Signs of Nursing Home Abuse

If you placed your elderly loved one in a nursing home, you may have reservations about whether or not they are receiving the proper medical and emotional support that they need. Even worse, you may wonder if they will become one of the elderly victims of nursing home abuse. It may be time to call a South Carolina nursing home abuse attorney. With over two million elderly loved ones living in nursing homes in the United States, you should know the warning signs of abuse and neglect to ensure that your family member is treated well. 

South Carolina Nursing Home Resident Rights 

According to federal law, nursing home residents have the right to be treated with dignity and respect, communicate with loved ones, have privacy, have access to physical and social services, have the ability to file complaints without fear of abuse or retaliation, and have the ability to participate and socialize with their family and other residents. 

Signs of Nursing Home Abuse 

Nursing home residents may suffer from physical, emotional, sexual or financial abuse. Learning the warning signs can help you determine if your elderly loved one may be suffering from any kind of nursing home abuse or neglect. 

1. Physical or Sexual Abuse  Does your elderly loved one have any injuries such as bruises, bedsores, unexplained infections, broken bones, dehydration, malnutrition, unwashed body, hair or clothes, genital injuries, or a newly developed sexually transmitted disease? These are all symptoms of possible physical or sexual abuse. 
2. Emotional Abuse  With many elderly loved ones suffering from dementia or Alzheimer’s disease, it can be challenging to determine if new behaviors are a symptom of the disease or abuse. Always investigate if your elderly loved exhibits strange or unusual behavior suddenly, or acts fearful around the nursing home staff. 
3. Financial Abuse  If your elderly loved one still maintains some control over their finances, they could be manipulated by other residents or the nursing home staff. Try to keep an eye on their finances and see if there are any unexpected financial changes or distributions that happen from their accounts, or if their wills are changed unexpectedly. 

Contact an Experienced Personal Injury Attorney

If you feel that any of the above symptoms may be related to nursing home abuse or neglect, you and your elderly loved one have legal rights. Contact an experienced attorney at David Aylor Law Offices. We can help you understand your rights, and help you understand your next steps. Contact us today online or at (843) 212-2684.