Strom Law Firm Columbia SC
No obligations & no credit card required

Types of Elder Abuse & Signs of Neglect

What Is Elder Abuse in South Carolina?

Learn the signs of nursing home neglect and abuse to keep your loved one protected.

Nursing homes can be over-crowded and understaffed. Caregivers may be unqualified by not having the proper skills, knowledge or psychological disposition to provide proper care to residents. This results in a high-risk environment for abuse, intentional or unintentional, neglect and exploitation. Here are the key signs you need to know:

Physical Abuse at Nursing Homes

Under South Carolina law, physical abuse includes: slapping, hitting, kicking, biting, choking, pinching, burning, drugging a patient or confining a patient to control behavior.ย SEC. 43-35-10

A person does not have to inflict abuse to be held responsible for the physical abuse. One is culpable by allowing it to take place without doing anything to stop or prevent the abuse.

Signs of Abuse:

Nursing home residents suffering from physical abuse by their caregivers (home caregivers, family member caregivers) may show:

  • bruises, welts, burns
  • unexplained fractures or other physical injuries
  • repeated accidents
  • injuries left untreated
  • references to caregiverโ€™s temper or anger
  • nervous or quiet around caregiver
  • runs away from the home or tries to
  • has marks or scars from restraints on wrists
  • shows effects of chemical restraints such as incoherence, grogginess, excessive sleep
  • sudden fear, restlessness, anxiety
  • prevented from getting medical treatment or being alone with visitors

Take Action:

First, report the signs or events toย Adult Protective Services. APS is responsible for investigating and restoring an environment of proper care. If your loved one has sustained mental or physical damage, contact an experienced attorney to investigate avenues of financial recovery and punitive damages. At Strom Law Firm, LLC., we offer a complimentary case evaluation. Weโ€™ll fight for you or your loved one, so you can focus on the recovery process.

Emotional Abuse at Nursing Homes

In South Carolina, emotional abuse is defined as deliberately threatening, harassing or engaging in any act of intimidating behavior that causes fear, humiliation, degradation, agitation, confusion, or other forms of serious emotional distress.ย SEC. 43-35-10

Signs of Abuse:

  • unexplained changes in behavior
  • withdrawal
  • fear, restlessness, anxiety
  • unexplained weight gain or loss
  • sudden loss of interest in life
  • appearance of sudden demise of mental health
  • signs of nervousness, distrust or fear toward caregiver, conflicted
  • symptoms of extreme shock such as the development of tics: rocking, refusing to speak
  • isolation

Take Action:

In addition to reporting your concerns toย Adult Protective Services, consider having your loved one examined by a trusted doctor who has some history with the individual or your family and will review medical records including medication and dosing. Finally, you may want to make immediate arrangements to move the resident, not waiting for APS to complete an investigation.

To pursue legal action against the facility in question, call the Strom Law Firm, LLC, to speak with one of our attorneys or schedule a no-fee consultation. During the consultation, weโ€™ll help you evaluate your case.

Sexual Abuse at Nursing Homes

South Carolina law punishes for actual or attempted sexual battery, which can be summarized as: โ€œany intrusion, however slight, of any part of a personโ€™s body or of any object into the genital or anal openings of another personโ€™s body, except when such intrusion is accomplished for medically recognized treatment or diagnostic purposes.โ€ย Section 16-3-651

Signs of Abuse:

  • unexplained bruising around genitals or breasts
  • unexplained anal or vaginal bleeding
  • symptoms of veneral disease
  • unexplained fear, restlessness, anxiety
  • appearance of sudden demise of mental health
  • symptoms of shock
  • unexplained change of staff policy that isolates the resident or prevents you from being alone with the resident

Take Action:

Though every first step begins withย Adult Protect Services, South Carolina also has hotlines set up so you can immediately speak with a person within the Department of Social Services who will be or has access to those trained in emergency care.

  • Private or foster homes: 803-898-7318
  • Richland county long-term care facilities: 803-734-9900
  • Long-term care facilities outside Richland County: 800-868-9095

Our attorneys at Strom Law Firm, LLC can provide immediate legal advice over the phone and in a no-cost consultation whenever youโ€™re ready to focus on criminal, punitive and civil charges.

Nursing Home Neglect

โ€œNeglect,โ€ as per South Carolina code, means โ€œthe failure of a caregiver to provide the care, goods, or services necessary to maintain the health or safety of a vulnerable adult.โ€ This failure to provide includes inadequate nutrition, clothing, housing, supervision (if needed), medical services and medicine in accordance with treatment plan.

S.C. code also recognizes that neglect may consist of repeated conduct or a single incident that has resulted in serious physical or psychological harm, or substantial risk of death.ย SEC. 43-35-10

Signs of Neglect:

1. Bed sores & Unexplained Rashes

Bedsores, also known as decubitus ulcers, and pressure sores can usually be prevented by frequently turning the patient and using a higher quality mattresses with overlays. If these simple steps are not taking, Decubitus ulcers will typically develop at the heels, the backs of knees, the buttocks, and other boney parts of the body.

Bedsores begin as a red sore on the skin. If left untreated, the sore breaks the skin. Over time, if proper steps are not taken, the wound increases in size and in depth.

Eventually, the wound becomes so deep that it may reach down to the bone and become infected.

When this happens and antibiotics do not work, amputation may be the only means of saving the patientโ€™s life at this point. If sepsis (blood poisoning) develops and reaches an advanced stage, however, even amputation may not help and the patient dies.

2. Unexplained Falls

Falls are another common problem encountered by the elderly in nursing homes. In some cases, patients may not be properly secured into wheelchairs and fall or slip out. Patients are also left in their beds without rails to protect them. When left unattended by the staff, these patients fall, often receiving lacerations, abrasions, bone fractures, disfigurement and even head injuries.

3. Malnutrition and dehydration

Malnutrition and dehydration slows down healing and can worsen existing health problems. Over time, malnutrition and dehydration lead to severe complications and may result in the death of the patient. In some cases, patients with special dietary requirements are deprived of the nutrition they need to survive. In other cases, patients who have lost the ability to feed themselves are left with food in front of them but no one to help them reach it.

4. Body odor, soiled sheets or clothing, unkempt

Neglect of proper care shows on the individual and their surroundings. Unannounced visits to the nursing home or being asked to wait before you can see your loved one may be a sign that you canโ€™t see with your own eyes.

5. Injury from Elopement & Wandering

Neglected supervision of long-term care residents who canโ€™t protect themselves and/or may be cognitively impaired can lead to the resident disappearing from (or eloping from) the nursing home. At this point, the resident is vulnerable to serious harm, especially when the disappearance goes unnoticed. Under neglected supervision, vulnerable adults may also wander into a dangerous environment within the nursing home and suffer injuries from neglect.

Take Action:
You have theย right to recoverย compensation for ongoingย nursing home neglectย provided that you can prove that the nursing home breached its duty of care.

Do not hesitate to request an investigation from South Carolinaโ€™sย Adult Protective Servicesย board. If possible, stay involved with staff and nursing home management, especially after a one-time wandering incident. Youโ€™ll get better insight into the facility. Plus, the more involved you are, the less the risk to your loved one.

If you feel your loved one is not safe, or the resident has already suffered serious injury from neglect, reach out to our attorneys to learn options for recovering losses for your loved one. Weโ€™ll help you evaluate your case

How this works

Step 1 - Welcome
In this step, you'll experience a warm welcome as you enter the Strom Law Firm.
1
Step 2 - Initial Meeting
You'll meet with professionals. They will go through the facts of your case, explain the entire process.
2
Step 3 - Preparations
We builds your case by interviewing witnesses, conducting legal research, drafting pleadings, and hiring experts.
3
Step 4 - Trial
You'll learn that the firm is trial-ready. They've been preparing since day one and will guide you through the process.
4
Step 5 - Resolution
your case concludes with the firm hoping for a positive outcome. They assure enduring friendships and a commitment to being there for you, regardless of future legal needs.
5
No obligations & no credit card required

STROM LAW IS...

0 +
years combined
legal experience
0 +
awards &
accredetations
0
Founded
in
0
years
in business

What Our Clients Say

They truly care
Mrs Vallery, who answered the phone took more care and attention to detail than any other law office, that I have called, in 2 years+. She diligently took notes to give to the lawyers and cared about my situation and let me actually tell everything without cutting me short. Out of over 100 law offices, this is rare treatment. Care. Consideration. That means more than anything going through this…
Anonymous
google-logo
Professional Representation, Satisfying Legal Outcome!
My wife and I retained Bakari Sellers to represent our son in a case in Richland County. We found Mr. Sellers, his assistant Stephanie, and the rest of the staff at Strom, extremely courteous and professional. We really appreciated Mr. Sellers’ straightforward and honest approach. We believe this is a very competent law firm, and are satisfied with the legal outcome they achieved. We would highly recommend them!
Bryan B.
google-logo
Exceptional Legal Team After Our Car Accident!
We retained Atty Jessica Fickling to help us after a terrible car accident. She and her paralegal Mallory were wonderful! Professional, skilled, savvy – we couldnโ€™t have asked for a better legal team. Many thanks!!
Jocelyn C.
google-logo
Strom Law Firm's Consistent Excellence
I have been a client with The Strom Law Firm for thirty years and have been incredibly blessed to have the assurance that they will do everything possible to provide excellent service to my needs. Ally Benevento is exceptional and represents the firm in a professional manner.
Timothy O.
google-logo
From Self-Representation to Victory in SSDI Case!
My experience with Mario and his staff was outstanding. When everyone said to give up my case with SSDI and after being poorly represented and losing. I had to file my own appeals and represent myself. I literally called every attorney in the book. Then I called Mario cold – I expected one more no! Well, this gentleman took my case and won. He knows the law and cares a lot. I am proud to call him my friend. If you need a professional to help you, call these guys.
Robert L.
google-logo
A Pleasure to Work With, Outstanding Case Outcome!
Thanks Olivia, It was a pleasure working with you. You were well prepared and presented our case in a very professional manner. I could not have ask for a better outcome. Working with everyone at the Strom Law Firm has always been a pleasure and I will be happy to recommend your Law Firm to anyone.
Nancy G.
google-logo
A Lifesaver in the Courtroom, Ensuring Freedom with A1 Professionalism
Needed a lifesaver. I had gotten myself into a bad situation and the possibility of going to prison. Through the diligence and hard work done by attorney Alley B., I was able to walk out of that courtroom a free man. No tricks just hard down attorney work. She was an A1 professional and knew every inch of the Law pertaining to my case. For that, I am forever grateful.
Anonymous
google-logo
A Winning Team at Strom Law Firm!
John Alphin was great. We basically worked together for 22 months. Bakari Sellers was also on the team and together those 2 guys were fabulous. Won the case and Iโ€™m still a client of Strom law firm. Thank you and awesome law firm.
Steve T.
google-logo
Excellence in Action for Workman's Comp Case!
Strom Law Firm was really great and professional. I had a great experience with Mario as my attorney and his paralegal, Brian. These two are amazing, they worked very hard on my husband’s workman’s comp case and we were very pleased with the services and results ๐Ÿ‘. Brian was so prompt at returning phone calls and getting things ready for the case. I strongly recommend this firm for any of your legal matters. If I had to use you guys again, I would be happy to do so.
Mary W.
google-logo
Mastering Complex Legal Issues with Care and Compassion
Mario Pacella at Strom Law Firm LLC in Brunswick, Georgia, is a masterful, no-nonsense lawyer. His caring and compassionate approach, along with prompt responsiveness, sets him apart. Mario and the firm exhibit exceptional professionalism and attention to detail, emphasizing genuine care for every client.
L. Gilder
google-logo
No obligations & no credit card required

Contact Us For A Free Case Evaluation

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

No obligations & no credit card required

*A consultation fee applies to employment matters