Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer in Greenville, SC
Nursing Home Neglect In Greenville, SC
We place a huge amount of trust in those whom we allow to take care of our loved ones. Unfortunately, sometimes this trust is broken. The failure to provide proper care and the understaffing of nursing home facilities is a systematic problem in America. Such shortcomings can often be attributed to corporate negligence, with some companies prioritizing profits over patient care. It is important for you to know how to choose the best facility for your loved one and how to recognize elder abuse.
Greenville Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer
Common signs of nursing home neglect and elder abuse include: falls, fractures, bed sores/pressure ulcers, head injuries, malnutrition, physical and sexual abuse, infections, wandering, and death.
It is our job as Greenville nursing home abuse lawyers to provide a voice to those who do not have one. Accountability through the civil justice system is one way to get Corporate Americaโs attention and to hold nursing homes and their staff accountable. If you suspect that your loved one has been abused, talk to a nursing home abuse lawyer at Davis Law Group today.
Nursing Home Abuse Can Occur In Different Forms
The growing population of the elderly has caused the nursing home industry to expand rapidly in South Carolina. Although this might be a positive aspect on the surface as it is only a natural response to provide more accommodation and options for the growing demand, however, this gives rise to an ongoing problem – cases of abuse.
Nursing home residents deserve to be fully respected at all times. They have the right to be free from any form of abuse, exploitation and discrimination. However, when a facility fails to uphold these rights, abuse and neglect are very likely to happen. Below are a few examples of abuse we commonly encounter:
- Physical Abuse – Any use of force against a vulnerable nursing home resident that is not the result of an unintentional accident. Common examples of physical abuse are hitting, slapping, punching, kicking, sustaining injury from falls, and unintentional use of physical and sometimes, chemical restraints.
- Neglect – This can include abandonment, malnutrition, dehydration, bed sores, infections, failure to give medication and hygienic care as well as allowing residents to wander and eventually causing themselves to be hurt or harmed, among many others.
- Sexual Abuse – Involves any non-consensual sexual contact between the resident and the facilityโs staff. Sexual abuse in a nursing home can be particuarly troubling because most residents donโt usually have the capacity to make any resistance against a more physically able personnel.
- Financial Exploitation – Many nursing home residents are easy targets for unscrupulous nursing home staff. Residents can either be victims of outright theft, being scammed or tricked into giving away their savings, or identity theft.
- Mental Abuse – It can involve verbally abusing the resident or isolation from family and friends.
When choosing a facility visit www.Medicare.gov. The Nursing Home Compare tool provides detailed information about every medicare and medicaid-certified facility in the country.
For more information visit: https://www.seniorhomes.com/state-by-state-guide-to-assisted-living-violations-regulations/
Filing A Complaint Against Nursing Homes In South Carolina
If you know a family member or someone who may be a victim of abuse and neglect inside a nursing home in South Carolina, you can report your concerns to DHEC or the South Carolina Department of Health and Environment Control. Following any forwarded written or verbal complaint, DHEC will be then required to make an investigation to determine if there is indeed any violation committed against SCโs licensing standards.
Any individual can file a complaint against a nursing home anonymously. Should you decide to reveal your identity and request for confidentiality, DHEC still won’t disclose your identity unless mandated otherwise by state or federal law. DHEC will then assign the complaint you filed to an inspector to determine if DHEC can assist you. DHEC will then send you a written acknowledgment of your complaint. Finally, the inspector will forward a written report to you about the findings once the investigation has been completed.
An experienced attorney at Davis Law will be able to help you navigate this process. Call our firm today.
Davis Law Is Relentless When Fighting Against Abuse
In South Carolina, both federal and state laws are present so nursing home residents are protected. In fact, it is even considered a crime when an individual fails to report witnessing any form of abuse, neglect, or exploitation towards nursing home residents all the more when one participates in any of these acts. In addition, any form of interference to an investigation pertaining to the abuse, neglect, or exploitation is also punishable by law. Moreover, the Omnibus Adult Protection Act has established the Long Term Care Ombudsman Program that is responsible for the investigation of alleged abuse reports, neglect, and exploitation of nursing home residents. Therefore, if you suspect that a nursing home occupant in SC has been suffering from any of these, you may contact us at Davis Law immediately for a consultation free of obligations.
