Placing a loved one in a nursing home is a major decision. Families do it with the expectation that caregivers will provide the safety, dignity, and medical attention their loved one needs. But in Columbia and throughout South Carolina, nursing home abuse and neglect happen more often than most people realize.
If you suspect your loved one is being neglected, ignored, or abused in a long term care facility, you are likely feeling angry and overwhelmed. You may have questions about what to do next and how to protect your family member.
You are not alone, and you have legal options.
At Rikard & Protopapas LLC, our Columbia nursing home abuse attorneys help families take action against negligent nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and care staff. We have the experience, resources, and legal strategies to investigate abuse, protect your loved one, and hold the facility accountable under South Carolina law.
Know the Signs of Abuse
When many people think of nursing home abuse, they often think of nursing home staff members who push, hit, or kick residents. While physical abuse is one type of misconduct that causes harm to residents, there are many other types of abuse, as well. These include:
- Physical abuse: This type of abuse happens when a nursing home resident is treated in such a way that causes pain or physical bodily harm. Improperly using chemical or physical restraints, pinching, and pulling residents are a few common examples of physical nursing home abuse. Physical abuse often shows some common signs, including unexplained broken bones and bruises, fear, anxiety, and behavioral changes.
- Emotional abuse: Emotional abuse is the most common type of wrongdoing to occur in nursing homes. This type of abuse involves harassing, insulting, or threatening residents. Withdrawal from social interactions, sudden anxiety, and depression are all common signs of emotional abuse.
- Sexual abuse: No one wants to think about it, but sexual abuse occurs in nursing homes, too. This type of abuse involves non-consensual sexual contact between a resident and staff member. Common signs are bloody or torn undergarments, unexplained sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), and pain when urinating or moving the bowels.
- Financial abuse: Financial abuse can occur if a staff member steals a resident’s property. More commonly, staff members manipulate residents into giving them property, such as signing over their power of attorney to a staff member. Common signs of this type of abuse include unexplained financial transactions and unusual withdrawals.
Ensure Your Loved One’s Immediate Safety
Elderly individuals are typically very frail. This is one reason nursing home abuse causes such severe harm. If you feel as though your loved one is in immediate distress or danger, it is essential that you remove them from the facility as soon as possible.
Contact local law enforcement so you and your family members are protected as you transfer them out of the facility.
Collect Evidence
When filing a nursing home abuse claim to obtain compensation for your loved one, you will need strong evidence to prove your case. Any time you visit the nursing home, take detailed notes regarding the conditions of the facility and record any specific times and dates of the incidents you know of. If you are able to respectfully and discreetly take photos of your loved one’s injuries or signs of neglect, these can be used as evidence in your case.
If possible, obtain a recorded statement from your loved one detailing what occurred. If there are any witnesses to the neglect or abuse, such as another resident, obtain their statements too, as well as their names and contact information.
Report the Neglect or Abuse to the Nursing Home Administrator
It is important to file a complaint with the nursing home administrator. Filing a complaint notifies the facility of the issue and provides them with an opportunity to address the issue. This can ensure that no other residents suffer harm. It is important to speak with a Columbia nursing home abuse attorney before filing a complaint. There may be a larger, systemic issue involving the nursing home administrator and management. In these cases, an attorney can advise on the best course of action to take.
How Do You Report Abuse in a Nursing Home?
One of the most important steps to take if you suspect nursing home abuse is to report it to the state authorities. In South Carolina, there are multiple ways to report care home neglect. These are as follows:
- Contact the South Carolina Department of Health: The SCDH oversees long-term care facilities in South Carolina. If you suspect your loved one is being abused, you can report it to the SCDH by phone, mail, or online.
- Call the National Center on Elder Abuse (NCEA) hotline: You can call the NCEA hotline at 1-855-500-3537 to report suspected abuse and connect with local authorities.
- Contact the state’s Long-Term Care Ombudsman: South Carolina’s Long-Term Care Ombudsman can investigate cases of suspected nursing home abuse and resolve complaints. You can contact the ombudsman at 1-800-868-9095.
- Adult Protective Services: After contacting the South Carolina Adult Protective Services, they will conduct an investigation and advise on further steps.
- 911: If your loved one is in immediate danger, call 911 immediately and tell them about the suspected abuse. Local law enforcement can also help you remove your family member from the facility safely.
What to Do After Reporting Abuse
Unfortunately, filing a report is not the end of nursing home abuse. There are still several steps to take, including:
- Follow-up: It is important to follow up with the agency to which you reported the abuse. Ask for updates and make sure the case is still being investigated or that additional steps are being taken.
- Relocate your loved one: If possible, move your loved one to another facility or to temporary accommodations to keep them safe.
- Contact an attorney: It is always important to contact a Columbia nursing home abuse attorney as soon as you suspect wrongdoing. An attorney can protect your loved one’s rights and advise on the next steps to take.
Call Our Nursing Home Abuse Attorney in Columbia for a Consultation
Our firm has represented families across South Carolina in serious nursing home negligence and elder abuse cases. We know how to expose facility failures, uncover abuse, and pursue compensation for medical bills, pain and suffering, and wrongful death when necessary.
With a proven track record in complex injury and elder law claims, Rikard & Protopapas LLC is ready to help your family protect what matters most.
Get a Free Consultation Today
If you believe your loved one has suffered nursing home abuse in Columbia or anywhere in South Carolina, contact us for a free case evaluation. We will review the facts, answer your questions, and guide you through your legal options with care and clarity.
Protect your loved one. Hold the facility accountable. Call today.