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Physical Abuse at SC Assisted Living Facilities

Under South Carolina law, physical abuse includes: slapping, hitting, kicking, biting, choking, pinching, burning, dragging the patient as well as confining a patient to control his or her behavior.

A counselor does not have to inflict abuse to be held accountable for the physical abuse. An individual may be held responsible if he or she lets it happen without doing anything to stop or prevent the abuse.

Signs and symptoms of Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect:

Nursing-Home residents affected by the physical abuse of their care providers may exhibit:
-bruises, welts, burn injuries
-unexplained bone injuries and other physical injuries
-repeated accidents
-injuries left untreated

In addition, the patient may
-refer to their caregiver’s poor temperament or anger
-be nervous or quiet around their caregiver
-run away from the facility or attempts to run away from the facility
-have marks or scarring resulting from restraints that have been placed on their wrists or arms
-exhibit signs that they are suffering from the effects of chemical restraints such as incoherence, grogginess, excessive sleep, unexpected fear, uneasiness, or anxiety
-beprevented from receiving medical treatment or be restricted from seeing guests

Emotional Abuse at a Assisted Living Facility
may include: engaging in any act of frightening behavior that causes fear, humiliation, degradation, agitation, confusion, or any other forms of serious mental distress.

Signs of Abuse:
-mysterious changes in behavior
-withdrawal from family and friends
-fear, trouble sleeping, nervousness
-unexplained weight gain or loss
-unexpected loss of interest in living
-a sudden decline of mental well being
-signs of anxiety, distrust or fear towards their caregiver,
-signs and symptoms of severe shock such as the existence of tics such as rocking or refusing to speak
-remoteness

Nursing home abuse and neglect lawsuits can be difficult to establish as a result of a widespread tendency among insurance adjusters, physicians and others, to discount an elderly person’s injuries and to ignore the diminished quality of life that results from a South Carolina nursing home abuse or neglect case.

For all of these reasons, it is both an honor as well as a challenge to represent the elderly in a nursing home abuse or neglect case.

The Strom Law Firm’s thorough analysis and effective presentation of the losses sustained by an elderly client, provide the background necessary to convince both jurors and insurance adjusters to fully compensate injured senior citizens.

If your loved one has been seriously injured while under the treatment of a nursing home, contact the Strom Law Firm, LLC elder care lawyers today to obtain a no cost consultation to discuss your best possible way to proceed. We offer flexible appointment times and will vigorously fight for justice.

Estimates are that 700,000 to 3.5 million senior citizens are abused, neglected or even exploited every year. Nevertheless, most seniors are afraid to report their experiences and for that reason, are forced to continue to endure the abusive situation.

Without awareness, public education, and swift action, these types of cases will only increase as the baby boomer population ages. Let’s put an end to nursing home abuse, neglect and exploitation. Signs of elder abuse should be reported and we should educate elder care patients about their rights.

The information you obtain on this web site is not, nor is it meant to be, legal advice. You should seek advice from an lawyer for guidance regarding your individual situation. This article is not intended to and does not create an attorney-client relationship.

J.P.Strom, Jr. P.A. Strom Law Firm, LLC 2110 Beltline Boulevard Columbia, South Carolina 29204

Blogs:
http://www.barnculture.com/blog/view/post/50182/ELDERLY_CARE_ABUSE_AND_SIGNS_OF_NEGLECT
http://wallinside.com/post-547065.html
http://stromlawcriminalattorneys.com