Using Florida’s Nursing Home Guide/Watch List

Placing a loved one in long-term nursing care is an unpleasant but often unavoidable decision. What’s more, with new reports of rampant nursing home abuse and neglect emerging every day, it seems more difficult than ever to find a safe and secure home for your family member. Fortunately, Florida regulators are working hard to keep tabs on the state’s numerous long-term care facilities. The findings that they make available to the public are an invaluable resource for those choosing a facility, as well as for those looking to confirm fears of suspected abuse or neglect.

Florida’s Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) compiles a number of nursing home resources. These include star rankings for most facilities in the state based upon their inspection performance, along with a watch-list of facilities operating under a conditional license due to a failure to maintain minimum state inspection standards. AHCA gives facilities a rating of one to five stars across the following eight categories and inspection components:

Unfortunately, nursing home abuse and neglect can occur anywhere, even at highly rated facilities. While doing thorough research before deciding upon a home for your loved one can provide great peace of mind, it does not reduce the need to monitor his or her condition continually and closely. Likewise, do not turn a blind eye to troubling signs or symptoms simply because a facility has a good reputation or rating. An experienced Florida personal injury attorney can help you investigate signs of nursing home abuse or neglect and, if substantiated, help you take appropriate legal action against those responsible.