The Georgia Bureau of Investigation issued more than 70 charges of serious patient abuse against 21 former and current employees of an Alzheimer’s care facility.
According to the bureau, a three-month investigation into the Alzheimer’s Care of Commerce about 65 miles outside of Atlanta uncovered serious patient abuse.
Agents issued a search warrant against the care facility on Tuesday, July 2nd. The investigation uncovered serious physical abuse of patients in the facility, including staff members striking the patients and throwing water on them.
Warrants have been issued for the arrests of 21 former and current employees of the facility. Charges include cruelty to people 65 years old or older, as well as accusations of abuse, neglect, and financial exploitation.
Reporting Patient Abuse and Nursing Home Abuse in South Carolina
South Carolina’s Adult Protective Services is tasked with investigating complaints against nursing homes for elder abuse, neglect or exploitation. Following investigation, Adult Protection Services is then responsible for seeking remedy, preventing recurrence of mistreatment and providing appropriate medical services for the individual.
In certain situations adult protective services may be able to meet the needs of a nursing home resident who has faced serious patient abuse.
If Adult Protective Serivces concludes that an allegation of mistreatment, neglect, or patient abuse is well-founded, it will respond by offering the victim appropriate services, such as medical assistance, counseling, special transportation, assistance with money management, or placement in a different residential setting.
In South Carolina, Adult Protective Services will secure and coordinate existing services (mental health etc.), arrange for living quarters, obtain financial benefits to which a vulnerable adult is entitled, and secure medical services, supplies, and legal services.
Report online: Visit the Adult Protective Services page. In the top right column, you’ll find a drop down menu to make a report.
Call to report suspected mistreatment in:
- 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
Find resources and learn more: Visit South Carolina’s office of aging Ombudsman site. The site provides reports and access to records on long-term care facilities as well as the residents’ Bill of Rights.
Adult Protective Services cannot, however, turn back time to reverse an injury or untimely, wrongful death. If the victim’s family does not feel satisfied or justly compensated for the injury or indignity suffered at the hands of the nursing home after working with Adult Protective Services, the victim’s family can proceed against the nursing home for negligence or felony regarding nursing home, elder, or patient abuse.
The Strom Law Firm Represents Victims of Patient Abuse
Founded by former U.S. State Attorney Pete Strom in 1996, the Strom Law Firm has been fighting nursing home, patient, resident, and elder abuse cases for 15 years. The nursing home abuse lawyers at the Strom Law Firm take an aggressive approach to confronting the kind of egregious misconduct found in nursing home abuse and neglect cases. We represent elderly clients and families who have been victims of:
- Physical, emotional, and psychological abuse and neglect
- Medication and prescription errors
- Inappropriate use of physical or chemical restraints
- Bedsores, pressure sores, decubitus ulcers, and infections
- Dehydration and malnutrition
- Falls, dislocations and fractures
- Inadequate staffing, training, and negligent supervision claims
- Financial abuse and exploitation
If your loved one has faced patient abuse at the hands of health care workers or a nursing home, you do not have to suffer in silence. Contact the attorneys at the Strom Law Firm for a free, confidential consultation. We are here to help. 803.252.4800.
