If someone you love has suffered abuse while living in a nursing home facility, they may be entitled to compensation, and deserve justice. A Greenville nursing home abuse lawyer from our firm can build a case for damages from the nursing home or another liable party.
You can contact the nursing home abuse attorneys of Hammack Law Firm at (864) 326-3333 for a free case evaluation. We have built our reputation on helping people just like you.
Nursing Home Abuse Is More Common than Many Think
Nursing homes and long-term care facilities are supposed to fill a void of care. When it’s not safe for our loved ones to stay at home because of their health or medical conditions, these facilities are the places of comfort and compassion that we turn to. However, not all facilities live up to the expected standard of care.
The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that in 2017, at least 15.7 percent of people over the age of 60 have suffered from some form of abuse or neglect in a nursing home facility. However, even they admit those statistics are a gross underestimation since only about 1 in 24 cases of elder abuse are ever reported.
For a free legal consultation with a nursing home abuse lawyer serving Greenville, call 864-740-8653
Our Attorneys Seek Justice for Nursing Home Abuse in Greenville
The Greenville injury lawyers of Hammack Law Firm take nursing home abuse cases very seriously. At the end of the day, all nursing homes have a duty of care. It is their responsibility to ensure the health and safety of everyone under their roof. Neglecting that duty makes them responsible for the consequences of those actions, or lack thereof.
Our team sees how this abuse affects victims and their families physically, financially, and emotionally. To protect our community, we go after those responsible for nursing home abuse in civil court. Along the way, our attorneys offer many services to bring clients peace of mind and confidence in their cases. For example, we will:
- Provide a free and confidential consultation, during which you can discuss the abuse and review your legal options
- Investigate the nursing home for signs of negligence
- Identify potential liable parties, such as staff, volunteers, visitors, or other nursing home residents
- Collect evidence to support a case for personal injury or wrongful death damages
- Account for all the damages your family experienced to assign case value
- Communicate and advocate for you in case proceedings, which includes negotiating settlement offers
- File a nursing home abuse lawsuit before the state’s deadline expires
- Take the case to court when necessary
You are not facing these circumstances alone – our team is here to offer valuable resources and support.
Greenville Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer Near Me 864-740-8653
Damages You Could Recover for a Loved One’s Nursing Home Abuse
Your family could face many types of damages depending on the form of abuse your loved one experienced. Our team will review these losses and expenses with you and calculate an accurate value to ensure you seek fair compensation. In nursing home abuse cases, some possible recoverable damages include:
- Medical treatment for your loved one’s injuries, from when they occurred through their recovery
- Loss of income
- Pain and suffering your loved one experienced during and after the abuse
- Funeral and burial expenses, if your loved one passed away from their injuries
- Loss of companionship for surviving family members
The amount of compensation available varies from case to case, so our team will take care to identify the specific damages this abuse caused your family.
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What Is the Definition of Nursing Home Abuse?
Nursing home abuse isn’t limited to just one specific type of action. Abuse can encompass many different factors. The Nursing Home Abuse Center defines nursing home abuse in generic terms. In general, it is seen as any type of intentional harm that comes to an elderly resident in a nursing home.
Abuse isn’t only a physical or violent act—abuse can take a number of different forms, but the one thing that all abuse has in common is the physical and emotional scars that it can leave on our family members.
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Types of Nursing Home Abuse
There are several classifications of nursing home abuse. While many people tend to think of abuse as a purely physical act, that is far from the case. The elderly are one of the most vulnerable demographics in our society, and people may try to take advantage of this.
A nursing home setting may provide predators with the perfect opportunity to exploit what they see as physical or mental weaknesses for their own benefit. That could mean a physical outlet for their anger or frustrations, or it could mean an easy target to take advantage of financially. Unfortunately, in many cases, an elderly resident may be on the receiving end of several different types of abuse. Here are the most common forms of nursing home abuse:
- Physical Abuse: Physical abuse is the act of laying hands on an individual and causing them bodily harm. It is any type of violent act perpetrated on an elderly resident.
- Emotional Abuse: A caregiver in a nursing home setting can abuse residents emotionally by using threats, intimidation, insults, and humiliation tactics. Behaviors like these are abusive and completely unnecessary and inappropriate. This type of abuse can cause significant problems and be extremely dangerous.
- Sexual Abuse: A severely under-reported problem, elderly nursing home residents can be at risk for sexual abuse. This includes any type of unwanted touching, fondling, intercourse, or other sexual activity, including taking nude or indecent photographs. While some residents still have the ability to say no, others with cognitive or physical limitations are not able to refuse consent. This is still sexual abuse, no matter what a caregiver insists.
- Financial Abuse: Some caregivers take advantage of elderly residents financially. This type of abuse can include theft of personal property or heirlooms, identity theft, scam investments, or gaining access to personal accounts through coercion or forgery.
- Neglect: Abuse also includes a lack of care in the form of neglect. For example, a caregiver may accidentally or willfully ignore or refuse to acknowledge the needs of an elderly resident.
These types of behaviors on their own or in combination with others are nursing home abuse. Abuse is a serious breach of care and can carry criminal and civil penalties. Getting in touch with an experienced nursing home abuse attorney in Greenville is your and your family member’s best course of action. Without someone intervening, abuse will continue to occur, not only to your family member but possibly to others as well.
Recognizing Warning Signs of Nursing Home Abuse
Understanding the different forms of abuse means you can begin to better recognize the warning signs of abuse. The warning signs of abuse, especially emotional abuse, can be very subtle and hard to detect. In elderly residents with cognitive conditions, such as Alzheimer’s or dementia, they may not be able to communicate clearly to you that something is wrong. That’s why it is imperative for you to be able to detect the symptoms and trust your gut.
Even family members who can communicate may not feel comfortable letting you know that abuse is taking place. Why? There are several factors that may make a close family member afraid to come forward with claims of abuse. They may:
- Fear repercussions and retaliation from the abusive caregiver
- Feel guilt or shame for being in the position of a victim
- Not want to burden their family members with the painful knowledge that something is wrong
You can help prevent your loved one from being one of the unseen, unheard victims of abuse.
Possible Signs of Nursing Home Abuse to Look Out For
These are some of the more common warning signs of nursing home abuse to watch out for:
- Unexplained broken bones, cuts, or bruises
- Burns
- Marks or bruises on or near the genitals
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Withdrawal from favorite activities or pastimes
- Withdrawal from family or friends
- Changes in sleeping or eating patterns
- Lack of eye contact
- Refusing to cooperate with certain staff or caregivers
- Sudden changes in weight or appearance
- Dehydration
- Malnourishment
- Change in a financial situation
- Frequent infections or illnesses
- Poor hygiene
- Unchanged or dirty clothes, linens, or bandages
How Are Nursing Homes Responsible for Abuse?
Every case of abuse is unique and has its own set of special circumstances. The one thing that all abuse cases have in common is that the victim is never at fault. There is no excuse for abusing an elderly resident in a nursing home setting. None.
While it is common for caregivers and nursing home staff to be responsible for abuse against an individual there are a number of ways that nursing home management and administration may be responsible for contributing to, condoning, or ignoring that type of inappropriate behavior. These are some of the factors that can contribute or lead to abusive situations in nursing homes and long-term care facilities:
- Understaffing: Understaffing a nursing home facility puts an emotional and physical strain on staff and resources at a facility. This can lead to staff members resorting to different forms of abuse as frustration mounts. It can also lead to cases of neglect as busy and short-staffed caregivers try to juggle too many patients. Some residents may fall through the cracks and not receive adequate care and attention.
- Poor or inadequate staff training: It is beholden to the nursing home to ensure that all staff members have the proper education and training before being hired as caregivers. The nursing home is also responsible for making sure staff are properly trained in correct nursing home procedures, following guidelines, and having proper supervision.
- Poor administrative practices: Most nursing homes and long-term care facilities are for-profit businesses. They are in the business of making money. There are some facilities that may prize material wealth and profits over the health and safety of their residents. This can mean there is a mismanagement of resources and chronic understaffing in an effort to maximize profit margins.
It can also lead to problems with low wages for staff and caregivers. Low wages paired with a high volume of work can make staff resentful and uncaring about their job duties. In severe cases, poor administrative practices may also mean that abuse claims are swept under the rug, overlooked, and simply ignored to maintain status and credibility and avoid government fines and lawsuits.
Why Contact Hammack Law Firm?
Abuse is never an easy subject to talk about. It can cause guilt, embarrassment, emotional pain, and trauma for the person suffering at the hands of an abuser. It is not always easy to break the cycle and get help, especially when you know your daily care, food, and medication, are all in the hands of your abuser.
Your loved one may be afraid to speak out, that is why it is so important for family members to recognize the warning signs. You can make a difference, and at Hammack Law Firm, we are here to help. Our team of seasoned attorneys has the knowledge to tackle the problem and the compassion to help you deal with this sensitive issue.
Our Representation Will Cost You Nothing Out of Pocket
We never want to contribute to our clients’ financial worries. That’s why Hammack Law Firm has a contingency fee policy for all personal injury cases. This type of payment structure means:
- There is no upfront fee to get your case started.
- You owe nothing unless we win compensation for your damages.
- We take our fee as a percentage of the court award or settlement we secure for you.
We hope this fee arrangement makes hiring legal representation more accessible for residents of Greenville and throughout South Carolina.
Client Praise for Our Responsiveness and Professionalism
Many previous clients have left Google reviews highlighting the benefits of working with our personal injury attorneys:
- “Whenever I called or texted, you would think I was their only client. They immediately answered and was always so professional, but yet made me feel like family.” – Jean Smith
- “Lynn went above and beyond from start to finish and I can say now that were done with this process, I feel as if she’s apart of the family!!” – Telvin Dawkins
- “Everyone at Hammack Law treats you like a FRIEND not just a client. Their negotiating skills above and beyond. Definitely looking out for me.” – Steven Kramer
Our Team Is Standing By 24/7 to Provide a Free Case Review
After finding out about abuse your loved one suffered at their Greenville nursing home, you need sound legal advice. You need a solid case strategy to deal with the unique circumstances of your situation. You need to contact the team at Hammack Law Firm to make sure that your legal claim is as strong as you are. Our lawyers can provide valuable resources and support for your case.
It takes strength and courage to bring abuse claims to light. We understand that and want to work hard to bring justice and compensation to you and your family. Contact us at (864) 326-3333 for a free case evaluation. We serve clients in Greenville from our office on West Stone Avenue.
Call or text 864-740-8653 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
