This resource center for seniors and family members provides information on elder abuse, California elder abuse laws, and resources to get help if you or a loved one has been the victim of elder abuse or neglect.
Elder Abuse Overview
Learn about the scope of elder abuse and neglect in California and what to watch for.
- Elder Abuse Statistics
- Learn just how common elder abuse and nursing home abuse are.
- Nursing Home Abuse Guide
- This complete guide to nursing home abuse and neglect covers what to watch for, types of nursing home abuse, and what to do if you suspect a loved one is being abused.
- Signs of Elder Abuse
- Here are the many warning signs that a loved one has been the victim of elder abuse or neglect.
- Signs of Abuse in Seniors with Dementia
- Elder abuse is especially challenging to detect when the victim has dementia. Here are signs to watch for in loved ones with Alzheimer’s or dementia.
Types of Elder Abuse & Neglect
Abuse of older adults comes in many forms. The term “abuse” typically refers to intentional actions while “neglect” refers to failure to act or provide what an older adult needs by someone acting as a caregiver or otherwise with a duty of care.
Below are resources to help you understand elder abuse and the many forms of neglect.
- Types of Elder Abuse in Nursing Homes
- Learn about the types of abuse and neglect that occur in nursing homes and how to recognize them.
- Understaffing in Nursing Homes
- Understaffing is a very common problem that frequently contributes to neglect in nursing homes and other elder care facilities.
- Physical Abuse
- This is one of the most frequently reported forms of elder abuse and includes hitting, slapping, pushing, kicking, burning, or any other intentional uses of force that cause distress, fear, injury, or death.
- Financial Abuse
- Older adults are often targeted for financial exploitation in the form of scams. Financial abuse can also involve predatory lending, identity theft, abusing a joint or custodial bank account or power of attorney, or convincing a senior to sign over property or money.
- Psychological, Psychosocial, and Emotional Abuse
- This form of abuse can include insulting or belittling, threatening, harassing, screaming at, or humiliating a senior. It can also involve isolating the senior or depriving them of social interaction.
- Sexual Abuse
- Sexual abuse in nursing homes is an underreported and hidden epidemic. In an elderly care facility, sexual assault may be committed by staff members, medical professionals, visitors, and other residents.
- Medication Errors
- Medication mistakes like improper administration, failure to provide medication, and inadequate medication management can happen anywhere, but medication errors in nursing homes and other care facilities can be a sign of neglect.
- Malnutrition
- Malnutrition in the elderly is so common, it’s believed to affect 50% of older adults. In nursing homes and medical residential facilities, malnourishment may indicate neglect.
- Dehydration
- Nursing Home Falls
- Falls in nursing homes are very common, but facilities have a duty to provide a safe environment and take steps to prevent falls. Learn why falls can be a sign of neglect in nursing homes.
- Bedsores
- Seniors and dependent adults with mobility issues and chronic health conditions are at a high risk of bedsores which can quickly worsen and threaten their health. Learn about bedsores and nursing home neglect.
- Infections and infestations
- Infections and infestations, like mites that cause scabies, can be a form of neglect if they are not treated promptly. Two of the most common and serious infections in nursing homes are MRSA and sepsis.
- Wandering & Elopement Incidents
- Wandering is a common behavior in older adults with dementia. Nursing homes have a duty to prevent elopement, or residents leaving the grounds unsupervised. Nursing home elopement is very serious and often indicates neglect.
California Dependent Adult & Elder Abuse Law
Learn about dependent adult and elder abuse laws in California.
- California Elder Abuse and Dependent Adult Civil Protection Act(EADACPA)
- Better known as the Elder Abuse Act, this broad legislation protects dependent adults and elderly people from abandonment, neglect, abuse, and financial exploitation.
- California Elder Abuse Law Penal 368 PC
- Penal Code 368 adds criminal sentencing enhancements for abuse, exploitation, and neglect of a senior.
- Neglect and Abuse of Disabled Adults
- Learn about laws specific to the abuse and neglect of disabled adults in California.
- Can You Put a Camera in a Nursing Home?
- Learn about the legality of placing cameras in a nursing home room and how it can help you protect a loved one from abuse or neglect.
- Negligence in Assisted Living Facilities in California
- This guide covers the most common forms of negligence in California assisted living facilities (or residential care facilities for the elderly).
- Wrongful Death in Assisted Living Facilities
- This guide covers the duties an assisted living or RCFE facility has toward its residents and when the facility may be held responsible for the death of a resident.
Resources for Seniors & Families
Here are resources to help families and seniors explore care options, understand their rights, and get help if they suspect abuse or neglect.
Types of California Care Facilities
The types of elder care facilities in California can be overwhelming. Here’s an overview of care options including skilled nursing facilities (nursing homes), residential care facilities for the elderly (RCFEs or assisted living), adult day programs, and more.
Nursing Homes vs Assisted Living
Learn about the differences between nursing homes (skilled nursing facilities) and assisted living (residential care facilities for the elderly).
How to Choose a Nursing Home
This guide helps you find a nursing home in California, compare nursing home ratings, and know what to look for.
Nursing Home Resident Rights
Learn about the rights of a nursing home resident in California.
How to Report Elder Abuse in California
This in-depth guide covers how to report elder abuse and nursing home abuse in California with links to online reporting systems.
California Ombudsmen
Here is what you should know about long-term care ombudsmen in California and their role in investigating and resolving cases of nursing home abuse.
What to Do if You Are a Victim of Elder Abuse
This guide covers the steps you can take if you are the victim of elder abuse including organizations and departments to contact for help.
Elder Neglect & Abuse Prevention
Learn about important steps you can take to prevent elder abuse and neglect in your family and community.
Nursing Home Trust Funds
Nursing home trust funds are accounts held by long-term care facilities on behalf of residents to cover additional expenses they incur. Here is what seniors and families should know.
Assisted Living Eviction Rights
Learn about the circumstances in which a resident in an assisted living facility can be evicted in California and residents’ rights.
