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Date: 21 August, 2023 | Blog | Nursing Home Neglect | Falls | By: Sanga Turnbull
How does the Sunshine State weigh in on staff-to-resident ratios in nursing homes?
Florida Law on Nursing Home Staffing
Florida has specific laws governing nursing home staffing under the Florida Administrative Code, Rule 59A-4.126. The state stipulates that each nursing home must have a staffing plan in place that provides, at a minimum, 2.5 hours of nursing staff time per resident per day. Let's break that down: if a nursing home has 100 residents, it should allocate 250 nursing hours per day.
Inspection and Compliance in Florida
The Florida Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) is responsible for inspecting nursing homes. They evaluate staffing levels and their compliance with state law. Failure to meet the staffing requirements can result in fines and even the revocation of the facility's license. A failure to employ enough staff to supervise at risk residents often lead to residents suffering falls with no witnesses or any idea how the fall took place.
Legal Recourse in Florida: Where Residents Stand
In Florida, nursing home residents and their families have the right to take legal action if inadequate staffing contributes to falls or other injuries. The Florida Statutes, specifically under Chapter 400, Nursing Home Care, outline the rights and responsibilities of both nursing homes and their residents. If you're in the unfortunate position of having to navigate this legal maze, knowing your rights is half the battle.
Your Best Move in Florida
Given the specific risks and legal landscape, if you're looking for a nursing home in Florida, you'll want to be especially discerning about staff-to-resident ratios. While touring facilities, don't just ask for their numbers—ask how they comply with Florida law. After all, this is about securing peace of mind, both for you and your loved ones.
Florida nursing homes have a statutory duty to post their daily staffing numbers some where in the facility that is accessible to the public. If you don’t see the postings ask the facility front desk or someone in charge for the information. You have the right to know if the facility is employing enough staff to keep your loved ones safe.
Sanga Turnbull is the founder and principal attorney at The Turnbull Law Firm, a Florida law firm helping personal injury victims in Winter Haven and Orlando recover compensation for harm done to them by the negligence of others. The comprehensive personal injury practice at The Turnbull Firm includes all manner of motor vehicle accidents, nursing home neglect and abuse, slip and fall, workplace and industrial accidents, medical malpractice, catastrophic injury, wrongful death, and more. Injury victims or their families are invited to call The Turnbull Firm for a no-cost, confidential consultation about any potential claims they may have.
SANGA TURNBULL - BIOGRAPHY › › ›
Sanga Turnbull is the founder and principal attorney at The Turnbull Law Firm, a Florida law firm helping personal injury victims in Winter Haven and Orlando recover compensation for harm done to them by the negligence of others. The comprehensive personal injury practice at The Turnbull Firm includes all manner of motor vehicle accidents, nursing home neglect and abuse, slip and fall, workplace and industrial accidents, medical malpractice, catastrophic injury, wrongful death, and more. Injury victims or their families are invited to call The Turnbull Firm for a no-cost, confidential consultation about any potential claims they may have.
SANGA TURNBULL - BIOGRAPHY › › ›
