Nursing Home Negligence, Elderly Abuse, and Death Lawsuits in Coosawhatchie, SC
Unfortunately, this occurs more frequently than one would think.
It is a disturbing and tragic fact that no one should ignore in any capacity.
Senior citizens are society's most vulnerable group of people.
They are at their most isolated when their living situations become dangerous, and it becomes clear that they cannot live on their own or defend themselves.
Should complications arise, however, we may need to turn the care of our loved ones over to assisted living, nursing homes, or long-term care facilities.
We expect these nursing home facilities to provide quality, dedicated, thoughtful, and compassionate care to our loved ones.
That is the sole reason we have elected to place them in their care.
When you signed your loved one up for a nursing home service, you expected these facilities would tend to every need that may arise when it comes to your beloved family members.
While many of these places provide a high standard of senior citizen care, far too many do not.
There are social dynamics in our society that are beginning to favor nursing home care over in-home care.
In the fast-paced world we live in, it is sometimes impossible to fulfill all obligations and responsibilities and provide the necessary care that our elderly relations may need.
It is not unusual that the choice to seek outside assistance for these loved ones comes with heartache and anxiety.
However, it should entirely come from a place of love for our older family members.
We want only the best for these people, which ultimately leads to the decision to place them in a nursing home.
When one decides to place a beloved relation in a care facility, they trust those working there.
We are trusting them with our loved ones' lives and with our own feelings and affections.
That is why it is particularly heinous when those we have placed our trust violate that trust.
It doesn't only affect oneself, but the quality of life of one they love.
As unfortunate as it sounds, Nursing Home Abuse does occur and can take many different forms, such as:
- Emotional Abuse
- Physical Abuse
- Financial Abuse
If you know someone suffering from abuse, you must act as quickly as possible.
The sooner help arrives, the sooner the abusive behavior can end.
If you find this situation applies to you, contact our law firm.
Contact our experienced Coosawhatchie Personal Injury Lawyers today for a free consultation.
Common Forms of Nursing Home Abuse
It is crucial to be on guard and looking for evidence if you are even minutely suspicious of abuse.
This abuse could be something as simple as listening to the complaints your loved one may be voicing, or perhaps taking it a step further and observing everything not said but shown in their living environment.
Physical Abuse
There are many different ways for someone to abuse an elderly person while living in nursing homes.
Some common signs of nursing home negligence include:
- Violence
- Force Feeding
- Physical Restraints
- Open Wounds
- Broken Bones
- Medication Overdose
- Underutilization of Prescribed Drugs
Emotional Abuse
Unfortunately, Emotional and psychological abuse is very prominent in Coosawhatchie nursing homes.
It is particularly insidious because there is often less physical evidence associated with emotional and psychological abuse.
However, the lack of proof does not mean that such occurrences do not happen.
Some of the most common ways to be emotionally abused include:
- Threats
- Humiliation
- Harassment
- Intimidation
- Social Isolation
- Inflicting Anguish
- Isolation
Financial Abuse
The third form of nursing home negligence is financial or material exploitation. Financial abuse could include any illegal or improper use of an elderly person's:
- Funds
- Property
- Assets
Signs of Abuse Taking Place
However, there are ways to tell if your loved one is suffering while in a nursing home. These signs are often very noticeable, provided one is actively looking for them. If your elderly loved one has suffered from neglect or abuse while in a nursing home, many people will begin to notice the following signs:
- Medications administered improperly or not administered at all.
- Soiled clothing or bed linens
- Unsanitary living conditions
- Malnourishment/dehydration
Remember, sexual abuse is not merely a physical occurrence. It is also an emotional and psychological trauma that can leave just as lasting of an effect as physical abuse.
Sexually abused senior citizens may be forced to watch pornographic material or have their photos taken against their will.
Some caretakers may force them to undress or to watch sex acts performed.
If your elderly loved one has been abused in a sexual nature, he or she may suffer from or show:
- Bleeding around the genital or anal area
- Venereal disease
- Bloody undergarments
- Bruises around the breast/genital region
Financial exploitation is the most common form of non-physical abuse of the elderly. An unscrupulous caregiver may:
- Misuse the elder's checking accounts, savings accounts, or credit cards
- Steal money, steal checks, or steal belongings
- Fraudulent signatures
- Authorize withdrawals or transfer of money
- Identity Theft
Forms of Nursing Home Neglect Lawsuits
If you find that your loved one is suffering any form of abuse, you can take action to provide justice for your suffering loved one.
However, nursing home lawsuits can be complicated. This difficulty is especially real with federal and state laws and claims involving:
- Elder abuse
- Negligence
- Consumer fraud
- Medical malpractice
- Wrongful death
According to recent estimates by the National Center on Elder Abuse, between 1 and 2 million Americans age 65 or older have been abused.
Coosawhatchie Nursing home residents have patient rights and protections under the law.
The government is aware of the potential for such abuse of elderly citizens.
Because the federal government funds such a large number of eldercare centers, they established specific laws to protect residents' rights.
These laws help ensure that everything that can be done to protect your elderly relations legally will be.
Under Federal jurisdictions, nursing home residents have the right to be free from physical or mental abuse.
They are not to be subjected to corporal punishment, involuntary seclusion, and any other physical or chemical restraints imposed for discipline and convenience and are not required to treat the resident's medical symptoms.
What to do if you suspect abuse of your loved one?
South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control regulates nursing homes in the state of South Carolina and can help you get immediate care for your abused elder in Coosawhatchie.
Before you directly bring a claim against a nursing home, call our Coosawhatchie Nursing Home Abuse Attorneys at The Brown Firm.
Remember, you shouldn't act alone when facing a nursing home dilemma in Coosawhatchie, SC.
When your family learns of elder neglect or abuse, you need a trusted professional by your side.
The Brown Firm is more than capable of guiding you through this process and earning you the justice that you and your loved ones deserve.
Our firm knows how to handle these types of cases.
And because our law firm has more than 30 years of experience handling Coosawhatchie Nursing Home Abuse cases, we can help you get the results you deserve by winning your case.
Hiring A Coosawhatchie Nursing Home Abuse Attorney
Abusing the elderly is a violation of human rights and may cause illness, injury, despair, or property loss.
Knowing the signs of elder abuse is not always obvious, so many people do not realize their loved one's maltreatment.
However, when the abuse goes undetected or unreported, the results may lead to severe illness or even wrongful death.
If you know of someone suffering from Nursing Home Abuse in Coosawhatchie, do not hesitate to contact The Brown Firm to see how one of our experienced attorneys can help with your case. It only takes one click to get your case started.
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