Conway Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect Lawyer

If you suspect elder abuse at an elder care facility, let our Conway, SC, nursing home abuse and neglect attorneys investigate, build a case, and file a claim.

If you believe a loved one has suffered abuse and neglect at the hands of their nursing home, contact an attorney at George Sink, P.A. Injury Lawyers. A nursing home abuse and neglect lawyer in Conway, South Carolina, is standing by to discuss your legal options with you. The initial consultation is always free.

What Constitutes Nursing Home Neglect and Abuse?

Neglect

First and foremost, neglect of a resident within these facilities is abuse. Neglect is defined by the following actions:

• Lack of hygienic care
• Refusing to reposition bedridden residents
• Improper feeding/medicating
• Failing to report any new marks, bruises, or swelling

Neglect is one of the most common types of abuse (if not the most common) in nursing homes. This is often due to staff members not wanting to properly perform their duties and take advantage of shifts where leadership is not present.

Neglect is also a common problem in facilities that are understaffed, and the staff is unable to properly care for their residents. When a staff member(s) fails to report or properly nurse their resident, they are neglecting their medical duties and causing harm to those residing in their facility. This neglect leaves physical conditions to deteriorate and residents can suffer health issues because of it.

Unfortunately, because the residents are already in the nursing home due to deteriorating conditions, neglect often permanently alters physical health.

Different Types of Abuse

The term abuse is utilized when staff members purposefully harm one of their residents in one of the following ways:

• Physical abuse
• Emotional abuse
• Financial abuse

Physical abuse refers to staff members violently or sexually abusing those they should be caring for. If a staff member is physically assaulting your family member by hitting them, jerking them, or doing anything that leaves bruises, marks, and swelling, you are seeing evidence of physical abuse.

Also, physical abuse can be classified when a staff member knowingly refuses to provide the residents their proper medication, resulting in their conditions worsening and causing physical pain. Physical abuse can further the severity of a resident’s condition due to being physically attacked on a regular basis.

Emotional or verbal abuse refers to staff members attacking a resident with their words. This includes bullying them, name-calling, and talking down to them to purposely break their spirits. If a staff member enters the room of a resident daily and verbally abuses them, the chances of the resident’s emotions and anxiety spiraling will grow exponentially. Depression and other emotional disorders can set in on patients, causing them to be miserable and feel defeated.

Financial abuse is another form of abuse that occurs throughout nursing homes. Because many of these residents may not be coherent, their finances are often left unguarded and accessible to the very staff members they should be trusting. Whether it is the administrators taking advantage of their account by adding on extra and fraudulent expenses, or staff members fishing their personal funds and checkbooks, financial abuse is a common type of abuse found within nursing homes in South Carolina.

Bullying these residents to make changes to wills, inheritance documents, and finances is also another ploy by abusers to financially abuse the residents

Conway Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect Lawyer Near Me888-612-7001

What Signs Must You Look For?

Neglect

• Bedsores
• Prolonged illnesses such as colds that turn into more severe illnesses
• Weight loss
• Poor hygiene

Abuse

• Bruising
• Swelling
• Marks
• Unable to move certain limbs
• Complaints of pain in the groin area
• Sudden behavior change
• Lack of interest
• Missing belongings
• Odd charges
• Changes in financial documentation

The Frequency of Nursing Home Neglect and Abuse

Placing your family member in the nursing home is meant to protect them and ensure proper care. Unfortunately, there are staff members who will take advantage of vulnerability. Whether it be their physicality, mentality, or finances, there is a vulnerability to exploit them in the worst of ways.

In most cases, your family member will not directly notify you of any abuse. Therefore, it is the responsibility as the visiting family to make sure you know the signs and be the voice that your loved one is afraid to be.

Let George Sink, P.A. Injury Lawyers Take Your Case Today

George Sink, P.A. Injury Lawyers commits itself to serving families throughout the community. If you believe you have a loved one you believe could be a victim of abuse or neglect, contact our firm of personal injury lawyers for a free consultation and case review. Let a nursing home abuse and neglect lawyer serving Conway, SC, get the justice and compensation due to your family member today.