Nursing Home in Florida Fined $36,000 After Failing to Report Claim of Sex Abuse
The Florida Agency for Health Care Administration on April 18th fined a nursing home $36,000 for failing to report sex abuse allegations at their facility.
An investigation at the nursing home uncovered that Avante, at Ormond Beach, did not properly report an allegation that an employee of the facility crawled into bed with a patient.
Avante has 30 days to pay the fine, and has been issued a conditional license, which means the facility can expect additional inspections. The nursing home has submitted a corrective plan to the state, which has been accepted.
The state initially levied a $45,000 fine on the facility for the sex abuse misreport, which is higher than the average fine of $40,000. However, they agreed to lower the amount to help the facility comply with the fine.
Sex Abuse Allegations at the Facility
The alleged incident occurred in January 2012, when a resident at Avante accused an employee of climbing into bed with her roommate, according to the inspection report. The roommate denied the allegation as well as any sex abuse. However, the staff failed to call police or social services to investigate the allegations.
Avante reportedly has a pattern of violations, and has been put on both the state and federal nursing home watch lists. It’s most recent incident report released in February this year revealed that not only did the facility fail to properly report accusations of sex abuse, but also had several other deficiencies, including excessive medication errors, inadequate food, and deficient infection-control practices.
The Strom Law Firm Protects Families in Elder Abuse Cases, Including Sex Abuse
Founded by former U.S. State Attorney Pete Strom in 1996, the Strom Law Firm has been fighting elder abuse cases for 15 years. The nursing home abuse lawyers at the Strom Law Firm take an aggressive approach to confronting the kind of egregious misconduct found in nursing home abuse and neglect cases. We represent elderly clients and families who have been victims of:
- Physical, emotional, and psychological abuse and neglect
- Sex abuse at the hands of a caregiver, staff member, or another patient
- Medication and prescription errors
- Inappropriate use of physical or chemical restraints
- Bedsores, pressure sores, decubitus ulcers, and infections
- Dehydration and malnutrition
- Falls, dislocations and fractures
- Inadequate staffing, training, and negligent supervision claims
- Financial abuse and exploitation
Our investigators and attorneys will move quickly and discretely to uncover and preserve critical evidence and vigorously pursue the maximum amount of compensation available under applicable laws.
If your loved one is a resident of a skilled nursing facility, long term care facility, assisted living, or independent living facility, and has faced sex abuse or sexual misconduct from employees or fellow residents, you do not have to suffer in silence. The attorneys at the Strom Law Firm will fight a variety of elder abuse and neglect cases, because it is very important that our elders receive the best possible care at the end of their lives, and we must hold these facilities to the highest possible standard. We offer free, confidential consultations, so you can discuss the facts of your case with impunity. Contact us today for help. 803.252.4800.
