According to U.S. Census Bureau data, people age 65 and older will make up nearly 20 percent of the population by 2030. One unfortunate byproduct of this projection is that more elderly Americans are apt to experience cognitive and physical deterioration as the result of simply living longer, and research shows that senior citizens with cognitive and/or physical impairments are at greater risk of abuse because they are necessarily more dependent on care facilities and caregivers. A March 2011 Government Accountability Office (GAO) report found that there were 21,300 substantiated cases of elder abuse in California in 2009 alone. If steps are not taken to decrease this frightfully high number, the dire reality is that the number of abuses cases will likely grow in relation to the elder population as a whole.
Reporting Suspected Abuse or Neglect
As concerned citizens, we can all help by watching for signs of elder abuse and neglect when we visit our loved ones in nursing homes or long-term care facilities. If you observe any potentially abusive or neglectful behaviors, documenting signs of elder abuse or neglect is important not only to determine whether abuse or neglect is occurring, but also to substantiate any claim that you may have against the facility or its staff. If you do in fact fear that your relative, or another nursing home resident, is the victim of abuse, the next step is to report the situation. The operation of nursing homes in California is highly regulated, including the reporting of nursing home abuse. To report an imminent threat of abuse, call 911 or local law enforcement. If the threat is not immediate, report suspected physical abuse or neglect by calling the Ombudsman Office at (800) 231-4024; alternatively you may report abuse in writing using a Report of Suspected Dependent/Elder Abuse form. Your local Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program provides resident services and addresses the following issues:
- Questions or concerns about quality of care
- Questions or concerns about financial abuse
- Investigations of suspected physical, mental, or emotional abuse of nursing home residents
- Witnessing services for Advance Health Care Directives
- Attendance at resident care plan meetings
- Attendance at resident or family council meetings
As soon as you fear that your loved one is the victim of abuse or neglect, we urge you to contact an experienced elder abuse attorney who understands how to build and litigate these potentially complex claims. The Law Offices of James R. Gillen is vigorously pursuing a case of elder abuse against Rancho Specialty Hospital and its owner and operator Vista Health Care, LLC, as well as the treating physician. In handling this case, we are acutely aware of the devastating nature of elder abuse, and we will offer immediate assistance to you.
Seek Experienced, Compassionate Representation
We are committed to protecting the rights of elder Californians, working tirelessly to obtain justice on behalf of victims and their families. Please contact the Law Offices of James R. Gillen for more information about reporting elder abuse; we will stand by you and provide sound advice during this difficult time.
