South Carolina Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect Attorneys

The decision to place a loved one in a nursing home or assisted living facility is an emotionally draining decision.  While we trust that our loved one’s needs are being met, all to often loved ones become the victim of nuring home abuse and neglect.    Estimates state 700,000 to 3.5 million seniors are abused, neglected or are exploited each year. Many victims, regardless of their age, are afraid to report abuse in a nursing home or residential care facility.  And, it can happen close to home. Recently, an employee at a Spartanburg assisted living center was fired after she was arrested on patient neglect charges.

Alyssa Bell, who worked at the Charles Lea Center, was charged with neglect of a vulnerable adult.

According to police, a 39-year-old patient at the facility was recently left in her own feces for 20 hours during Easter weekend because Bell and another employee failed to check on her every three hours like they were supposed to do.

As reported by WISTV, Bell took the woman’s electric wheelchair away and moved it to a different room. The woman said Bell also knocked the phone off the desk and onto the floor.

The woman said she crawled out of her bed and attempted to reach her wheelchair. Eventually, she was forced to call EMS after she could not reach any of her family members.

Assisted living and nursing home abuse cases like this are tragic. Thankfully, the patient was able to get help.  Although nothing could have prevented this incident, it is important to know the types and sign of nursing home abuse and neglect if you have a loved one in a nursing home or an assisted living facility.

Signs of Nursing Home 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 caregiver’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; and/or
• prevented from getting medical treatment or being alone with visitors

Have questions about this blog or need assistance?  Contact the South Caorlina Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect Attorneys at the Strom Law Firm, LLC today for a free consultation.