Delayed Treatment in Florida Nursing Homes, Assisted Living Facilities, & Group Homes

When Florida Facilities Fail to Treat Residents in Time

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In a nursing home, assisted living facility, or group home, residents rely on staff to quickly identify and respond to medical changes. When a resident suffers a fall, develops new symptoms, or experiences a decline in condition, the facility is legally obligated to assess and treat them promptly or transfer them to a higher level of care if needed.

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Unfortunately, many facilities delay or deny necessary treatment due to lack of training, understaffing, poor communication, or even financial motivation. These delays can lead to infections, fractured bones, worsening medical conditions, and death.

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Why Delayed Treatment Happens

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Florida facilities may delay treatment for several reasons:

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• Failure to recognize a medical change or injury

• Failure to perform a post-fall or post-incident assessment

• Delayed notification of a physician

• Ignoring or failing to follow a physician's orders

• Staff untrained to recognize symptoms of infection, stroke, or injury

• Understaffing that leaves residents unattended

• Intentional delay to avoid hospital transfers and retain resident revenue

• Poor communication between shifts or departments

Any of these failures can result in a resident suffering unnecessarily for hours or even days without appropriate intervention.

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What Delayed Treatment Looks Like

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Imagine a resident who suffers a fall and begins complaining of leg pain. Instead of arranging X-rays or notifying the physician, staff attribute the complaint to arthritis and leave her in bed. Over the next two days, her pain increases, her leg swells, and she becomes immobile. Only then is she sent to the ER, where she’s diagnosed with a fractured femur and a dangerous blood clot.

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This situation is all too common. And it’s preventable.

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Delayed Treatment Can Lead to Severe Complications

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Some of the most common and devastating consequences of delayed treatment include:

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• Untreated fractures or internal injuries

• Infections that spread to the bloodstream (sepsis)

• Stroke or cardiac events left unaddressed

• Worsening respiratory or urinary tract infections

• Untreated bedsores

• Permanent disability or loss of mobility

• Death​

Florida law requires facilities to respond to resident needs in a timely and appropriate manner. When they don’t, it’s more than just bad care, it's abuse and neglect.

Contact FIDJ for a Free Case Review

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​If your loved one was injured at a nursing home, assisted living facility, or group home due to a delay in treatment, contact the experienced attorneys at FIDJ for a FREE case review.

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*The information contained herein is not medical advice.