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Nursing Home Negligence in South Carolina: Warning Signs & What You Can Do

January 6, 2023

nursing home negligence

A lack of proper care in nursing homes can be seriously dangerous. If you suspect your loved one is being neglected, it can be scary and hard to know where to turn. Read on to learn the different types of nursing home negligence, the warning signs, and what you can do to help. 

All About Nursing Home Negligence

Unfortunately, nursing home neglect is more common than you might think. In fact, according to the National Center on Elder Abuse, “roughly 95% of nursing home residents have been neglected or have witnessed abuse.” 

Improper care can have serious consequences, including death in some instances. It’s essential to educate yourself so you can protect your loved ones.

What Is Nursing Home Neglect?

Nursing home neglect is a form of elder abuse. It involves poor or improper care or a breach of duty from nursing home employees that causes the residents to suffer. Nursing home neglect can result in physical, emotional, and mental trauma for elderly people. 

What Are the Most Common Types of Nursing Home Neglect?

Neglecting nursing home residents can be shown in a variety of ways. We’ll break down the six main types of nursing home neglect.

Abandonment

When someone is responsible for an elder’s care and deserts them, this is called abandonment. In nursing homes, abandonment can be displayed in many ways, such as failing to check on patients regularly, helping with daily activities, giving proper medications, and more. 

Medical Neglect

Medical neglect occurs when care providers fail to treat medical conditions and health problems properly. This can result in various consequences, including bedsores, infections, mobility issues, inadequate diabetic care, and more. 

Neglect of Basic Needs

Nursing home employees can fail to provide residents with their basic needs. This could include food, water, or a clean and safe environment. Neglect of basic needs can result in older adults suffering from malnutrition and dehydration, and put them at risk for other dangerous issues. 

Neglect of Personal Hygiene

Neglect of personal hygiene is when a nursing facility fails to properly assist a resident with dental care, laundry, and bathing. This can lead to infectious diseases, emotional suffering, and more. 

Social and Emotional Neglect

When staff ignore nursing home residents, leave them alone for extended periods of time, or don’t provide them with opportunities to be social, this is social and emotional neglect. Some elderly people have physical or mental disabilities and rely entirely on caregivers to help them interact with others. This population has an increased risk of this type of neglect. 

What Are the Warning Signs of Nursing Home Neglect?

If you know the warning signs of nursing home abuse and neglect, you may be able to help your loved ones before things get worse. Keep your family safe and keep an eye out for these neglect warning signs:

  • The elder being left alone in a public place
  • Unsafe living conditions, including lack of heat or air, fire hazards, lack of hot or cold water, etc. 
  • The elder is unsuitably dressed for weather conditions
  • Lack of bathing or proper cleanliness
  • Bedsores
  • Unusual weight loss
  • Dehydration 
  • Lack of care for existing medical problems
  • The elder being emotionally distraught, agitated, withdrawn, or non-communicative
  • Infections
  • Unexplained or unexpected death of the elder
  • Unexplained injuries such as wounds, cuts, bruises, or welts in various stages of healing
  • Unsanitary or unclean conditions

How a South Carolina Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer Can Help

If you have a family member or loved one that has suffered from neglect while in a nursing home, there are actions you can take to help. Protect your family and call a South Carolina nursing home abuse lawyer. They can help you pursue a claim against perpetrators and responsible parties so the abuse can stop and the elder can receive fair compensation for the harm suffered. 

Do you want to inquire about taking legal action against a nursing home for negligence? The team at Bernstein & Bernstein is here to help. Our South Carolina nursing home abuse lawyers will walk you through the process and provide you with all of your options. Give us a call today to learn more.

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