Protecting the Rights of Nursing Home Patients in South Carolina
If you have ever been forced to place a love one in a patient care facility, you know that the decision of when and whether to place a loved one in a nursing home is an emotionally and mentally draining decision that many times leaves you second guessing yourself. Long before you are forced to make that decision, you may be looking for signs to determine whether your loved one is taking care of himself/herself and able to live independently.
The National Center on Elder Abuse suggests that you look for the following warning signs to determine whether your loved one is neglecting his or her own care, which can lead to an otherwise preventable illness or injury:
- Hoarding
- Failure to take essential medications or refusal to seek medical treatment for serious illness
- Leaving a burning stove unattended
- Poor hygiene
- Not wearing suitable clothing for the weather
- Confusion
- Inability to attend to housekeeping
- Dehydration
Placing a loved one in a South Carolina nursing home or residential care facility is a stressful and emotional decision. A decision magnified with the realization that the number of nursing home abuse lawsuits in South Carolina has steadily increased over the past several years as corporate for profit nursing homes taking over local mom and pop residential care facilities.
Being armed with the right information, as well as the signs and symptoms of elder abuse and neglect may go a long way towards protecting your loved one.
Common Nursing home abuse and neglect cases include injuries sustained as a result of:
- chemical restraints,
- bed rails,
- abuse and neglect, and
- medical errors,
Victims of nursing home abuse and neglect may also face the denial of their insurance claims and other scams as well as unconscionable arbitration provisions.
South Carolina Nursing Home Selection Resources
If you are forced are searching for a South Carolina residential care facility, http://www.memberofthefamily.net provides information about 16,000 Medicare/Medicaid-certified nursing homes. You can select the state and review the ratings of nursing homes with regard to the number of reported violations.
The South Carolina Lieutenant Governor’s Office on Aging is another great resource for seniors. This site includes a guide to choosing long-term care placement, as well as a link to a Nursing Home Comparing website.
If you or a loved one has been a victim of nursing home abuse, contact the Strom Law Firm, LLC for a free consultation to discuss your legal rights. 866-490-2847.
