have attempted to slow the spread of the coronavirus through emergency orders and declarations. For example, Florida issued an emergency order banning outsiders from visiting nursing home residents and other long-term care facilities. It also ordered all nursing homes to test their staff members for the virus every two weeks.
Nursing homes and similar facilities have high standards of care during the coronavirus pandemic. It is critical for these places to take careful steps in protecting their high-risk residents. Failing to do so is negligence.
If a nursing home negligently fails to take adequate steps to prevent COVID-19 or protect its residents from the further spread of the virus, that nursing home could be liable for a victim’s damages. Liability asks whether another nursing home would have done more to prevent the COVID-19 case or properly treat a resident’s illness. If the answer is yes, the nursing home may be guilty of negligence and have to pay for the victim’s damages through an injury lawsuit.
Conditions at a nursing home in Tampa Bay may worsen when staff members know no one is watching them. Check on your loved one often to show that you and your family are paying attention to how the facility is handling the pandemic. While you may not be able to visit in person, contact your loved one in other ways. Use technology such as Facetime, Zoom and Skype to video chat with your loved one. Video conferences can allow you to see the condition of the care facility as well as the health and cleanliness of your loved one.
Nursing home abuse is the intentional harming of nursing home residents. It can refer to physical, mental, emotional, verbal, financial or sexual abuse. Nursing home abuse can cause serious injuries to elderly victims, such as broken bones, head injuries and brain injuries. It can also cause wrongful death. Nursing home abuse occurs at an estimated rate of 10% of residents. Experts believe, however, that the actual rate is much higher due to underreporting.
Contact your loved one’s nursing home to ask questions about what it is doing to combat COVID-19. If you discover your loved one has COVID-19, discuss the possibility of a negligence lawsuit against the Tampa Bay nursing home with a personal injury lawyer in Tampa. You may be able to bring a suit against the facility for failing to uphold its duties of care to residents under federal elderly care laws, state COVID-19 mandates and/or basic nursing home care standards.
A Tampa nursing home attorney can help you protect your loved one, search for evidence of neglect and file a claim to damages against a nursing home for causing or failing to prevent the coronavirus. A successful claim could result in compensation for your family’s medical costs, pain and suffering, emotional distress, and more. Call (813) 223-6773 today to speak to a lawyer from the Fiol & Morros Law Group for free.
