Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect in South Carolina
South Carolina is a beautiful state. Many people choose to retire to its beaches and charming towns. Nearly a fifth of the state’s population is over 60 years old, and the state has close to 200 nursing homes and long term care facilities. When a family puts their loved one in a nursing home, they hope that their family member will receive the best care and be able to live with dignity. Unfortunately, cases of nursing home abuse and negligence are far too common in South Carolina and across the country. Nearly two million cases of nursing home abuse are reported around the United States every year. Nursing home neglect can cause serious personal injury or even death in some circumstances.
What is considered nursing home abuse in South Carolina?
Nursing home abuse and neglect can take a number of forms. Sometimes a nurse or another health care professional may not even intend to cause harm to a patient, but the patient is harmed through malnutrition or dehydration or lack of attentive care. Other types of nursing home abuse and neglect include physical abuse, such as hitting or using unnecessary physical restraints, and financial abuse, where a caregiver uses their relationship to inappropriately get money from a patient.
Who is responsible in a case of nursing home abuse or neglect?
Even if only one staff member is neglecting residents or abusing them, generally the whole nursing home facility will be responsible. This is because long-term care facilities and nursing homes have an obligation to their patients to conduct background checks on staff members and have opportunities to provide proper training. There should not be an excuse for nursing home abuse cases. It is up to the nursing facility and the professional staff to act responsibly and to follow the law.
What resources are available for nursing home abuse victims?
The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control regularly surveys long-term care facilities and nursing homes to ensure that they are operating in a proper manner. SCDHEC’s inspections of facilities are to certify that the facilities are following licensing and regulations established by the state. SCDHEC also offers a complaint program that allows patients and those who survey facilities to file a complaint with the state about wrongful or suspicious activity.
Get Help From an Experienced Nursing Home Abuse Attorney
When an individual enters a nursing home or an assisted living community there is a strong chance that individual already has declining health problems. An act of abuse or neglect by a healthcare provider can make the problems worse. If your relative has been injured or has died in a nursing home due to the fault of the nursing home staff, do not delay in contacting an experienced nursing home abuse attorney to help with your case.
Contact Surasky Law today for a free consultation on your case.
