Escondido Elder Abuse Attorney Advocating for Seniors and Families

At Berman & Riedel, LLP, we focus on elder abuse and neglect cases, advocating for older adults and their families throughout California. Our elder abuse attorneys in Escondido have secured multimillion-dollar settlements and verdicts against negligent facilities and care providers. We are dedicated to protecting the rights of vulnerable senior citizens and helping families seek justice when their trust is violated.

Seniors deserve a life of dignity and respect, but unfortunately, many elderly individuals in Escondido are subjected to mistreatment at the hands of caregivers, family members, or nursing home staff. About one in 10 seniors experiences some form of neglect or abuse, but it's estimated that just 1 in 14 cases are ever reported.

If a family member has been harmed by neglect or abuse, contact Berman & Riedel, LLP for the legal help you deserve. An Escondido elder abuse attorney can help you understand your legal options, protect your loved one, and hold the abuser or negligent facility responsible. Call our law office today for a free case evaluation.

Common Types of Elder Abuse in Escondido

Elder abuse can happen anywhere. Sometimes it happens in a senior's home. It may also involve nursing home abuse or mistreatment in an assisted living facility that has been trusted to care for a vulnerable loved one. Perpetrators of abuse can include adult children, spouses, and facility staff, among others. There are many types of elder abuse perpetrated in Escondido, including:

• Neglect - failure to provide necessary medical care, services, food, shelter, access to social activities, and services a dependent adult or senior needs
• Sexual abuse - including sexual exploitation and any unwanted sexual contact
• Verbal and emotional abuse - including belittling, threats, and insults
• Financial abuse - may involve coercion, manipulation, or undue influence
• Physical abuse - including hitting, pinching, pushing, kicking, and unnecessary restraint
• Abandonment - leaving a dependent adult, senior, or disabled adult in an unsafe or inappropriate location or without the necessities and support they need

To protect your loved one, watch for signs of elder abuse:

• Sudden behavioral changes
• Unexplained or repeated falls or injuries, especially fractures or marks on the arms or around the wrists
• Use of heavy sedation
• Bedsores
• Rapid weight changes

At Berman & Riedel, LLP, our Escondido elder abuse and neglect lawyers represent family members and victims of elder abuse. Under California PC 368, elder abuse is a crime. Both criminal and civil law allow for awards directly to family members and victims in successful claims.

Compensation Available in Elder Abuse Cases

Under California law, an elderly person who suffers abuse or neglect can seek full civil remedies through a personal injury claim and, in tragic cases, through wrongful death actions brought by the surviving family. Damages victims may recover include:

• Economic losses: past and future medical bills and related medical expenses, costs for relocation to a safer facility, and out-of-pocket expenses tied to the abuse
• Non-economic losses: physical pain, mental and emotional distress, loss of dignity, and loss of enjoyment of life

In especially egregious cases, a court may award punitive damages, not to compensate losses, but to punish and deter intentional, reckless, or malicious conduct by the facility or staff.

To recover compensation, you must prove liability, causation, and damages. Evidence can include medical records, care plans, staffing logs, incident reports, photographs, witness statements, prior citations, and patterns of incidents showing neglect or mistreatment. Your Escondido elder abuse lawyer may also use expert testimony to connect breaches of the standard of care to an older adult's injuries.

How to Report Elder Abuse in Escondido CA

If you suspect abuse and believe it's an emergency, call 911 for an immediate response. You can also report neglect or abuse to the Escondido Police Department, no matter where the senior is living. If the situation isn't urgent, there are several ways to report elder abuse and make sure it's investigated.

After reporting abuse to the authorities, an experienced elder abuse attorney in Escondido can help you gather evidence and pursue a case against the facility or abuser.

Abuse or Neglect in a Nursing Home or Long-Term Care Facility

The long-term care ombudsman advocates for nursing home and long-term care facility residents by investigating complaints and helping residents seek a resolution. The local ombudsman is a good first step for reporting suspected abuse or mistreatment in any type of long-term care facility.

You can contact the San Diego County Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program at (800) 640-4661 or through the 24-hour California CRISIS line at (800) 231-4024.

Complaints can also be made against facilities.

• The California Department of Social Services (CDSS) investigates elder abuse cases involving assisted living facilities, adult day programs, and other facilities that may provide housing for seniors but not intensive or 24-hour skilled nursing. You can submit a complaint online or call 1-844-LET-US-NO (1-844-538-8766).
• The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) investigates abuse and complaints involving skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) or nursing homes, adult day health care, subacute care facilities, intermediate care facilities (ICFs), and home health organizations (HHOs). You can use the online Cal Health Find portal to submit a complaint.

Neglect or Abuse in the Community

If the older adult is living in a private home or apartment, staying at a hotel, in a hospital, or homeless, self-neglect, abuse, or neglect should be reported to Adult Protective Services (APS).

The San Diego County Adult Protective Services investigates reports involving older adults aged 60 and older. Call (800) 339-4661 to report suspected mistreatment.

Resources for Escondido Caregivers & Seniors

Here are helpful resources for caregivers, seniors, and their families in Escondido and the North County San Diego area.

• Park Avenue Community Center: Serves older adults (50+) with a lounge, nutrition program, library, billiards room, fitness and social programs, and more
• Senior Service Council Escondido: Provides free and low-cost services and support groups
• Jacobs and Cushman San Diego Food Bank Senior Food Program: Food distribution each month at the Escondido senior center
• Salvation Army Escondido Corps: Free classes for seniors including tai chi
• San Diego County Senior Transportation Program: Free rides for seniors 60 and older who meet income guidelines and live in eligible zip codes (92027 in Escondido)
• Facilitating Access to Coordinated Transportation (FACT): Rides for San Diego County seniors and disabled adults for essential trips
• North Inland Aging & Independence Services: Services to help older adults and people with disabilities remain in their own homes

Schedule a Free Consultation With an Escondido Elder Abuse Attorney at Berman & Riedel, LLP

If you suspect your loved one has been neglected, abused, or mistreated, it's important to take action right away. Elder abuse can be reported to the authorities before seeking legal representation from an elder abuse lawyer in Escondido.

The experienced elder abuse lawyers at Berman & Riedel, LLP have successfully won over $100 million for our clients who have suffered from elder abuse and neglect in its many forms.

In addition to reporting abuse, it's wise to gather as much evidence as you can of the harm your loved one has suffered, including medical records, photos, and notes. The next step is contacting an Escondido elder abuse attorney to protect your loved one's legal rights and hold the responsible party accountable.

Contact the compassionate elder abuse attorneys at Berman & Riedel, LLP to seek justice and fair compensation for the harm your loved one has suffered. Our elder neglect and abuse law firm is based in San Diego, but we handle cases throughout the metro area and across California.

Escondido Residential Care Facilities | Assisted Living Facilities

Escondido Adult Residential Facilities | Adult Day Care Programs

Table Legend

Type: AD - Adult Day Program, AR - Adult Residential, FP - Adult Residential Facility for Persons with Special Health Care Needs, CC - Community Crisis Home, EB - Enhanced Behavioral Support Home, RF - Residential Facility for Chronically Ill, SR - Social Rehabilitation Facility Capacity: # of adults allowed under license