Hiring a home health care agency is supposed to allow your loved one to receive care in the comfort and safety of their own home. But when agencies fail to properly screen employees, provide inadequate training, or send caregivers who are neglectful, abusive, or exploitative, the result can be devastating. Families often do not discover the abuse until significant harm has already been done, because there are no other staff members or residents around to witness and report problems.

South Carolina’s Omnibus Adult Protection Act protects vulnerable adults in all care settings, including in their own homes. When a home health care agency, staffing company, or individual caregiver fails to provide competent care, they can be held legally accountable.

Hughey Law Firm represents families throughout South Carolina in cases involving home health care abuse and neglect. We investigate the agency’s hiring practices, training protocols, and supervision procedures to determine how the abuse happened and who is liable. Call (843) 881-8644 for a free, confidential consultation.

Common Forms of Home Health Care Abuse

• Physical abuse by caregivers: Hitting, shoving, rough handling, pinching, or other physical mistreatment by aides or attendants.
• Neglect of care duties: Failure to assist with bathing, grooming, medication management, meal preparation, wound care, or mobility needs.
• Financial exploitation: Home health aides who have access to the patient’s home may steal cash, personal property, or valuables. Some engage in identity theft or manipulate vulnerable patients into making financial transfers.
• Emotional abuse: Verbal intimidation, threats, ridicule, social isolation, or deliberate withholding of companionship.
• Medication mismanagement: Administering wrong medications, incorrect doses, or failing to administer prescribed medications on time.
• Sexual abuse: Any non-consensual sexual contact between a caregiver and patient.
• Abandonment: Caregivers who fail to show up for scheduled shifts or leave during shifts without notifying the family or agency.

Agency Liability vs. Individual Caregiver Liability

An important aspect of home health care abuse cases is determining who is legally responsible. In many cases, both the individual caregiver AND the home health agency bear liability:

• The agency may be liable for negligent hiring (failing to conduct background checks), negligent training (failing to provide adequate instruction), negligent supervision (failing to monitor caregiver performance), and negligent retention (keeping a caregiver on staff despite complaints or red flags).
• The individual caregiver may be personally liable for their acts of abuse, neglect, or theft.
• If the caregiver was hired independently (not through an agency), the analysis is different, and an attorney can help you understand your options.

Hughey Law Firm investigates every layer of potential liability to ensure that all responsible parties are held accountable.