Soon, There will be a Total of Eighty (80) Licensed Assisted Living Facilities in Sarasota County, Florida.

Will your family need assisted living facility care soon?  The greatest concern facing most families is the fear of assisted living facility neglect and abuse.  It may (or may not) come as a surprise to most residents of Sarasota County, Florida that in recent years there has been what may best be described as an explosion of new assisted living facility providers within the county, spreading throughout Sarasota, Lakewood Ranch, Venice, Englewood and North Port.  This surge comes at a time when the size of our population aged 65+, both nationally and in Florida, is growing at a unprecedented rate.  It seems that the assisted living facility industry cannot keep up with the demand. With a couple of new facilities slated for official opening in Sarasota and Venice, there are expected to be a total of eighty (80) licensed  assisted living facility operators caring for local seniors by year’s end in Sarasota County. Will corporate operators of assisted living facilities do what is necessary to attract qualified nurses and aids?  Will they make the prevention of assisted living facility neglect and abuse prevention a true priority?

Will Neglect and Abuse Complaints Increase in Sarasota County, FL as a Result of Deficient Staffing Practices as More Assisted Living Facilities Open?

Many assisted living facility operators acknowledge that staffing remains their greatest challenge.  One might argue that it is a problem of their own making.  Can we expect to see a corresponding increase in assisted living facility neglect and abuse complaints?  Nurses and aids, understandably, tend to gravitate toward the better paying positions offered by hospitals and physician practice groups.  Nursing homes and assisted living facility companies are often left competing for lesser qualified and unmotivated individuals.  Assisted living facility neglect and abuse tends to increase when staff members are overworked and underpaid.  Staff turnover increase.  The quality of care decreases.

Research Each Assisted Living Facility Under Consideration and Make an Informed Choice.

If you are considering entering an assisted living facility or need to place a loved one in an ALF, there are resources available that provide basic information for consumers.  The Florida Agency for Healthcare Administration licenses, investigates and regulates assisted living facilities in Florida.  This agency also operates a website with valuable information, including details pertaining to complaints and investigations.  This website is located at:   http://www.floridahealthfinder.gov/LandingPages/ALF.aspx  In addition to doing online research, visit the assisted living facility.  How does it look?  Do residents seem happy and well tended to? Does anyone seem to have assisted living facility neglect and abuse complaints?  Some of the largest assisted living facility providers in the area include:

Sarasota:

Alderman Oaks Retirement Center, Inc., Anchin Pavilion, Arden Courts of Sarasota, Ashton Place Corp., Autumn of Sarasota, Bay Village of Sarasota, Inc., Beneva Lakes Assisted Living Center, Brookdale Colonial Park, Brookdale Deer Creek Sarasota, Brookdale Downtown Sarasota, Brookdale Palmer Ranch, Brookdale Phillippi Creek, Brookdale Sarasota Central, Brookdale, Sarasota Midtown, Cabot Reserve on the Green, Desoto Palms, LLC, Harborchase of Sarasota, Heron Club of Presetancia, (The), Heron East, Heron House, Highlands at the Glenridge on Palmer Ranch, (The), Inspired Living at Sarasota, Lakehouse West, Live Oak Manor Assisted Living Facility, LLC, Pines of Sarasota, Renaissance Manor, Savannah Grand of Sarasota, Sunnyside Manor, Sunshine Meadows Assisted Living Facility, Inc., The Fountains at Lake Pointe Woods, and The Fountains of Hope.  If you visit any of these assisted living facilities, ask to review their complaints and state survey inspection results.

Venice:

Brookdale Venice, Brookdale Venice Island, Gardens of Venice Retirement, Harborchase of Venice, Inn at Aston Gardens at Pelican Pointe, (The), Jacaranda Trace, Summit at Venice, Sunset Lake Village, Tuscan Gardens of Venetia Bay, Village on the Isle, and Windsor of Venice. If you visit any of these assisted living facilities, ask to review their complaints and state survey inspection results.

Englewood / Rotonda West / Port Charlotte:

Brookdale Port Charlotte, Brookdale Rotonda, Grand Villa of Englewood, Harborview Acres, Harbour Terrace, Heritage Oaks Assisted Living and Memory Care, Lexington Manor Assisted Living, Magnolia Acres, Royal Palm Retirement Center, and Village Place Retirement.  If you visit any of these assisted living facilities, ask to review their complaints and state survey inspection results.

North Port:

Gardens of North Port, (The), and The Springs at South Biscayne.  If you visit these assisted living facilities, ask to review their complaints and state survey inspection results.

Know the Warning Signs of Assisted Living Facility Neglect and Abuse.

What concerns result when an assisted living facility cuts corners on staffing?  Assisted living facility neglect and abuse may take many forms.  The warning signs often show up in the form of weight loss, falls, and unexplained cuts or bruises.  Unkempt and disheveled residents show a lack of care.  Changes in behavior, mood or attentiveness may belie a bigger problem:  medication errors or concerns.  No one living in an assisted living facility should be allowed to develop a bed sore.  The biggest problem that arises?  Assisted living facility operators retain residents far beyond their ability to provide the care they require.  These place do not provide 24/7 skilled nursing care.  When a resident’s needs increase but go overlooked or ignored by the assisted living facility staff, problems may quickly develop.  Frequent infections are another sign that something may be amiss.

Have Additional Questions Regarding Assisted Living Facility Neglect and Abuse?

If you have unanswered questions regarding an assisted living facility or whether certain conduct or harm constitutes abuse or neglect, please feel free to call me, James Keim, assisted living facility neglect and abuse lawyer, for a free consultation at (941) 485-7600 or toll free at (844) 485-7600.  Assisted living facility residents in Florida have rights.  I seek to hold corporations who neglect and abuse our seniors accountable for the harms and losses they cause.  Help us to shine a light on assisted living facility abuse and neglect and improve the quality of senior care in Florida.  If you have complaints about an assisted living facility neglect abuse in Florida, call me for guidance.  And Remember:  Never agree to and cross out all arbitration clauses contained in the admission agreement!

James Keim – Assisted Living Facility Neglect Abuse Lawyer.