How to Prevent Nursing Home Abuse in South Carolina
Anyone who needs to admit a loved one into a nursing home, or who already has a family member in a facility, hopes that they will receive the care and support they need while there. Unfortunately, nursing home abuse is far more common than people would like to think. You may not think there is anything you can do for your loved one to prevent nursing home abuse but fortunately, that is not true. Below, our Daniel Island nursing home abuse and negligence lawyer outlines how to protect those you love.
Start Planning Early
The best time to start making sure your loved one is safe is before an emergency arises and they need urgent care. Discuss with them what kind of care they would like as they start to get older. Do they want to remain home as long as possible? Do they need home care on a regular basis? Start planning early, and always make sure to include your loved one in that planning.
Exercise Due Diligence
One of the best ways to prevent nursing home negligence and abuse is to exercise due diligence by thoroughly researching any facility. A few ways to do this include:
- Make sure any facility you are considering is certified by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and ensure they have a high rating on quality training.
- Check with outside review agencies such as US News and World Report.
- Ensure any facility you are considering has a high staff-to-resident ratio so you can be sure staff members are not over-scheduled and overworked.
Visit
One of the best ways to prevent nursing home negligence and abuse is to visit, and to visit a lot. If you can, visit on many different occasions and at varying days of the week and times. This will allow you to observe what is going on in the home in its natural state. Additionally, if you visit regularly, staff members will likely ensure your loved one receives the care they need because they know you are highly involved.
Assert Yourself
From the time your family member moves in, establish your role with assertive, but fair, strength. Know what your loved one’s care plan is and obtain a second opinion from a doctor or other healthcare professional so you can understand what type of care your family member needs.
Understand the Chain of Command
Learn everything you can about the facility’s policies for discussing an issue or registering a concern. If you do have concerns, speak up right away and do not wait.
Call a Nursing Home Abuse and Negligence Lawyer in Daniel Island
If you believe your loved one is not being treated properly, it is important that you work with a Daniel Island nursing home abuse and negligence lawyer. At Fuller Law Firm, our seasoned attorney is dedicated to standing up for elders and will hold the facility accountable for paying the full compensation your family deserves. Call us now at 843-277-0013 or contact us online to request a consultation and to learn more.
Source:
scstatehouse.gov/code/t43c035.php
