North and South Carolina Nursing Home Abuse Information | Shapiro, Washburn & Sharp

Best Elder Abuse Lawyers in NCWhen you place a loved one in a nursing home or adult care facility, it is because you care about their health and wellbeing. As your loved one ages, they may struggle with memory loss, mobility issues, and other conditions of aging that make it necessary for them to live with professional care and supervision. However, all too often, North Carolina and South Carolina nursing homes are places of abuse, injury, and neglect.

What is nursing home abuse? Nursing home abuse can come in many forms. Patients can be physically hit and abused by staff members or nurses. Patients can be sexually abused by those looking to take advantage of their immobility, age, and memory loss. Patients can be restrained by those who do not want to look do their jobs. Patients can be overmedicated so that they do not need extra supervision.

Nursing home neglect is also an important issue to be aware of. Elderly patients who are not tended to can develop serious health problems very quickly. They can suffer from bedsores, infections, stiff joints, malnourishment, and dehydration. They can be either overmedicated or under medicated causing injury or even death. They can be ignored in times of need.

Patients can also be verbally and emotionally abused – two types of abuse that don’t leave scars, but that can significantly lower a patient’s quality of life.

Click here to read our guide on nursing home abuse and negligence in North Carolina.

If you think that your loved one may be a victim of nursing home abuse, it is important to speak to a nursing home abuse lawyer immediately. Be sure to look for the signs of nursing home abuse in your loved one, such as cuts and bruises, sudden changes in behavior, bedsores, strangely active staff members, and unclean conditions.