With elder abuse on the rise it is important to be aware of the California laws to protect the elderly. The options available to you. In order to protect the aging population it is important to become educated regarding elder abuse, the causes of elder abuse, methods of reporting abuse, as well as any additional resources available to seniors in the community. If you feel you have witnessed elder abuse or have been a victim of elder abuse it is important to report it immediately. You may call adult protective services to report the abuse charges. Adult protective services will conduct a thorough investigation into the matter. Additionally, please remember you are not alone, elder abuse occurs frequently and is currently on the rise.
California laws to protect the elderly
Moreover, elder abuse is on the rise and currently there is a shortage of funds and workers to assist with this growing social problem. If we all do our part to check in with senior citizens we can help to ensure that the case loads do not rise any further. Checking in with seniors can be as simple as a phone call or a visit to ask how they are doing. Questions you can ask are if they are being fed properly or adequately, and how their relationship is with the caregivers at the nursing facility. In addition, you may also want to ask whether the caregivers are attentive to their needs on a daily basis. If you feel the elderly individual you are checking in with is omitting pertinent information you may want to go visit the facility to observe the staff on your own.
Seniors do not report elder abuse for a variety of reasons. One reason is that seniors sometimes fear retaliation from the caregivers if they report them. Second, the elderly individuals are not connected to the outside world through current technology such as cell phones or the internet. Third, seniors are not aware of the multitude of resources available to them, as well as support groups in their community. Lastly, the elderly community often times feel alone and are unaware of the growing number of elder abuse cases in their community and in society as a whole.
For further information regarding elder law and elder abuse please contact your local elder law attorneys. Please call Yanez & Associates for your free initial consultation at 714-971-8000. We look forward to assisting you with your elder law matter.
