South Carolina Nursing Home Abuse Attorneys

State elder care programs investigate more than 20,000 complaints of abuse in retirement homes each year. Even so, many experts estimate that nursing home patient neglect or abuse is grossly underreported.

If you or someone you care about has been the victim of nursing home abuse or neglect, contact a qualified nursing home injury attorney at Louthian Law Firm today. Call Toll free: (866) 454-1200 or Locally: (803) 454-1200. or use our online contact form for a free evaluation of your case. Nursing home negligence cases are important to us – senior citizen abuse is simply inexcusable, and we work hard to obtain justice on behalf of you or your loved one.

Nursing Home Problems Underreported

Nursing home or retirement home abuse is often unreported because victims are either physically or verbally intimidated into staying silent – or they are incapable of telling someone about the abuse. Nursing home injury lawyers hear frequently from the relatives of patients suffering from dementia, Alzheimer’s, or conditions affecting their ability to communicate. Negligent caregivers assume they can take advantage of the elderly, especially residents without regular visitors who might notice warning signs of nursing home neglect or abuse.

Abuse in nursing homes can take several forms, ranging from persistent bed sores that turn septic and cause significant pain and injury to financial exploitation. If you have a loved one in a nursing home, some of the key signs to watch out for include the following:

• Open wounds, cuts, bruises or welts;
• Bedsores;
• Sudden weight gain or weight loss;
• Torn clothing;
• Broken or missing personal items;
• Resident complaints about being slapped or mistreated;
• Emotional states of extreme agitation – or unusual withdrawal;
• Unusual and new behavior, such as sucking, biting or rocking;
• Use of physical restraints – or bruises around legs or arms that suggest the use of restraints;
• Poor hygiene;
• Unusually pale skin coloring;
• Sudden change in medication or dosage – particularly any medication used for sedation;
• Temperature extremes at the nursing home;
• Nursing home staff that can’t properly explain a resident's physical condition;
• Nursing home staff that discourages family members from visiting with the resident alone;
• Residents that wander from the facility because of poor supervision.

If you are concerned about your loved one’s care, a nursing home injury attorney can be a valuable resource.

Nursing Home Care: A Bill of Rights

Many residents and their family members are unaware of their rights under South Carolina law. Residents of nursing homes have the right to expect quality care and treatment, and the very basic right to be treated with dignity and compassion.

All assisted living facilities must clearly post a list known as the resident’s bill of rights where all residents can see it. Typically these rights will include:

• Medical rights – to be kept informed of health status and medication – and the rights of relatives to be kept informed of any change in a loved one’s health status or impending release;
• Physical rights – to be free of any physical abuse, sexual abuse, or verbal abuse, including use of physical or chemical restraints for the convenience of the nursing home staff rather than the avoidance of self-injury;
• Right to privacy – to receive and send mail, use the telephone, share a room with a spouse and keep personal belongings;
• Financial rights – to handle one’s own money or designate an individual to handle finances, have access to financial records and statements, as well as information about nursing home fees.

If these rights aren’t being upheld, you should contact a nursing home negligence attorney immediately. Quick action can help protect you or your loved one’s health and finances, and stop further abuse from taking place.

Louthian Law Firm: Legal Help For Nursing Home Neglect

The nursing home negligence lawyers at Louthian Law Firm can review your legal options and work with you to determine the most appropriate next step. Often, assisted living facilities are part of a larger chain, and they have their own legal representation.

Nursing home lawyers may try to dispute abuse and neglect claims, but we have represented victims of neglect or abuse in retirement homes and we understand how to deal with negligent facilities and the nursing home attorneys who represent them. While a lawsuit cannot heal bedsores or restore your health, a nursing home abuse claim can help recover the large sums spent on a neglectful or abusive nursing home, as well as medical bills incurred by abuse or neglect. You may also be able to recover non-economic damages to hold the abusers accountable for the pain and suffering they caused.

More information on elder abuse can be found at the websites for South Carolina Adult Protective Services, the National Center on Elder Abuse, the Department of Health and Human Services Administration on Aging and the South Carolina Lt. Governor’s Office on Aging.

Contact Us Today!

Elderly people are entitled to basic safety, respect and dignity. If you or someone you love is a victim of nursing home abuse, you have the right to hold the abuser responsible in court. The Louthian Law Firm has represented injured South Carolinians in nursing home patient abuse and nursing home negligence lawsuits and other personal injury suits since 1959. With our firm on the case, you can rest assured that you'll get the extensive experience and personalized attention you deserve.

For a free consultation, call our Columbia office today at Toll free: (866) 454-1200 or Locally: (803) 454-1200. or use our online contact form.

South Carolina Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer Disclaimer: The nursing home malpractice, elder abuse, nursing home negligence or other legal personal injury information presented at this site should not be construed to be formal legal advice, nor the formation of a lawyer or attorney client relationship. Further communication with our attorneys through the website and email may not be considered as confidential or privileged. Any results set forth herein are based upon the facts of that particular case and do not represent a promise or guarantee. Please contact a Columbia South Carolina nursing home abuse attorney at the Louthian Law Firm, P.A. for a consultation on your particular personal injury matter. This website is not intended to solicit clients for matters outside of the state of South Carolina.

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