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South Carolina Retirees Address Long Term Care Issues
Friday, March 27, 2009
March 27, 2009
For
Immediate Release
South Carolina
Retirees Address Long Term Care
Issues
National Expert on
Senior Legal Issues Leads Town Hall, “Keeping
the ‘Care’ in Health
Care”
MT. PLEASANT
– Local retirees gathered today at the
Somerby of Mt. Pleasant Retirement Community to
participate in a town hall meeting for seniors
faced with supporting aging loved ones or
planning their own long term
care.
Hosted by the South Carolina
Alliance for Retired Americans, “Keeping the
‘Care’ in Health Care” featured Kimberly Barone
Baden, manager of the nursing home abuse and
neglect litigation team of the Charleston law
firm Motley Rice LLC. One of the nation’s
leading experts on senior legal issues, she
discussed common nursing home problems and
answered questions.
“This is an issue
that not only affects all South Carolina
seniors, but reaches across generations.
Whether planning for one’s own future or caring
for a friend or family, it is critical for us
all to know what our rights are and what
options we have,” said Julie Harbin, President
of the South Carolina Alliance for Retired
Americans.
According to a recent report
by AARP, “Across the States 2009: Profiles of
Long-Term Care and Independent Living,” 16,856
South Carolinians lived in nursing facilities
in 2007. An additional 580,000 Palmetto State
residents acted as family caregivers for their
loved ones.
The town hall included a
discussion of the different types of long term
care, helpful information on the state and
federal regulations that facilities must follow
and how to choose one that abides by that law,
and a brief overview of important admission
information such as a health care power of
attorney and arbitration clauses.
Barone Baden, who represents
nursing home and assisted living facility
residents that are victims of abuse and neglect
and advocates for improved medical treatment
and care for long term care residents, also
shared her experience in nursing home
litigation. She provided information about the
warning signs of abuse and neglect, the most
common injuries that occur in assisted living
facilities and nursing homes, ways to prevent
these injuries from occurring, and what you
should do if you suspect abuse or neglect of a
loved one.
“Residents of long-term care
facilities are often physically and emotionally
vulnerable,” added Harbin. “By ensuring both
residents and their families understand how the
system works, we will be able to act quickly
and more effectively when problems
occur.”
###
Contact: Julie
Harbin, (843) 446-4444 or
SCRetiredAmericans@sc.rr.com