An independent watchdog group in South Carolina recently issued a report stating that many residents of the state’s hundreds of community care facilities live in poor conditions, according to The State. In addition, these homes are not receiving sufficient supervision from state agencies.
Protection & Advocacy For People With Disabilities, A Columbia-based Organization, Described Appalling Circumstances, Including:
- Dirty environments
- Unsafe living areas
- Lack of food
- Medications that are improperly administered by staff.
How the State is Responding
The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC), which is the state agency that oversees care facilities, is currently looking into recommendations made in this report.
Furthermore, it is in the process of posting inspections and corrective actions to its website so that people can see the updated status for each of the 477 facilities in the state.
DHEC also plans to hire more inspectors to examine state facilities. At this time, the state employs approximately six inspectors. Due to the Protection & Advocacy group’s report, the state will increase its team of inspectors.
Since Catherine Templeton took over as director, the department’s focus has shifted from business interests to improving conditions for residents. The Protection & Advocacy group’s executive director, Gloria Prevost, gives credit to Templeton for changing the emphasis to reflect the best interests of the people who live in these facilities.
However, many areas need improvement to make the care facilities healthy environments for residents.
The Protection & Advocacy group investigates allegations of negligence and informs the state of its findings. The group’s last major report came out in 2009. Sadly, this organization found that many of the same unsafe situations have not changed since its last investigation.
Need Legal Help?
You put a lot of trust in the nursing home that looks after your loved one. So it’s natural to feel betrayed if your relative is mistreated in a facility or if living conditions are substandard. Our South Carolina personal injury attorneys at Joye Law Firm are ready to fight for your rights if someone you love is the victim of negligence in a care facility.
For a free consultation about a nursing home abuse claim, call us at (888) 324-3100 or use our convenient online form.
For more information about the results we’ve obtained on behalf of injured persons who have worked with our law firm, please visit “Our Results”.
Categories
Archive
