Many patients and their families are unaware of their rights under South Carolina law. Nursing Home residents have the right to quality care and treatment, and the very basic right to be treated with care and compassion.
All assisted living homes must place a list known as the patients bill of rights where all individuals can see it. Generally, these rights will include:
- Medical rights – Residents should be up to date of health status and medication. Relatives also have a right to be kept apraised of any change in a loved one’s health or impending release;
- Abuse– You should be free of any physical , sexual , or verbal abuse, including use of restraints for the convenience of the nursing home faculty rather than the avoidance of self-injury;
- Privacy-you have the right to send and receive receive and send mail, use the telephone, share a room with a spouse and maintain personal belongings;
- Monetary rights – to deal with one’s own money or assign an individual to handle your finances, have access to financial records and statements, as well as data about your nursing home fees.
Stop Elder Abuse in South Carolina
At Strom Law Firm, LLC, we’ll help you take action, report elder abuse, and recover damages from injuries or wrongful death.
If you suspect that you or someone you care for is a victim of nursing home abuse, neglect or exploitation do not be afraid to act. Estimates state 700,000 to 3.5 million seniors are abused, neglected or are exploited each year. However, most seniors are afraid to report their experiences themselves and therefore, are not getting out of their abusive situation. *
Without awareness, public education and swift action, these cases will grow as the baby boomer population ages. Let’s put at an end to nursing home abuse, neglect and exploitation. Use the advice on our website to report suspicions of elder abuse to S.C. authorities and educate nursing home residents at long-term care facilities about their rights.
By: Pete Strom, South Carolina Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer
