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What is Considered “Nursing Home Abuse” in South Carolina?

When a loved one needs more help than their family can give, families often turn to nursing homes to stand in the gap. They trust that the nursing home will provide a greater level of care than the family can provide.

Sadly, nursing home abuse seems to be reported frequently in the news. It is an unfortunate reality that sometimes nursing home residents are deprived of the safe environment they need and deserve.

What is Nursing Home Abuse?

Nursing home abuse is any kind of willful or neglectful action that causes harm to a nursing home resident physically, emotionally, financially, sexually, or in any other way.

The last thing any families want is for their loved one to become an unwitting victim of nursing home abuse.

Family members need to keep a close eye on the level of care their loved ones receive in independent living facilities, nursing homes, or dementia care facilities (memory care). And they should report any suspected signs of abuse to proper authorities.

Causes of Nursing Home Abuse

As we think about the question, “What is nursing home abuse?”  it’s important to know that many factors contribute to the problem of nursing home abuse in senior living community centers.

These are human issues that span much wider than just the assisted living arena or residential care facilities. But these are the primary roots of the issues in nursing homes.

Greed

Staff, other residents, or visitors in a care facility may gain a resident’s trust and then take advantage of them. They may convince the resident to write checks to them, or to let them borrow their credit or debit card. Some people could decide to steal possessions, money, checks, or credit cards—especially if the financial resources are unprotected.

Understaffing

Many nursing homes suffer from lack of staffing to the point that the staff become overwhelmed with the needs. They just can’t keep up with all of the residents the way they know they should, but they desperately need more help. 

Incompetence

Older adults may face the sad reality that some caregivers who should be prepared to properly care for them are under-trained and unprepared. Others may be negligent, unable, or unwilling to provide appropriate care.

Mental Illness

Some people who have access to residents in a nursing home may be suffering from mental illness and may cause others harm.

Lack of Accountability

If staff members believe that no one will check behind them and they are overwhelmed, they may cut corners.

Burnout

If staff are overworked and exhausted, sometimes they may lose patience and react in abusive ways rather than healthy, productive ways to residents.

Poor Corporate Decision-Making

Sometimes corporations cut costs by letting expensive, experienced staff members go and replace them with less expensive, inexperienced staff to save money.

The Types of Nursing Home Abuse

What is nursing home abuse? It is a lack of proper care. Numerous types of abuse can happen in a care facility.

Physical

Any kind of physical force that leads to short-term or long-term illness, injury, physical pain, or death. It can include such violence as hitting, biting, cutting, scratching, choking, suffocating, pushing, shaking, kicking, pinching, burning, etc…

Financial

Any unauthorized or improper use of a nursing home resident’s financial resources to benefit someone other than the resident. This can include forgery or the stealing of possessions or money. It can also involve the use of force or deception to get the resident to give up possessions or financial resources. Or, financial abuse can involve improper use of power of attorney or guardianship.

Sexual

Unwanted or forced sexual touching (with a hand, part of the body, or an object). This also includes sexual acts committed against someone unable to give proper consent.

Emotional

Hurtful words or nonverbal behavior (that does not involve violence) designed to create mental pain, fear, or emotional distress.

Neglect

When a responsible facility fails to provide for a resident’s essential needs or doesn’t protect him or her from harm. This could involve inadequate nutrition, clothing, shelter, medical care, and hygiene. (For example, a resident may develop pressure sores from not being turned properly or the sores may be neglected and the patient could end up becoming septic.) It could also involve a care facility not protecting a resident from something or someone that could cause him/her harm.

None of these things should ever happen to a resident in a nursing home. Everyone deserves to be well-cared for, safe, and as healthy as possible in a nursing home facility.

Warning Signs of Elder Abuse or Neglect

It can be difficult to know what is happening to your loved one when you are not with them. Especially if they are not able to communicate with you. But there are usually telltale signs of abuse.

Physical Abuse Signs

Unexplained injuries, broken glasses, repeated similar injuries/falls, frequent illness, frequent similar infections, red marks on the skin, or even death. 

Financial Abuse Signs

Missing funds in bank accounts, unpaid bills, unexplained ATM withdrawals, unexplained medical expenses or medical bills, missing money or possessions in the room.

Sexual Abuse Signs

Bleeding or bruising in the genital area or inner thighs, torn or bloody clothes or underwear. Other signs include new STDS, pain in the genital or anal area, injuries to the pelvis, new difficulty walking or sitting. (Also, the resident may have some of the emotional abuse signs.)

Emotional Abuse Signs

Fear of certain staff or residents, depression, anxiety, withdrawal from other residents or activities, complaints against staff, panic attacks, paranoia, or suicide attempts. Other signs can include changes in eating or sleeping habits, isolation, anger, violence, or mood swings. (These signs can be present for multiple types of abuse.)

Neglect Signs

Dehydration, untreated bedsores (decubitus ulcers, pressure ulcers), poor nutrition, medication overdose or underdose. Other signs include poor hygiene, dirty clothing, dirty bedding, or exposure to danger. 

Reporting Nursing Home Abuse

If you see signs of suspected abuse for an older person, keep careful records of all that has occurred and please contact:

Do You Need an Attorney if You Suspect Nursing Home Abuse?

Columbia Nursing home abuse attorneys can help you determine if you have enough evidence for:

  • a personal injury case (personal injury lawsuit)
  • a medical malpractice claim
  • wrongful death lawsuit
  • other legal case against a care facility
columbia nursing home abuse attorney
Photo by Gert Stockmans on Unsplash

Facts About Elder Abuse

Reported cases of elder abuse are much lower than actual cases. Statistics about reported cases are as follows (according to www.nursinghomeabuse.org)
According to the National Center for Victims of Crime, the breakdown of elder abuse complaints is as follows:

  • 27.4% – Physical abuse
  • 22.1% – Resident-on-resident abuse (physical or sexual)
  • 19.4% – Psychological abuse
  • 15.3% – Gross neglect
  • 7.9% – Sexual abuse
  • 7.9% – Financial exploitation
  • Over 50% of nursing home staff are willing to anonymously admit to committing some type of abuse against residents.
  • Residents are abused more often by other residents than by staff.

Has your loved one been a victim of nursing home abuse or neglect in the Columbia, SC area?

If you believe your loved one has suffered from nursing home abuse in South Carolina, we can help.

Contact us for a free case review today.

We have offices in Lexington, Orangeburg, and Columbia, SC to serve you. Check with us about virtual consultations, as well.

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