South Carolina Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer
The abuse or neglect of any elderly or disabled person is nothing less than tragic. If you suspect that your loved one is the victim of nursing home abuse, it is up to you to 1) put it to an end, and 2) ensure that your loved one gets justice by filing a personal injury or wrongful death claim against the nursing home. Marc Brown will not only conduct a thorough investigation into wrongdoing, but will advocate for maximum compensation from the nursing home company, fighting for pain and suffering, loss of joy of life, medical expenses, and any other damages that your loved one has suffered.
Five Types of Nursing Home Abuse
- Neglect—Examples of nursing home neglect include leaving the resident unattended, failing to perform hygienic services, not providing food and water frequently enough, failure to assist the patient in and out of bed if they have a falling risk, etc.
- Physical Abuse—Examples of physical abuse include causing any intentional harm, such as hitting, slapping, grabbing, pinching, or shoving.
- Emotional Abuse—Emotional abuse can be the hardest to detect, and happens when a nursing home staff member mocks, teases, threatens, intimidates, yells at, belittles, or otherwise treats the resident in a mean manner.
- Sexual Abuse—Examples of sexual abuse include intercourse, pornography, groping, or any sexual touching or contact with the patient.
- Financial Abuse—Financial abuse is nothing more than theft. It can be as simple as taking cash or objects from the patient’s room, to as complex as coercing them into providing bank account information or changing their will.
Signs of Nursing Home Abuse
Not all nursing home residents speak up about abuse or neglect. For one, they may not be fully aware of what is going on. Secondly, victims of abuse are generally afraid to speak out against their abuser, in fear that they will face even harsher treatment if they accuse the person harming them. This is true among people of all ages and abilities, not just those in nursing homes. As such, it is often up to loved ones to notice the signs of abuse and take action themselves. Some things to look out for include:
- Fingerprint/handprint bruising on the arms or wrists
- Restraint welts or markings on the wrists or ankles
- Sudden weight loss or weight gain
- Unexpected emotional changes
- Broken bones, sprains, strains, lacerations, and other injuries
- Any unexplained injuries
- Refusal to take medication
- Not wanting to be left alone with certain staff members
- Bedsores
- Unclean room, clothing, or poor personal hygiene
- Dehydration
- Missing cash or belongings in their room
- Unexplained bank account withdrawals
- Torn or bloody underwear
- Injuries to the genitals
Call South Carolina Nursing Home Abuse Attorney Marc Brown
The truth is that most nursing home abuse victims have no one to advocate for their rights, their best interests, or equity when it comes to compensation for their injuries. Too many elderly and disabled victims never have a chance at justice. If you suspect your loved one is being taken advantage of or being neglected, call South Carolina nursing home abuse attorney Marc Brown today at (803) 848-0008 for a free consultation.
