Taking a family member to live in a nursing facility can be an emotional experience, and we trust that the facility will take care of our loved one when we can’t. However, there are some instances where evidence of abuse or neglect appears even in nursing homes that are supposed to be known for their superb care. It is times like these where families feel helpless and guilty because they cannot protect their elderly family members.  
According to the National Center on Elder Abuse, nearly 17,000 nursing homes care for 1.6 million residents in the United States. This number is expected to quadruple to 6.6 million by 2050. As the number of families turn to nursing homes to take care of their loved ones increases every year, so do the number of nursing home abuse and neglect cases. It has been estimated that nearly one-third of all nursing homes have been cited for violations. Though the number of incidents of abuse has increased over the last several years, many cases go unreported. There are several causes for abuse and neglect, including:

• Negligent hiring
• Inadequate training of staff
• Staff burnout
• Staff shortages
• Stressful working conditions

Signs of abuse can be verbal or emotional, as well as physical. Negligence can appear in different ways, and evidence of this may appear in more subtle ways than emotional or physical abuse.

Signs of Physical Abuse and Neglect

• Unexplained injuries
• Open wounds, cuts, or bruises
• Improper dispensing of medication
• Unreasonable restraint – both chemical and physical
• Deprivation of food and water
• Assault
• Rape

Signs of Emotional or Verbal Abuse

• Unusual behavior
• Withdrawn or uncommunicative
• Want for isolation from loved ones
• Agitated or emotionally upset
• Threatening, humiliating, insulting, or ignoring friends and family

Signs of Neglect

• Bed sores
• Failure to assist in personal hygiene
• Failure to protect from safety and health hazards
• Poor sanitary conditions of room
• Infections
• Poor access to medical services
• Withholding or disregarding necessities for daily living

If you suspect that your elderly loved one may be the victim of nursing home abuse or neglect, the first thing to do is to report it to the facility supervisor, local authorities, or file a complaint with the state Licensing and Certification who will then conduct an investigation. You should also immediately call an experienced nursing home abuse and neglect lawyer. Because evidence can disappear quickly, you must act as soon as possible.

If you are in the Aiken, Camden, Columbia, Lexington, Newberry, Orangeburg, or Sumter, South Carolina area, please contact McWhirter, Bellinger & Associates, P.A. We can answer any questions you may have regarding this issue.