Name: LegalService
Item: The Louthian Law Firm
Rating: 5
Author: Linda Hawkins

How To Report Nursing Home Abuse in South Carolina

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Out of South Carolina’s population, 19.1% are aged 65 or older, which is more than 1.28 million residents.

Unfortunately, most of the 190 nursing homes in the state are behind on their inspections, and the state’s nursing home services rank 24 for quality by America’s Health Rankings. Unfortunately, this can lead to significant abuse.

At The Louthian Law Firm, we can help you with your case and how to report nursing home abuse.

Rights of Residents in Nursing Home Facilities

While 11.9% of these individuals live alone, 15,823 live in certified nursing homes. Before you pursue a nursing home abuse case, learn about the rights residents have when they live in nursing homes. These rights include:

Privacy in medical and legal appointments and with their visitors
Self-determination
Information about their care and the facility
Reporting complaints without retaliation
Live free of any abuse, discrimination, neglect, restraints and financial exploitation

Caregivers should treat residents respectfully and allow them to participate in nursing home activities. Homes cannot unfairly transfer or discharge residents or deny access to social services.

What Qualifies as Nursing Home Abuse

As of 2022, the World Health Organization found that more than 16% of individuals over 60 years of age who live in community settings experienced abuse. As you learn how to report nursing home abuse, you should understand what qualifies as abuse.

You likely think of physical injuries when you think of abuse. However, sexual, mental and emotional abuse also occur. Sexual abuse involves any forced or non-consensual sexual act against a resident. Mental and emotional abuse includes threatening, cursing at, intentionally insulting, or speaking harshly to residents.

Neglectful actions are as follows:

Denying medical, dental, physical therapy, wound or eye care
Failure to help with bathroom and bathing needs
Ignoring bedfast individuals
Not allowing residents to participate in activities
Ignoring resident requests, such as medical assistance or turning off lights

Finally, residents and their families should have complete control over their finances. If the facility denies them control, takes control from them, or steals money from them, they have committed abuse.

Signs of Nursing Home Abuse

When you visit your loved one, listen to their complaints. Also, observe how they interact with various staff members, particularly if they show fear or wariness. Then consider the following:

Any type of physical injury, from bruising and cuts to broken bones and head injuries
Unexplained falls
Unexplained STDs and weight loss
Dehydration or malnutrition
Infections and sepsis

Make sure you and anyone else visiting your loved one knows how to recognize these signs and how to report nursing home abuse.

Where To Report Nursing Home Abuse in South Carolina

When you recognize that abuse may have occurred, report your findings to the facility administrator. Find out the facility’s investigation process, including whether the administrator will remove the offending staff member and if they will search for other residents who have had issues with this caregiver.

Then, contact local law enforcement. Provide each agency with all the details you know so they can conduct an exhaustive investigation.

Agencies to Which You Should Report Nursing Home Abuse

There are several agencies you should contact when you report nursing home abuse in South Carolina, including:

Adult Protective Services
The long-term care Ombudsman at the South Carolina Department on Aging
The Vulnerable Adults Investigation unit of the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division
South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control Health Facilities Licensing Bureau
DHEC Health Facilities Licensing Bureau

For how to report nursing home abuse on the national level, contact the National Adult Protective Services Association and the National Center on Elder Abuse. Investigate how to report nursing home abuse with each of these agencies.

Steps To Take After Reporting Abuse

After you report nursing home abuse, you need to take steps to protect your loved one. First, move your loved one out of their current nursing home. Then, write down the needs and wants of your loved one while you research local facilities:

State licensing, Medicare and Medicaid certification and facility insurance
Safety, abuse, accident and inspection history
Number of residents per caregiver and the turnover rate
Caregiver training, policies and procedures
Insurance acceptance

Visit facilities and conduct thorough inspections in person. Look for dangers and maintenance issues that could cause falls or other injuries. Ask about facility activities and safe outdoor spaces.

Have in-depth conversations with the home manager and staff. Consider the staff’s dress, cleanliness and interactions with residents. Speak with several residents about their experiences with the staff and facilities.

Find out how often the residents see a doctor and the process for making medical appointments outside the facility.

Get an accounting of all the costs you may face. Choose a facility close to your home or another family member’s home so you or another loved one can visit often.

How Can an Attorney Help With Nursing Home Abuse?

If a loved one is experiencing nursing home abuse, our attorneys at The Louthian Law Firm can help. You don’t have to do this alone; we can inform you how to report nursing home abuse and walk you through the process.

Linda Hawkins

On behalf of my family and me, I would like to commend Bert Louthian and his firm for the exemplary handling of our recent wrongful death suit against a county whose employee was responsible for the death of my husband. Bert and his associates were successful in getting our family the maximum award allowed by law. More importantly, he did so while treating us like individuals and not as dollar signs for his firm. No one in my family had ever before been involved in such a situation. This was a very emotional time for us. We were coping with the loss of our loved one as well as the stress of attempting to right a wrong. We could never have achieved this alone. We were unfamiliar with what could or should be done, and during the course of litigation, we had many questions. Bert always accepted our calls with understanding and answered our questions in a timely manner. He never made us feel we were a bother or an unnecessary burden on his work load or on that of his staff. He treated us with compassion and with dignity. He continues to advise us as to our remaining rights even though our case has been settled. I did not know Bert before this incident. I therefore feel certain that he treats all his clients with similar concern and care.

Jessica M. Terenzini

The Louthian Law Firm went above and beyond for our family! We could tell from the start that Bert and his staff cared about us, not just “the case”. Thank you, Bert!

Nina Rogers

The Louthian Law Firm is the most honest, hardworking, and ethical firm in the state. Bert and Mr. Louthian carefully work each case with their clients’ best interest in mind. I trust them with all of my legal questions and always refer all friends and family in need of a good attorney to them. They treat every client with respect and keep open lines of communication with them through each step of the case. They really handle everything to relieve the stresses of a personal injury lawsuit.

Min Victoria Logan

I found the Louthian Law Firm very professional throughout their services given. Even more so, I found them very personable, displaying a genuine concern for my health, family and overall concerns. They worked diligently to ensure that I received the best possible in settlement, even to the extent that they sought help, out of pocket, from other firms when expertise was needed in certain areas. Despite the circumstances it was a pleasure to have Bert as my attorney and If in need of service in the future, I would not hesitate to call upon them again. The entire staff was a blessing. I consider Attorney Bert, not only my attorney, but a friend.

Clara Holmes

My overall experience with Louthian Law Firm was beyond fantastic. They were amazing. They truly care about your needs and expectations. The will work beyond your expectations to make sure that their clients are well taken care of.