Columbia Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer
From posting abusive and derogatory photos online to physically harming residents, nursing home workers and assisted living facility employees routinely cause harm to the elderly who depend on their service and care, as reported by the Washington Post. In tens of thousands of other cases, employees have neglected their duties, such as failing to quickly attend to fall victims or to properly feed or help clean residents who rely on such services that they and their family members pay for. Nursing home abuse and neglect are a growing problem in South Carolina and around the country as our population ages and the federal government reduces the rules and regulations that for-profit elder care facilities must abide by, as reported by The New York Times. If you or your loved one were a victim of nursing home abuse, the Columbia nursing home abuse lawyers at The Stanley Law Group are here to provide legal assistance.
How Does Nursing Home Abuse Occur?
Elder abuse is a criminal act that is tragically growing in prominence from year to year. While most abusers are family members of the elder person, abusive individuals often end up working in the elder healthcare industry. Some abusive staff members at nursing and retirement homes are drawn to their line of work because of an inherent cruelty and lust for control and power. According to the National Institute of Justice, abusers may:
- Have learned from others that violence is a productive way to solve problems;
- Feel that they are not being recognized or compensated fairly for their efforts, and therefore take it out on the elderly person;
- Have a desire to control others as a form of feeling powerful, and do so through coercion and physical means;
- Have an addiction to alcohol or drugs; and/or
- Have a mental health disorder.
Nursing homes have a duty to maintain a safe, caring, clean, and friendly facility. Management and owners have an obligation to fire and report to unkind and abusive staff members to the authorities, or should be held responsible whenever their services cause harm to a resident.
What is Abuse?
Abuse consists of the following:
- Physical abuse—Any hitting, pushing, grabbing, slapping, pinching, or other harmful and unnecessary physical contact;
- Emotional or psychological abuse—Teasing, making fun of, yelling at, taunting, or treating a resident like a child. Also included is locking a resident in his or her room, withholding food or water, or any other type of “punishment.”
- Sexual abuse—Any nonconsensual sexual act or unwanted touching or groping. In most cases, even if a resident gave their consent, the act may not be consensual due to the victim’s dementia;
- Financial abuse—Stealing from the resident or using coercion or trickery to defraud them or steal from them.
Our Columbia Nursing Home Abuse Attorneys Can Help You Today
If you or your loved one were abused, neglected, or otherwise suffered any type of preventable injury or illness while staying or living at a nursing home, the Columbia nursing home abuse lawyers at The Stanley Law Group are here to provide legal assistance. Our experienced attorneys advocate for nursing home abuse victims and maximize the financial compensation that they deserve and rely upon to recover from their physical and emotional injuries. Call 803-799-4700 to schedule a free consultation at once.
