Corona Elder Abuse Lawyer

The patriarchs and matriarchs of our families are getting to the age when they can no longer take care of themselves. We remember them as physically and mentally strong, but we must all face the saddening reality that are becomming dependent upon the care and compassion of others.

As our loved ones enter into their golden years, many relatives will have to turn to nursing homes and other care facilities. When this decision has been made, we expect the caretakers to adhere to a high level of dignity and care. Unfortunately, nursing home neglect and abuse is a tragic reality that many face on a daily basis.

By law, nursing homes are required to provide a high level of care to all patients. Failure to meet the needs of the patients is a form of abuse and should be immediately reported to law enforcement and the associated government agencies. Speaking to an attorney about the abuse is highly recommended.

While we would love to think that nursing homes and their employees are in the business to provide exceptional care to our loved ones, many nursing homes have been caught cutting costs to increase profits. Some of these cost cutting ventures have led to violations in health and safety standards and hiring employees without the proper training or education to reduce employee costs.

In fact, the California Attorney General’s office recently doubled the size of its elder abuse division after a study found that:

• Only one nursing home in Los Angeles County was in full compliance for health and safety standards.
• Only eighteen homes were in compliance in the San Francisco area.
• None of the nursing homes in the Santa Barbara area were in compliance with these regulations.

Four Categories Of Elder Abuse

The law describes elder abuse as any type of abuse against a person 65 years old or older. This tragic type of abuse is categorized into four main types of abuse.

Physical Abuse
Physical abuse includes any action that purposefully inflicts bodily harm on the individual. For elder abuse, this may include, but is not limited to:

• Hitting, kicking, slapping, or otherwise injuring the elderly person
• Physically restraining the person
• Withholding food or water, causing dehydration or starvation
• Sexual abuse of any kind
• Improperly administering or withholding medications

Signs of physical abuse can include:

• Bruises, welts, lacerations, rope marks, black eyes
• Broken or fractured bones, including skull fractures
• Open wounds, cuts, punctures, untreated injuries in various stages of healing
• Sprains, dislocations, internal injuries/bleeding
• Broken eyeglasses/frames, physical signs of being subjected to punishment or signs of being restrained
• Laboratory findings of medication overdose or under-utilization of prescribed drugs
• An elder’s report of being hit, slapped, kicked, or otherwise mistreated
• Sudden change in behavior
• The caregiver’s refusal to allow visitors to see an elder alone
• Bruises around the breasts or genital area
• Unexplained venereal disease or genital infections
• Unexplained vaginal or anal bleeding
• Torn, stained, or bloody underclothing
• An elder’s report of being sexually assaulted or raped

Neglect
Neglect can include many different situations and is not limited to the following:

• Appearance of bed sores due to not turning the individual
• Not keeping individual clean
• Starvation or dehydration
• Creating dangerous conditions for the individual

Signs of neglect can include:

• Malnutrition, Dehydration, untreated bed sores or poor personal hygiene
• Unattended or untreated health problems
• Hazardous or unsafe living condition/arrangements (improper wiring, no heat or no running water);
• Unsanitary and unclean living conditions (lice on person, dirt, fleas, soiled bedding, fecal/urine smell, inadequate clothing)
• An elder’s report of being mistreated

Emotional
Emotional abuse can come in several forms, including:

• Intimidation of being hurt or mistreated
• Isolation from others out of neglect or as punishment
• Ridicule or verbal abuse

Signs of emotional abuse can include:

• Being emotionally upset or agitated
• Being extremely withdrawn and non communicative or non responsive
• Unusual behavior usually attributed to dementia (biting, sucking, rocking)
• An elder’s report of being verbally or emotionally mistreated

Financial
Financial abuse can include many different situations, but are most commonly associated with:

• Theft of personal property
• Embezzlement
• Forgery or fraud, including identity theft, or the signing of legal documents
• Mismanagement of finances

Signs of financial abuse can include:

• Sudden changes in bank account or banking activity, including an unexplained withdrawal by a person accompanying the elder
• Inclusion of additional names on an elder’s bank signature card
• Unauthorized withdrawal of the elder’s funds using the elder’s ATM card
• Abrupt changes in a will or other financial documents
• Unexplained disappearance of funds or valuable possessions
• Substandard care being provided or bills unpaid despite the availability of adequate financial resources
• Discovery of an elder’s signature being forged for financial transactions or for the titles of his/her possessions
• Sudden appearance of previously uninvolved relatives claiming their rights to an elder’s affairs and possessions
• Unexplained sudden transfer of assets to a family member or someone outside the family
• The provision of services that are not necessary
• An elder’s report of financial exploitation

California nursing homes are required to provide the following to all of their residents:

• A standard of care for each resident that will allow them to live in a safe environment that encourages them to have the highest quality of life possible with their specific limitations taken into consideration.
• Services and activities that enhance quality of life and maintain a healthy psycho-social balance. Programs should be in place to adjust to the changing needs of each patient.
• A written care plan should be done on each patient so that all of their specific needs are met. This written plan should be followed daily and reevaluated every couple of months to ensure health and happiness.

What To Do If You Suspect Nursing Home Abuse in Corona, CA

If you suspect that your loved one has been abused or is currently being abused in a nursing home, you must do the following:

• Speak to your loved one and ask them for details. Document any information you get, include the time and date. Remember, many elderly people suffer intimidation at the hands of their abuser. If they deny abuse, yet you still see signs, you must act to protect their interests.
• Photograph any evidence that has led you to believe there is abuse taking place. This includes bruising, bed sores, and dry and cracked lips.
• Contact law enforcement. You need to file a police report that you suspect abuse is taking place. Any type of abuse is illegal and a police report should be made to ensure that the authorities get involved.
• Follow through with your police report by contacting government agencies that are in charge of elder abuse cases. The police will most likely provide you with the information on whom to contact.
• Contact an attorney. Elder abuse is a very serious and devastating issue and your attorney can aggressively represent your loved one to ensure that the abuse is stopped, the criminals are held accountable, and compensation is issued.

At the Corona Law Offices of Brent A. Duque, we maintain a staff of a highly professional, knowledgeable, aggressive and successful elder abuse attorneys who represent injured people through our offices that stretch across Southern California. Time limitations apply to any injury claim you might have, so for purposes of investigating a possible case and possibly preserving evidence, it’s best for you to contact us immediately after an injury or case of neglect.

Contact our Riverside County Personal Injury Attorneys at 1-877-241-9554 to learn more about your legal options. A free consultation is just a phone call away. You can even use our online contact form, and we’ll reply to you quickly.