Report Reveals Elder Abuse In Florida

[lakhota]

"Angel Joglar, 71; killed when left in a bathtub of scalding water."

"Gladys Horta, 74 years old; strapped so tightly the restraints ripped into her skin, causing a blood clot that killed her."

"Walter Cox, 75 years old; Alzheimer's patient. Wandered out of a facility for the fourth time; his body was found torn apart by an alligator."

These are just a few of the stories uncovered during The Miami Herald's yearlong investigation into Florida's assisted living facilities. Thousands of documents revealed a nearly hidden world of questionable deaths, abuse, and cases of neglect towards the elderly and mentally ill.

Their project, "Neglected To Death," chronicled years of caregiver malpractice, unsuitable living conditions, and exposed Florida's state regulators' failure to monitor and enforce the laws protecting some of society's most vulnerable residents. The Miami Herald and WLRN uncovered 70 questionable deaths within the last decade alone.

While Florida supposedly holds some of the strictest elder-abuse laws in the nation, in nearly all cases recorded, The Herald found the vast majority of abuse and neglect by caregivers did not end in criminal charges or arrests by police agencies. NPR reports the AHCA found enough violations in 2008 and 2009 that it could have revoked the licenses of 70 facilities -- instead, it only closed seven.

Even more, the state's Agency for Health Care Administration, which monitors assisted living facilities, is underfunded, understaffed, and only performs inspections on each facility once every two years.

And these problems extend far beyond the borders of Florida.

More: www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/05/08/report-reveals-elder-abuse_n_858892.html

[lakhota]

I learned years ago that elderly folks in nursing homes or assisted living facilities are more likely to be abused if they don't have friends and/or relatives who randomly visit on them. Sad, but true.

[lakhota]

Shit!!!!! I don't like karmas, but thanks anyway...

[lakhota]

[Deleted]

Interesting this wasn't moved to the open thread about Florida's budget cuts for old folks. Pesky old board rules are so stifling, huh, Lak?

[❤ mollymouser ❤]

What a sad and sobering story.

[Deleted]

This post was a "complete" surprise.......coming a few days after a Republican cut the numbers of people needed to treat people in homes in Florida. I just never saw it coming.

[AgeOfEnlightenmentSCP]

Even more, the state's Agency for Health Care Administration, which monitors assisted living facilities, is underfunded, understaffed, and only performs inspections on each facility once every two years

Dammit! I mean this is really going to cramp my style. I may end up having to honor and respect my parents and look in on them myself from time to time. This is bullshit. We need to raise taxes NOW and make sure the state cares for my parents so I can work to pay the taxes to make sure the state cares for my parents that I'd look in on if I wasn't busy working to pay the taxes...