Making the decision to place a loved one in a long-term residential care facility or nursing home is incredibly difficult. After considerable research and in-person visits, you hope the facility you have chosen has excellent doctors and a caring staff who will treat your family member as they would treat their own loved ones. However, this is not always the case, and patients may be neglected and/or abused at some point in time.
There is a nationwide problem with nursing home abuse and neglect, and not just in South Carolina. If you suspect your loved one is a victim of nursing home neglect and abuse in Myrtle Beach, it is imperative that you speak with a knowledgeable nursing home attorney right away. At Derrick Law Firm Injury Lawyers, we understand how devastating it can be to have a loved one abused while under the care of trained professionals who have a duty to protect and care for their patients.
Types of Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect
You need to keep a watchful eye out for various signs of nursing home neglect and/or abuse so that you can take the proper steps to stop the abuse right away and file a claim against the nursing home or long-term care facility. Some types of abuse or neglect include physical harm, emotional abuse, sexual abuse, and even financial abuse.
Physical Abuse and Neglect:
Neglect is any conduct that does not meet the reasonable standard of care. If someone slips and falls due to staff failing to take the proper precautions, that is deemed neglect. Physical abuse is the act of causing physical harm to a patient and involves intent. Signs of abuse or neglect include bed sores, bruises, dehydration, malnutrition, or an unexplained and sudden death.
Sexual Abuse:
No one wants to imagine this type of abuse occurs in nursing homes, but unfortunately, it does. Sexual abuse is not only committed by staff, but by other residents, and even visitors to the facility, as well.
Emotional Abuse:
Spotting emotional abuse is not nearly as easy as spotting physical abuse or neglect. You want to look for behavior that is different from the patient’s usual demeanor. Is your loved one suddenly withdrawn? Does he or she seem depressed or anxious all the time now? These could be signs of emotional abuse. Pay attention to how the staff interacts with your family member. Does the staff isolate him or her, use threatening language, or try to repeatedly blame the patient for various things? These could also be a form of abuse.
Financial Abuse:
People often think about physical and emotional abuse when it comes to nursing home issues, but financial abuse is one you also need to watch out for. Older people, especially those who are sick, become easy targets for unscrupulous people who are looking to steal their money. Perhaps a caregiver has access to the patient’s ATM card and withdraws money, or steals the patient’s financial information to use later and make fraudulent charges. Another risk is that someone will coerce the patient into changing his or her will or trust to include the healthcare worker.
Has Your Loved One Been Injured In A Nursing Home?
If you believe your loved one is being subjected to nursing home abuse you should speak with a nursing home neglect attorney as soon as possible. Contact us online or call our Charleston, South Carolina office directly at 843.488.2359 to schedule your consultation. We are also able to meet clients at our Conway, Myrtle Beach, Murrells Inlet, Mt. Pleasant, North Myrtle Beach or North Charleston office locations.
