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Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect

Greenville, Spartanburg, South Carolina

As the population of the U.S. continues to age, more families are facing the enormously difficult decision of putting their elderly loved ones in nursing homes. These are the last places most of these old people will see. Not many would argue that those in the twilight of their life deserve dignity and respect by providers trained to give them what most family members cannot on a daily basis. Tragically, this is not always the case. Nursing Home Abuse and neglect of our elderly seems to be an increasing problem all across the country.

If you suspect your loved one has suffered abuse or neglect in a nursing home, please contact the experienced South Carolina nursing home abuse and neglect attorneys at the Dick James Law Firm.

Nursing Home Abuse

Abusing a resident of a nursing home may come in a mental or physical state. Mental abuse includes emotional and psychological abuse, such as threatening and intimidating a person. Physical abuse includes:

Assault and battery
Restraints, both physical and chemical
Sexual
Deprivation of food or water
Denial of medication

Creating a state of constant fear is the result in both mental and physical abuse of the elderly.

Nursing Home Neglect

Neglect is linked to insufficiently caring for nursing home residents. Neglect may be tied to failing to perform adequate hygiene, provide medical care, or even give bedridden residents a stimulating environment. Failure to supervise residents with issues of dementia or other mental states that require closely monitoring them also falls under nursing home neglect.

Signs and Symptoms of Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect

Several signs and symptoms of nursing home abuse and neglect are obvious, while others are more subtle. Some of the most common signs include:

Unexplained burns, bruises, cuts, fractures, or sprains
Bedsores that have not been taken care of
Frozen joints
Dirty, torn or stained underclothes
Poor hygiene
Health problems that seem neglected
Dirt, lice, fleas, and signs of other vermin on clothing or in room
Unexplained sexually transmitted diseases, infections, or bleeding
Odors of feces or urine
Sudden behavioral changes
Personal items broken or missing
Large withdrawals from bank accounts
Changes in wills, trusts, estates, and other documents

Reasons for Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect

It is not okay to take rage and frustration out on some of the most vulnerable members in our midst, but this is often the excuse given. Those who work in nursing facilities are often overworked and underpaid; they must keep watch over too many people at once and cater to their most basic needs; there are too few employees. This causes stress. Due to the corporate nature of many nursing homes, the individual is seen as merely a number in the account ledger and not as a human being. Skimping on supplies and food to save a few dollars may even be commonplace in some nursing homes.

However, while there are some who actively engage in abuse or neglect, there are those who know and do nothing about it. They may be equally to blame for allowing this behavior to continue.

Given that nursing home abuse and neglect may be difficult to prove, you need someone who will investigate anything that seems amiss and be an advocate for you and your loved one. Discovering who is responsible and what they have done is what the attorneys at the Dick James Law Firm knows how to do.

Seeking criminal punishment and financial reimbursement from those who have put your loved one in a precarious position can be accomplished through the dedicated and persistent team of legal representatives in the Spartanburg, and Greenville, South Carolina area. Please contact the Dick James Law Firm for an initial consultation.

800-714-6029
The Dick James Law Firm
611 N. Main Street
Greenville, SC 29601