We never want to think that someone would abuse our elderly parents. If you’ve put your mom or dad into a nursing home, you expect them to be kept safe. The last thing we’d expect is for them to be abused or neglected. Columbia Nursing home abuse lawyers know how to spot the abuse. They also know how to get you justice for your loved one.
Whether your mom is in a nursing home or an assisted living facility, they deserve to be taken care of. Putting your loved one in a nursing home is a difficult decision to make. Most people try to take care of their parents much longer than they should.
When we realize we aren’t capable of caring for our parents, we move them into a place that can. The nursing and medical staff at nursing home are supposed to have the skills necessary to care for your parents. They should know what to do to make sure they’re not neglected.
Whether your loved one has been the victim of emotional abuse, physical abuse or neglect, you need to call a Columbia nursing home abuse attorney.
What is Nursing Home Neglect?
Nursing home residents deserve to be treated with dignity and respect. They don’t deserve to be left alone. Nor do they deserve to get bed sores or infections. Sadly, both of these happen more than you may think.
Nursing homes are supposed to be fully staffed. They need to maintain a nurse to patient ratio that works for them. When they have too many residents and not enough staff, things get missed. When this happens, patients risk being neglected.
Some of the examples of nursing home neglect include:
- Not being turned regularly, resulting in bed sores
- Not receiving their medication as prescribed
- Falls and other accidents
- Not fed properly or often enough
- Not bathed
- Poor hygiene
- Emotional neglect
- Spiritual neglect
- Not seen by a doctor regularly
Nursing home abuse and neglect can involve any or all of these things. Basically, it’s what happens when nurses and aides don’t take care of their residents the way they should. If your loved one is in a long term care facility, make sure they’re being treated properly. If they aren’t, they may be entitled to damages.
What Kind of Damages Can Your Parent Receive?
If your mom or dad is the victim of elder abuse, you need to call a Columbia nursing home abuse attorney. Your family members may need your help to get them justice. Thankfully, there are lawyers in South Carolina who have experience with these types of cases.
Your parent may be entitled to certain damages. Some of these include:
- Medical bills
- Pain and suffering
- Costs of being transferred to another facility
Obviously, your parent is probably covered by insurance or Medicare. That doesn’t mean there won’t be out of pocket medical bills. For example, if your loved one has to go to the emergency room to get treated for injuries, there will be expenses. You may have to pay an ambulance bill or copays. The nursing home should be responsible for these expenses.
There will also be a lot of pain and suffering involved. It’s hard to even imagine what your parent must be thinking if they’re treated like this. They’ve been independent all their lives and now they’re dependent on someone else. And, on top of that, the people hired to take care of them are not doing their job.
How to Spot Nursing Home Abuse or Neglect
If your loved one is in a nursing home, you need to keep an eye out for signs of abuse or neglect. You have to make sure you visit your loved one often to make sure they’re okay. Ask them how they feel. If they complain that they’re not being treated properly, take notes. Ask the nursing home administrator to look into their care. If you still get no satisfaction, you need to call a Columbia nursing home abuse lawyer.
Some of the signs of neglect include:
- Bed sores
- Rashes
- Infections
- Withdrawn and quiet
- Crying or general sadness
- Losing weight
- Unkempt appearance
If you notice any of these things, you need to call a lawyer.
Contact a Columbia Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer Today
If you suspect your loved one is being neglected, you need to contact a Columbia nursing home abuse attorney today. Let them know what’s going on. Let them meet your loved one and evaluate their condition and see if they think abuse is taking place.
Call and schedule your free initial consultation today. It’s absolutely free and your loved one won’t pay a dime until they settle their case.
View these other frequently asked questions pages:
What are the Different Types of Nursing Home Neglect?