Skip to content
How Much is Your Nursing Home Abuse/Neglect Case Worth?
Start Your Free Consultation
Our Clients Say it Best
Over 900 Five Star Reviews
"You got a group with all the knowledge and years...But now that it's over, knowing that I got the best outcome that there could have been, knowing that I was taken care of is kind of like being a part of a family."
Free No-Obligation Consultation. Call (843) 920-4180
Our injury attorneys have been seen on media outlets, including:
Our Nursing Home Abuse/Neglect Attorneys Have Over 170 Years of Combined Experience
We've Recovered Over $500 Million For Our Clients
Nursing Home Abuse Case
Nursing Home Abuse Case
Nursing Home Abuse Case
GET THE COMPENSATION YOU DESERVE
CALL (843) 920-4180
Nursing Home Abuse/Neglect Lawyer representing Charleston & Nearby Areas of South Carolina
Nursing homes should be a place in which elderly individuals are able to receive the care and treatment they need in order to live happily and comfortably. Unfortunately, in far too many cases, nursing home abuse or neglect is a serious threat to the health and well-being of elderly individuals who live in these types of facilities. Our clients choose us because we fight aggressively on behalf of injured elders and their families.
Nursing home abuse can take many different forms, but in all circumstances, those who cause abuse to occur need to be held accountable for violating their residents’ rights. If your loved one has been the victim of nursing home abuse in Charleston, the attorneys at the Steinberg Law Firm know just how hard it can be to come to terms with what has happened, and we work tirelessly on behalf of our clients to pursue justice and bring an end to abuse in these unimaginable situations.
Common Nursing Home Abuse/Neglect Injuries and Symptoms
The most common types of injuries and symptoms experienced by victims of physical or sexual abuse, or physical, medical, emotional, psychological, or environmental neglect in nursing homes include the following:
Nursing home abuse:
- Broken, fractured, or dislocated bones
- Suspicious bruises, scars, or welts, especially those that appear on both sides of the body.
- Broken eyeglasses or other personal belongings
- Drug overdoses or refusal to take medication
- Rope marks on wrists suggestive of restraint
Physical abuse and neglect is never acceptable, and if a caregiver ever denies your request to spend time alone with your loved one, you should suspect abuse. They may be trying to hide something.
Physical or medical neglect may cause various health problems or symptoms. Signs of physical or medical neglect might include:
- Frequent injuries caused by falls;
- Bedsores or pressure ulcers caused by lack of proper hygiene or not helping the older person relieve pressure by turning and propping their body position;
- Soiled clothes, dirty bedding, medical waste, or other unsanitary conditions;
- Malnutrition or dehydration;
- Signs that the older person isn’t receiving adequate pain management; and
- New or worsening medical conditions that go untreated.
Psychological or emotional neglect can also cause harm. Signs of psychological or emotional neglect may include:
- Emotional distress, anger, agitation, or fear;
- Emotional or social withdrawal or shutting down;
- A loved one who has nothing to discuss when asked what activities they’ve done recently or what friends they made;
- The appearance of new or more pronounced self-soothing behaviors such as rocking, sucking, or biting;
- Refusal to get out of bed or a change in eating habits;
- Comments that express despair or worthlessness; and
- Indications that a mental or emotional condition usually controlled by medication is not maintained due to inadequate treatment.
Regardless of the form it may take, nursing home abuse and negligence needs to be treated as the serious problem it is. At the Steinberg Law Firm, our nursing home negligence/abuse attorneys are prepared to help clients in cases involving:
- Physical Abuse
- Emotional Abuse
- Theft or Fraud
- Bedsores and Pressure Ulcers
- Sepsis
- Falls and Fractures
- Malnutrition and Dehydration
- Medication Error
These and other types of abuse and negligence cannot and should not be tolerated under any circumstances, and by taking legal action, you can take an important step in helping to end abuse and neglect in nursing home facilities.
What is Emotional Abuse?
Emotional or psychological abuse is generally defined as acting in a way that causes emotional pain and suffering to a nursing home patient. When your loved ones suffer emotional abuse from the doctors or staff at a nursing home, they can feel afraid, sad or anxious.
Some examples of emotional or psychological abuse:
- Intimidating a patient
- Threatening a patient with violence
- Shouting at a patient
- Causing a patient to feel emotional anguish
- Insulting or ridiculing a patient
- Isolating a patient from family or fellow residents
- Ignoring a patient’s needs
- Threatening to withhold medication, food, or other necessities
When confronted with evidence of emotional abuse, a staff member might try to explain his or her actions by saying that such behavior is necessary to keep the patient calm, or even that the patient cannot be hurt because they don’t know what is going on. Do not accept these excuses. Emotional abuse is never necessary and can cause real physical and emotional suffering.
Signs of Emotional Abuse
Nursing home abuse is surprisingly prevalent. Residents have limited contact with the outside world, and staff at a nursing home have a great deal of power over the residents. This gives them plenty of opportunity to take advantage of their power, and it’s up to you to spot the signs before it’s too late.
Your loved one may be exhibiting signs of emotional or psychological abuse if they are:
- Acting depressed or withdrawn
- Refusing to talk or interact
- Appearing easily agitated, with sudden move swings
- Looking excessively afraid of you, attendants, others
- Exhibiting unusual and compulsive behaviors
- Failing to eat or sleep regularly
- Refusing to take medications
- Losing weight
If you notice a few of these signs, you should contact a lawyer as soon as possible. You may also wish to remove your loved one or family member from the nursing home and report the abuse to the proper authorities.
How Much is Your Nursing Home Abuse/Neglect Case Worth? Call (843) 920-4180
Examples of Theft & Fraud
The opportunities for theft or fraud to violate the nursing home patients’ bill of rights are numerous. Employees of nursing homes, other patients, or the nursing home itself may all engage in theft or fraud by:
- Personally taking money paid to the nursing home for patient care
- Overcharging
- Stealing personal items from residents
- Extorting residents for money or assets
- Forging documentation
- Bank account fraud
How to Identify Bedsores and Pressure Ulcers?
Assisted living and nursing home workers are responsible for caring for their residents. Bedsores that are unnoticed or ignored can become very serious and even life-threatening.
Medical experts classify bedsores into four categories based on severity:
Stage 1: The affected area is red and warm when touched. Often, a senior resident may notice burning, itching, or pain in the area.
Stage 2: The affected area shows visible signs of damage, such as a blister or sore. The skin around the affected area may become discolored, and the resident may experience significant pain.
Stage 3: The affected area has a crater-like appearance, as the effects of the bedsore reach beyond the superficial layer of skin.
Stage 4: The affected area resembles a large wound that may extend to nearby muscles, joints, or tendons. The patient is at significant risk for infection.
Depending on the severity of a pressure ulcer, doctors typically clean the affected area, remove any dead skin, and then cover the wound. In some cases, a doctor may recommend antibiotics to protect against infection. It is also crucial for anyone suffering from bedsores to keep pressure off the affected area and maintain a healthy diet.
Can a Nursing Home Be Financially Responsible for Injuries Related to Bedsores and Pressure Ulcers?
Bedsores and pressure ulcers are avoidable. Nursing home staff must regularly reposition residents at least every two hours. When positioning a resident, staff members must pay special attention to any body area that frequently comes into direct contact with the bed.
If a nursing home resident develops bedsores or pressure ulcers, it does not necessarily mean that the facility was negligent. However, that is a genuine possibility. Nursing homes are responsible for ensuring adequate staff coverage to fulfill residents’ needs. When nursing home management prioritizes reducing costs over resident safety, they can be liable through a nursing home neglect lawsuit.
A nursing home neglect lawsuit is a personal injury claim. A nursing home resident (or their family member) pursues a civil suit against the facility for injuries caused to the resident. To succeed in a nursing home neglect lawsuit, a resident must show that a staff member or the management team violated a duty of care owed to the resident, which caused their injuries.
How Much is Your Nursing Home Abuse/Neglect Case Worth? Call (843) 920-4180
