Elder Abuse FAQs*
*These FAQs are provided by the National Center on Elder Abuse, and clicking on any of the questions will take you directly to their site for answers.
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Recent Cases: Neglect Leads to Near Death As Demented Patient
Escapes "Secured" Facility"
A 71 year-old resident of an "Alzheimer's/Dementia Care" facility was hit by a semi-truck on the freeway and sustained massive, life-threatening injuries. She had been admitted to the facility by her daughter after repeated incidents of wandering from her home, staying out all night, and awakening cold, disoriented, and injured. She was placed in the facility because her daughter wanted her to be safe. The facility used a key pad system to control its exits, but gave the code to all of its staff, residents' families, and even some residents. The patient learned the code, let herself out of the facility, and after wandering for an hour or two, made her way onto the freeway where she was struck by the semi. Because the facility had ceased monitoring the patient, it did not know of her departure until the hospital advised the daughter of her mother's injuries. Since the daughter knew that her mother was in a "secured" facility and believed that there must have been some identity mix-up, she called the facility to confirm her mother's presence. The facility only learned of her departure when it checked her room and found it empty. This was a case that involved both elder abuse and elder neglect. The case has been settled.
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Your situation may not be as outrageous as our case above, and though you may have an uneasy feeling about what's taking place at the care facility of a loved one, you may not be sure if it's legally "abuse" or "neglect," or what your approach should be to rectify any issues.
Call our offices and set up an appointment for a free case evaluation to determine if you in fact have any legal recourse in your situation, and what steps you should take. We provide personal, caring and responsive representation and work on a contingent fee basis. This means that in most cases you pay nothing to us directly. Our fees are only a percentage of what we obtain for you.
We understand the laws that protect nursing home and care facility residents, and over the years have recovered millions of dollars for the victims of abuse, neglect and negligence, and for their families.
Elder Abuse & Neglect
The following are the definitions of Abuse and Neglect of an elder or dependent adult as set forth by the Welfare & Institutions Code. After reading the following, if you suspect abuse or neglect, don't accuse the facility or staff of any harm. Call our offices to request a free case evaluation first to determine a proper course of action.
Welfare & Institutions Code
Section 15610.07. Abuse of an Elder or a Dependent Adult
Section 15610.30. Financial Abuse
Section 15610.63. Physical Abuse
Section 15610.07. Abuse of an Elder or a Dependent Adult
"Abuse of an elder or a dependent adult" means either of the following:
(a) Physical abuse, neglect, financial abuse, abandonment, isolation, abduction, or other treatment with resulting physical harm or pain or mental suffering.
(b) The deprivation by a care custodian of goods or services that are necessary to avoid physical harm or mental suffering.
Section 15610.30. Financial Abuse
(a) "Financial abuse" of an elder or dependent adult occurs when a person or entity does any of the following:
(1) Takes, secretes, appropriates, obtains, or retains real or personal property of an elder or dependent adult for a wrongful use or with intent to defraud, or both.
(2) Assists in taking, secreting, appropriating, obtaining, or retaining real or personal property of an elder or dependent adult for a wrongful use or with intent to defraud, or both.
(3) Takes, secretes, appropriates, obtains, or retains, or assists in taking, secreting, appropriating, obtaining, or retaining, real or personal property of an elder or dependent adult by undue influence, as defined in Section 1575 of the Civil Code.
(b) A person or entity shall be deemed to have taken, secreted, appropriated, obtained, or retained property for a wrongful use if, among other things, the person or entity takes, secretes, appropriates, obtains, or retains the property and the person or entity knew or should have known that this conduct is likely to be harmful to the elder or dependent adult.
(c) For purposes of this section, a person or entity takes, secretes, appropriates, obtains, or retains real or personal property when an elder or dependent adult is deprived or any property right, including by means of an agreement, donative transfer, or testamentary bequest, regardless of whether the property is held directly or by a representative of an elder or dependent adult.
(d) For purposes of this section, "representative" means a person or entity that is either of the following:
(1) A conservator, trustee, or other representative of the estate of an elder or dependent adult.
(2) An attorney-in-fact of an elder or dependent adult who acts within the authority of the power of attorney.
Section 15610.57. Neglect
(a) "Neglect" means either of the following:
(1) The negligent failure of any person having the care or custody of an elder or a dependent adult to exercise that degree of care that a reasonable person in a like position would exercise.
(2) The negligent failure of an elder or dependent adult to exercise that degree of self care that a reasonable person in a like position would exercise.
(b) Neglect includes, but is not limited to, all of the following:
(1) Failure to assist in personal hygiene, or in the provision of food, clothing, or shelter.
(2) Failure to provide medical care for physical and mental health needs. No person shall be deemed neglected or abused for the sole reason that he or she voluntarily relies on treatment by spiritual means through prayer alone in lieu of medical treatment.
(3) Failure to protect from health and safety hazards.
(4) Failure to prevent malnutrition or dehydration.
(5) Failure of an elder or dependent adult to satisfy the needs specified in paragraphs (1) to (4), inclusive, for himself or herself as a result of poor cognitive functioning, mental limitation, substance abuse, or chronic poor health.
Section 15610.63. Physical Abuse
"Physical abuse" means any of the following:
(a) Assault, as defined in Section 240 of the Penal Code.
(b) Battery, as defined in Section 242 of the Penal Code.
(c) Assault with a deadly weapon or force likely to produce great bodily injury, as defined in Section 245 of the Penal Code.
(d) Unreasonable physical constraint, or prolonged or continual deprivation of food or water.
(e) Sexual assault, that means any of the following:
(1) Sexual battery, as defined in Section 243.4 of the Penal Code.
(2) Rape, as defined in Section 261 of the Penal Code.
(3) Rape in concert, as described in Section 264.1 of the Penal Code.
(4) Spousal rape as defined in Section 262 of the Penal Code.
(5) Incest, as defined in Section 285 of the Penal Code.
(6) Sodomy, as defined in Section 286 of the Penal Code.
(7) Oral copulation, as defined in Section 288a of the Penal Code.
(8) Sexual penetration, as defined in Section 289 of the Penal Code.
(9) Lewd or lascivious acts as defined in paragraph (2) of subdivision (b) of Section 288 of the Penal Code.
(f) Use of a physical or chemical restraint or psychotropic medication under any of the following conditions:
(1) For punishment.
(2) For a period beyond that for which the medication was ordered pursuant to the instructions of a physician and surgeon licensed in the State of California, who is providing medical care to the elder or dependent adult at the time the instructions are given.
(3) For any purpose not authorized by the physician and surgeon.