As of 2020, nursing homes in South Carolina rank 31 of the 50 states according to America’s Health Rankings.
Amongst older adults in SC, 10% or more experience abuse every year, and some reports say this number is closer to one in six. However, abuse comes in many forms, and at Jordan Law Center, our attorneys address the different types of abuse in nursing homes.
Different Types of Abuse in Nursing Homes
The state is also ranked 21 for the number of senior falls (257,682 in 2020), many of which may be the result of nursing home abuse or neglect.
Physical abuse
One of the types of abuse in nursing homes is physical abuse. This abuse involves physical contact with the resident, including staff members or other residents:
- Hitting, pushing, pulling, slapping, kicking, cutting or otherwise harming the residents’ bodies
- Not caring for bedsores or injuries
- Using medications or straps to restrain residents
Physical abuse has a 2.6-14.1% prevalence amongst older adults in nursing or long-term care facilities.
Financial abuse
Financial abuse typically doesn’t have a physical sign, but it has a high prevalence (6.8-13.8%) in nursing homes.
This type of nursing home abuse occurs when the staff steals from the residents. They may take their personal property or money. The nursing home could also overcharge patients for the services they provide. Staff may also do the following:
- Take out loans or credit cards in the resident’s name
- Sign checks and other financial account paperwork
- Withdrawal money from banks and ATMs
- Change or encourage changes to estate planning documents
Workers may also purchase things, including subscriptions.
Emotional and psychological abuse
Emotional abuse, another type of abuse in nursing homes, has an 11.6-32.5% prevalence amongst older adults. This type of abuse includes
- Yelling at, threatening, humiliating, harassing, intimidating and demeaning residents
- Isolating residents
- Refusing to help residents care for themselves
Emotional and psychological abuse is the most common, possibly in part because it doesn’t leave physical marks on the resident. However, it does have detrimental impacts on their mental and emotional lives.
Abandonment and Neglect
Abandonment and neglect are similar types of abuse in nursing homes. In these cases, the nursing staff leaves a resident to care for him or herself. These individuals typically do not have the capability to take care of themselves.
The staff may leave patients in their rooms for long periods.
Neglect includes:
- Not providing adequate food and water
- Delayed or refusing to provide patients’ medications
- Not moving residents around the facility
- Refusing to bathe or otherwise promote patients’ hygiene, including providing clean sheets
- Not helping residents go to the bathroom or turning them so they do not get bedsores.
Neglect has a 4.2-12% prevalence in nursing facilities.
Sexual abuse
Any form of sexual contact that occurs without the residents’ consent is sexual abuse. This type of abuse does not require aggression or force. Some residents cannot give informed consent due to mental or physical incapacity. Staff members also should not show sexually explicit content to residents, including videos or photos. Sexual abuse has a 0.9-1.9% prevalence in nursing homes.
Self-neglect
Self-neglect occurs when nursing home staff look the other way when their residents harm themselves. Facility staff does not report or stop these actions. Although the staff doesn’t touch the residents, this is another of the types of abuse in nursing homes.
Medical malpractice
Medical malpractice in nursing homes involves over or under-medicating patients or delaying medication administration. It may also occur if physicians and staff do not check for drug interactions. It also involves not providing medical care and diagnoses at all or within a reasonable period when the resident becomes ill. Providing improper medication and not checking for adverse drug interactions also fall within this type of abuse.
Malnutrition and dehydration
Nursing homes should provide adequate nutrients and fluids. The staff may provide the wrong types of food, not provide enough food or not provide food at all to the residents.
Drugging
Finally, nursing homes or long-term care facilities may drug patients to keep them sedated, confused or otherwise incapacitated.
Recognizing Forms of Abuse in Nursing Homes
When family members look for the types of abuse in nursing homes, they should consider the following symptoms of physical abuse:
- Unexplained physical injuries
- Increased sickness
- Infection
- poor hygiene
Emotional and drugging abuse may show up as:
- Fear or refusal to communicate
- Withdrawal from others, including loved ones
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Refusal to take medications
These residents may have significant personality changes and may even appear to show signs of dementia.
Although it may not result in many physical injuries, neglect does have physical manifestations.
- Weight loss and dehydration
- Inappropriate dressing, especially with regard to the temperature
- Bed sores
- Lack of bathing
- Dirty clothing and bedding
Bed bugs may also show signs of neglect. Also, nursing home staff may leave residents alone in the public locations of the facility.
Malnutrition may show up through
- Weakness and fatigue
- Weight loss
- Dry skin
- High heart rate
- Low blood pressure
These individuals may also contract more illnesses and infections.
Common Injuries That May Indicate Abuse
Injuries are a key indication of several different types of abuse in nursing homes. Financial and emotional abuse may not result in visible nursing home abuse injuries, but other types of abuse will have physical manifestations.
Physical abuse
Physical abuse may show the following injuries:
- Bone fractures or breaks
- Cuts, torn skin or lacerations
- Injuries to the face or teeth
- Infections, particularly those that become septic
- Falls that result in head injuries or other injuries
Rope marks and friction burns may also suggest physical restraint.
Sexual abuse
Sexual abuse may have these signs:
- Sexually transmitted diseases
- Genital bruising or infections
- Bruising on the breasts and
- Vaginal bleeding
These patients may also have bloody, torn and stained underwear.
Next Steps – Talk To an Attorney Today
For those who suspect or know that someone they love is subject to any of these types of abuse in nursing homes, contact the administration immediately and file a complaint. Then, contact our attorneys at Jordan Law Center. We can help with reporting nursing home abuse and provide a free legal consultation.
