Nursing home abuse in south carolina

Sending your aging parents to live in a long-term care facility is an agonizing decision. But they can no longer care for themselves, and their ever-growing number of health problems require skills and training that you don’t have.

They need the help of highly-trained professionals, working in shifts, to ensure they get an appropriate level of care. You feel guilty about it, but you know it’s in their best interest and they are being taken care of…

So, when you discover that the people you’ve trusted to care for your loved one are hurting them instead… there are no words to describe the anger. The people responsible need to be held accountable and you need to do what you can to make sure that the abuse stops.

MY PARENTS ARE BEING ABUSED AT THE NURSING HOME, WHAT CAN I DO?

If your loved one has been abused or neglected in a nursing home, call your SC personal injury attorney immediately. We can help you report the situation to the SC Department of Health and Environmental Control and take advantage of the state’s Adult Protection law and/or the federal Nursing Home Reform Act. In many cases, we can also file a lawsuit on behalf of your loved one to hold the abuser accountable and force them to compensate your family.

How Do I Know If Neglect or Abuse are Happening?

A lot of nursing home residents are unable to report neglect or abuse. Often, they are not aware they are being mistreated. Other times, they know what’s going on, but they don’t want to report it for fear of retaliation.

That’s why it’s important for you to visit, ask questions, pay attention, and look for any signs of neglect or abuse. If you see something that doesn’t look right, don’t hesitate to report it and call your attorney.

Signs of elder abuse include:

• Development of bedsores (pressure ulcers);
• Rashes that may be the result of failure to change wet clothing;
• Unexplained bruises or cuts;
• Malnutrition or dehydration;
• Ligature marks on wrists or ankles;
• Unsupervised wandering in the facility or even off the premises;
• Fecal impaction;
• Missing personal belongings;
• Falls, slips, and other injuries; or
• Diagnosis of a sexually transmitted disease they didn’t have before becoming a resident.

Who Do I Sue for Nursing Home Abuse?

Long-term care facilities are responsible for the care their residents receive. If a “rogue” employee neglects or mistreats your loved one, that individual may be responsible, but, in most cases, so is the nursing home. These facilities are expected to have adequate numbers of staff, to do extensive background checks on all staff members, and to provide proper training and supervision.

GOT AXELROD?

If your loved one has been injured because their long-term care facility or its employees failed to provide adequate care and protection, we can help you file a lawsuit to recover damages from any individual staff members, another resident, the nursing home, or any third-party providers who are responsible for the abuse.

Call now at 843-916-9300 or send us a message online to meet with an attorney who can help.