The Hughey Law Firm has successfully pursued claims against this facility.
Planning for the long-term care of our loved ones requires time and energy to ensure we are placing them in a facility where they receive the best care possible and are treated with dignity and respect. Fortunately, long-term nursing care facilities must undergo inspections to ensure they meet minimum standards for health safety, fire safety, and quality of care. If you or a loved one has already fell victim to unfortunate circumstances at an assisted living center speak with the nursing home abuse attorneys at the Hughey Law Firm today.
Charleston NHC HealthCare promises 24-hour skilled care provided by teams of licensed nurses, plus rehab, respite care, and a clinical social worker, among other amenities. The website looks appealing. But the for-profit facility is rated only better than average overall by U.S. News and World Report. A review website gives it an average of three out of five stars.
Worst of all, an investigative report by ProPublica found eleven deficiencies at the facility during two recent years. Though Medicare chose to levy no fines, deficiencies included a failure to:
- Make sure each resident receives an accurate assessment by a qualified health professional.
- Allow the resident the right to participate in the planning or revision of the resident’s care plan.
- Make sure that each resident’s drug regimen is free from unnecessary drugs and each] resident’s entire drug/medication is managed and monitored to achieve highest well being.
- Store, cook, and serve food in a safe and clean way.
- Immediately tell the resident, the resident’s doctor and a family member of the resident of situations (injury/decline/room, etc.) that affect the resident.
- Provide care for residents in a way that keeps or builds each resident’s dignity and respect of individuality.
- Conduct initial and periodic assessments of each resident’s functional capacity.
- Provide necessary care and services to maintain the highest well being of each resident
- Make sure that the nursing home area is safe, easy to use, clean and comfortable for residents, staff and the public.
- Set up an ongoing quality assessment and assurance group to review quality deficiencies quarterly, and develop corrective plans of action.
The Hughey Law Firm knows these and other deficiencies all too well, having won cases against Charleston NHC HealthCare for abuse or neglect of the patients there.
If you have a loved one who has suffered abuse or neglect at Charleston NHC HealthCare, South Carolina law permits you to seek compensation for damages on your loved one’s behalf. The experienced nursing home abuse attorneys at the Hughey Law Firm are here to help you hold those who caused your loved one harm accountable. Contact us at (843) 881-8644 for a free consultation to determine the best course of action for your loved one.
Defining Resident Abuse and Neglect in South Carolina
Before you can hold a facility or employee liable for harming your loved one, you need to become familiar with South Carolina’s legal definition of abuse and neglect as it pertains to long-term care facility residents. South Carolina’s Omnibus Adult Protection Act provides these legal definitions. They include:
- Physical abuse – Defined as intentional harm or allowing intentional harm of a resident as the result of actions or the failure to take action, including slapping, kicking, biting, choking, pinching, burning, sexual battery, misuse of medication for behavioral modification, and unreasonable restraint;
- Psychological abuse – Defined as intentional verbal or physical threats, harassment or intimidation causing a resident to feel confusion, humiliation, degradation, fear, or other negative emotions;
- Exploitation – Defined as forcing a resident to engage in improper, unlawful, or unwanted activities, including financial exploitation such as stealing personal property, funds, or other assets; and,
- Neglect – Defined as a situation where a caregiver fails to provide the care, goods, or services a resident needs to maintain their health and safety, such as food, clothing, medicine, adequate supervision, and medical services.
How Do You Know Your Loved One Was Abused?
If you know your loved one has been abused or neglected, or you suspect ongoing abuse or neglect, contact the Long Term Care Ombudsman at the South Carolina Department on Aging at 1-800-868-9095 right away. The Ombudsman with initiate an investigation into your complaint, but you should also notify the administrative staff at Charleston NHC HealthCare about your complaint in writing, and be sure to document all communication with the facility.
Nursing home abuse often goes unreported because residents fear retaliation, so your loved one might not share their experiences with you. The following physical, behavioral, and financial signs might indicate abuse or neglect:
Physical Signs of Abuse or Neglect
It’s sometimes difficult to see the physical signs of abuse or neglect of your loved one. Some common visible injuries that may indicate neglect or abuse include bedsores, wounds, cuts, excessive bruising, abnormally pale complexion, sunken eyes, bed sores, sunken cheeks, excessive weight loss, or any other physical issue that seems unusual or suspicious to you.
Behavioral Signs of Abuse or Neglect
When abusers are good at hiding physical signs or only engage in verbal abuse, the signs are much more difficult to detect. The key to recognizing whether behavioral changes may indicate neglect or abuse is the extent to which the behaviors stray from your loved one’s normal behavior. For example, if your loved one generally suffers from depression, it’s not all that likely that their depressed behavior is attributable to abuse and neglect. Some other signs you can look for include disorientation, anxiety, withdrawal from everyday activities, withdrawal from socializing with others, stories about bruises or wounds that don’t make sense to you, talking about dying or suicide, and fear of speaking to you in front of medical staff, nursing assistants, or other employees.
Signs of Exploitation
If you have moved your loved one into Charleston NHC HealthCare, you likely are monitoring their finances. If a member of the facility has tried to financially abuse or exploit your loved one, you might notice missing money, checks, or valuables. You might also notice unauthorized credit or debit card charges, changes in the mailing address on financial accounts, or changes in your loved one’s credit score, indicating someone may have opened accounts under their name and/or Social Security number.
Let the Hughey Law Firm’s Nursing Home Neglect and Abuse Lawyers Fight for the Elders You Love
Your loved one deserves to be treated with the utmost dignity and respect and receive outstanding long-term nursing care. If Charleston NHC HealthCare or one of their employees has neglected or abused your loved one, accidentally or intentionally, we are here to help you act on your loved one’s behalf.
Nate Hughey has spent almost 20 years recovering compensation for hundreds of survivors of nursing home neglect and abuse—against Charleston NHC HealthCare, among many others. Many South Carolina attorneys consult the lawyers at the Hughey Law Firm when they have trouble with their own nursing home cases.
Contact one of our experienced long-term care abuse and neglect attorneys at the Hughey Law Firm at (843) 881-8644 or contact us online to discuss suspected abuse or neglect at Charleston NHC HealthCare.