Santa Barbara Elder Abuse Attorney

Stephanie Johnson is an experienced elder abuse attorney based in Santa Barbara, California. For more than a decade, she has dedicated her career to protecting the rights of vulnerable seniors and their families. After spending the first ten years of her career litigating elder abuse cases primarily across Southern California, Stephanie recognized the critical need for strong advocacy in her local community in the Tri-Counties and greater Central California region. To meet that need, she joined forces with Ed Dudensing to bring top-tier elder abuse litigation services to her community.

Stephanie’s roots in Santa Barbara run deep. She earned her bachelor’s degree at UC Santa Barbara and her Juris Doctor from Santa Barbara College of Law, where she graduated with Witkin Highest Honors in Professional Responsibility. Her commitment to her community is reflected in her past volunteer work with the Legal Aid Foundation of Santa Barbara, and service on the boards of the Santa Barbara County Bar Foundation, the Ventura County Trial Lawyers Association, and the Ventura County Bar Association.

With extensive experience handling every phase of litigation in cases involving elder abuse, violations of resident rights, and wrongful death, Stephanie is known for her clear communication, steady leadership, and unwavering dedication to her clients.

Stephanie and Dudensing Law are proud to serve the Santa Barbara and Central California communities and are committed to making a meaningful difference in the lives of those impacted by elder abuse.

Santa Barbara Nursing Home and Assisted Living Facility Abuse Lawyer

If you or a loved one has been a victim of elder abuse in Santa Barbara, complete the form below to schedule a free consultation with an experienced, dedicated elder abuse lawyer in Santa Barbara.

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Dedicated to One Cause

Unlike other practices marketing themselves as elder abuse attorneys, we are focused only on litigating elder abuse cases.

Dudensing Law is the only law firm in Santa Barbara dedicated exclusively to representing victims of elder neglect and abuse in nursing homes and assisted living facilities.

Caring & Attentive Representation

We know how hard it is to learn that your loved one has suffered at the hands of those responsible for their safety and well-being. We have seen how painful the fallout from elder abuse and neglect can be, and we understand the importance of leading you through the legal process with sensitivity, attentiveness, and unbridled support. We have the expertise and experience to give your family the best possible representation during the most difficult and emotionally fraught of times.

Talk to A Nursing Home Abuse Attorney in Santa Barbara

If your loved one has been the victim of elder abuse or neglect in an assisted living facility or nursing home in Santa Barbara, contact us today for a free consultation. We will stand by you every step of the way.

Schedule A Free Consultation

Elder Abuse: An Invisible Epidemic

According to the California Department of Aging, more than 200,000 cases of older and dependent adult abuse are reported each year.

Owing to extreme underreporting, these statistics do not come close to representing the true scale of the problem. We believe this is an urgent issue that must be tackled by exposing the full extent of the elder abuse crisis taking place in Santa Barbara, in California, and across the United States.

Holding the Corporate Perpetrators of Elder Abuse to Account

Elder abuse in assisted living facilities and nursing homes is completely unacceptable. Those who violate laws established to protect our most vulnerable citizens must be held accountable.

At Dudensing Law, we understand the methods used by corporate overseers to prioritize their bottom line over the well-being of vulnerable individuals. We’ve seen how corporate-run facilities fail to meet the basic care standards expected by families. Our work has uncovered significant flaws in the profit-first elder care system, including inadequate staff training, chronic understaffing, and complex management structures designed to shield profits and protect private interests.

See How We Get Results

What Is Elder Abuse?

Elder abuse includes, but is not limited to:

  • Physical abuse and other physical contact that can cause injury
  • Neglect, such as a failure to provide proper medical care, nutrition, or assistance with essential daily tasks
  • Emotional or psychological abuse
  • Sexual abuse

Click here for more information on what constitutes elder abuse. If you suspect your loved one has been the victim of elder abuse in a nursing home or assisted living facility, schedule a free consultation with a Santa Barbara elder abuse lawyer today.

How Do I Know if My
Loved One is a Victim of Abuse?

Common indicators of elder abuse and neglect include:

  • Difficulty sleeping
  • Agitation/anxiety
  • Violent behavior
  • Defensiveness
  • Depression
  • Non-responsiveness
  • Emotional withdrawal
  • Physical withdrawal or self-isolation
  • Unexplained weight loss
  • Unexplained bruises, burns, scars, welts, broken bones, or other injuries
  • Bed sores or other preventable conditions
  • Malnutrition
  • Dehydration
  • Confusion or disorientation

If any of these sound familiar, our nursing home abuse lawyer in Santa Barbara can help you navigate the law and determine if you have a case.

How to Report Nursing Home Abuse in Santa Barbara

If you suspect or witness elder abuse in Santa Barbara and believe there is an immediate danger or health risk, call 911 or local law enforcement for emergency assistance.

For non-emergency situations, there are a number of resources available. Elder abuse occurring anywhere other than a long- term care facility should be reported to the County of Santa Barbara Adult Protective Services Agency.

The Long Term Care Ombudsman can advocate on behalf of the resident and help you file and navigate a complaint. For urgent concerns, call the 24/7 crisis center at 1-800-231-4024. For non-urgent concerns, get in touch with a Santa Barbara Ombudsman Representative.

You can file a complaint against any facility licensed by the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) – including nursing homes and assisted living facilities – by contacting the CDPH directly:

Anyone can file a complaint with the CDPH, not just relatives or residents

For further help with elder care and elder abuse reporting:

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
1-800-633-4227 (toll-free)
1-877-486-2048 (TTY/toll-free)
https://www.medicare.gov/ 

Eldercare Locator
1-800-677-1116 (toll-free)
https://eldercare.acl.gov

National Association of Area Agencies on Aging
1-202-872-0888
www.n4a.org

Talk an Elder Abuse Lawyer in Santa Barbara, CA

At Dudensing Law, we fight to hold nursing homes and assisted living facilities accountable when they abuse, neglect, or mistreat our elders. Our track record speaks for itself. When you choose us, you can rest assured that the best elder abuse attorneys in the business are handling your case.

We have the expertise, experience, and dedication to take on the perpetrators of abuse.

We are focused on one cause: representing victims of elder abuse in nursing homes and assisted living facilities.

We will do whatever it takes to hold those in power accountable.

If your loved one has been the victim of elder abuse in a nursing home or assisted living facility in Santa Barbara, contact our head office in Downtown Sacramento for a free, no-obligation consultation.

Call 916-448-6400, submit a contact form, or live chat with us using the button on the bottom right of your screen.