Nursing Home Abuse
Attorney in
Charleston, SC
Why You Need A Trusted Nursing Home Abuse Attorney?
Undoubtedly, the handwriting is on the wall now that profit-driven corporations operate 70% of nursing homes throughout the United States. Quality of care is often sacrificed on the altar of profit, to the detriment of our elderly mothers, fathers, grandfathers and grandmothers. Experienced nursing home attorneys know, these corporations entrust the care of vulnerable South Carolina seniors to a care staff which often earns barely above minimum wage. Low pay fails to attract competent, capable staff and the quality of care rendered to residents suffers.
Meanwhile, the nursing home industry aggressively undermines efforts to shine light on the truth of its operations. For instance, the nursing home lobbyist group, American Health Care Association, that lobbies to protect government funding of nursing home profits, attacks bills introduced in state legislatures which, if passed, would give residents’ families the right to place a surveillance camera in their loved one’s room, in order to know what goes on when they are not present. Former AHCA president Charles Roadman explained his group’s opposition to the so-called “Grannycam” bills by smearing concerned families of the elderly, claiming that “placing a camera in a room is often the action of someone looking to sue.”
Hence, our experience with sensible, well-educated Charleston County juries tells us that nursing homes have nothing to hide or worry about, so long as they’ve done nothing wrong. The irony is that nursing homes routinely slip arbitration provisions into lengthy resident contracts in an effort to ensure that no jury ever gets the chance to hear one of these cases.
Indeed, our Charleston law firm offers a team of nursing home abuse attorneys that has battled with the nursing home industry on behalf of mistreated and injured seniors for many years. Our nursing home attorneys truly care for getting you justice.
We welcome the opportunity to do so on behalf of your family.
LEGAL RIGHTS FOR NURSING HOME RESIDENTS
In this case, South Carolina law recognizes the critical state interest in providing legal protections to seniors living in residential care facilities, including assisted living and memory care facilities. Among the legal protections are:
- Regulations promulgated by the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (“DHEC”), including R.61-84, impose baseline requirements for the facility’s safe operation which are enforced by regular reporting obligations and inspections by DHEC.
- South Carolina’s legislature has enacted the Alzheimer’s Special Care Disclosure Act, which requires these facilities to make specific disclosures of the manner in which their care procedures are beneficial to residents suffering from Alzheimer’s.
- State law requires facilities to maintain detailed records of the residents’ visitors, physician visits and orders, administration of medications, complaints, falls and other accidents, and significant change in physical or mental status.
- The resident’s development of severe, open bed sores due to the care staff’s failure to take appropriate precautions.
- A resident’s suffering repeated falls, causing fractures and other injuries, due to the care staff’s failure to improve anti-fall protocols despite repeated notice that stepped-up protocols were indicated by the facility’s own printed guidance.
- A resident’s suffering injuries due to negligent care delivered by unqualified members of the care staff.
Identifying Signs of Nursing Home Abuse or Nursing Home Negligence
Unexplained signs of physical abuse, such as scars, bruises, and destroyed personal property.
Sudden, unexplained changes in the resident’s behavior or emotional status.
Unsafe or inhumane living conditions: excessively hot or cold environment, visible mold growth, lack of running water, infrequent laundry service.
Signs of financial exploitation: changes to resident’s will to benefit members of the facility’s staff, unexplained increase in ATM withdrawals, unusual purchases of goods and services not likely to be consumed by the resident.
What to Do If You Suspect Nursing Home Abuse in Charleston
If you suspect your family member is suffering from nursing home abuse or nursing home negligence at a residential care facility, the first step is obviously to ensure the resident’s immediate physical safety. This may include seeking medical treatment, consulting with facility management, or any other action that the circumstances dictate.
Furthermore, once these steps are complete, search for a nursing home abuse lawyer near me at Ben Traywick Law Firm to identify your options, and to discuss what makes the most sense for you and your family.
Nursing Home Abuse Frequently Asked Questions
Handling your own case will be difficult without a deep understanding of the law and experience navigating the legal system. The qualified nursing home attorneys at Ben Traywick Law Firm are committed to putting an end to nursing home abuse in our community, and we are ready to put our experience to work for you and your loved ones.
If you or a loved one have suffered abuse or neglect in a nursing home or elderly care facility, damages may include:
- Medical expenses
- Cost of future/ongoing care
- Property damage
- Non-economic damages (pain and suffering, mental anguish, etc)
- Punitive damages
With your loved one’s future on the line, it is best to entrust your case to an experienced nursing home abuse attorney. Our team of nursing home attorneys will handle all communications with the nursing home, shouldering the burden so that your family can focus on healing.
Nursing Home Abuse Attorney Near Me
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Your Case.
If you or a loved one has suffered poor treatment or abuse as a resident at a nursing facility in Charleston, call the nursing home lawyers at Ben Traywick Law Firm.
Definitely, our Charleston law firm of nursing home attorneys are here to help, ready to fight for the justice your family deserves and put an end to nursing home abuse and neglect – once and for all.
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