Preventing Nursing Home Abuse for Families

All you want, if you’re facing the decision of putting a loved one in a nursing home is safety and care for that person, and long-term care facilities and nursing homes are supposed to deliver on that hope, yet many don’t deliver. We, as a society, can’t just drop off the loved one and assume that they’re being cared for and respected by their paid caregiver like used to be the case. An experienced Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect Attorney will be able to help bring to light the injustice that your elderly loved one has suffered, and work hard to get results and make right this terrible wrong.

Reduce the Risk of Abuse and Neglect

You can reduce the risk of abuse and neglect for your loved one by:

1. Evaluate the Long-Term Care Facility. Watch for nursing homes, long-term caregivers, and assisted living facilities in South Carolina that place profits before patients. Review the following factors at least once a year (as management and facility operations change).
   1. Is the staff qualified and adequately trained? Poorly trained staff is a big risk factor that leads to abuse, neglect, exploitation and even theft.
   2. Does the facility investigate staff history violence or drug use? Ask for confirmation and notice of new hires.
   3. Are there adequate numbers of staff employed at all times? Negligence can occur unintentionally by honest, professional caregivers because of their day-to-day situation. They cannot reasonably keep up with demands because the facility is not hiring appropriately.
2. Make routine contact to monitor your friend or family member’s well-being. Phone, in-person or even e-mail and Skype can help you stay in touch with the person’s condition.
   1. Is your friend or family member isolated from outside contact or from other residents? Isolation adds to risk of neglect or abuse.
   2. Is the resident routinely asked about conditions at the facility? It’s well known that seniors are reluctant to report abuse out of embarrassment or fear. Or trying to not be a bother.
3. Report any suspicions to South Carolina’s Adult Protect Services. Reporting suspicions of elder abuse is not an accusation. It’s a request for authorities to investigate the facility. It is the first step to rule out or establish conditions for abuse or neglect. If Adult Protective Services have not found any violations, and you still suspect elder abuse, neglect or exploitation, consult a legal professional in nursing home abuse.

What to Do Now?

If your loved one has been injured, abused, or neglected while under the care of a nursing home or other care professional, please contact a Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect Lawyer today. The lawyer will be able to discuss the best course of action and fight for your justice and human rights!