How To Report Elder Abuse in Los Angeles: Part One
This is the first in a series on reporting elder abuse in Los Angeles and throughout California. For Part Two of ‘How to Report Elder Abuse in Los Angeles’ click here.
If you suspect or witness elder abuse in Los Angeles and you believe there is an immediate danger or health risk, call 911 or local law enforcement. For non-emergencies, there are a number of steps you can take to report elder abuse.
In California, different agencies and departments deal with different locations and case types. With so many organizations, reporting can be confusing. Here is a brief overview of the main bodies responsible for dealing with elder abuse complaints in Los Angeles and California.
The California Long Term Care Ombudsman deals with reports of elder abuse in nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and other long-term care facilities. A Long-Term Care Ombudsman representative is trained to follow the wishes of residents (or their representatives) and investigate and resolve complaints quickly. Ombudsman services are freely provided. All complaints are confidential.
For urgent concerns, call the 24/7 Ombudsman crisis center at 1-800-231-4024. Find out more here.
California Adult Protective Services (APS) handles elder abuse in apartments, homes, hotels, or inpatient hospitals. Following a complaint, APS will assess an individual’s needs and develop a plan. This may include removing the adult from the situation where abuse is taking place. APS will also liaise with other agencies to protect the individual’s future safety and health. You should call APS if you have a suspicion of elder abuse. They will conduct an investigation. Find out more about filing a complaint with APS here.
The APS elder abuse hotline at 1-833-401-0832 is open in LA County 24/7.
The Los Angeles County Elder Abuse Hotline, operated by LA County’s District Attorney office, handles reports of elder abuse within LA County.
Contact the hotline at 1-877-477-3646. Find out more here.
The Attorney General’s Division of Medi-Cal Fraud & Elder Abuse investigates elder abuse and Medi-Cal fraud committed by facility operators and employees. The division also provides safeguarding frameworks for children and dependent adults. Find out more here.
Reporting Nursing Home Abuse in Los Angeles
If you suspect a nursing home resident is not receiving the care to which they are entitled, you can file a complaint against any Los Angeles facility licensed by the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) by contacting them directly:
- Online via the California Health Facilities Information Database, which directs you to the Los Angeles district office.
- By Phone or Mail. Contact information for the Los Angeles district office can be found here.
The CDPH are required to begin an investigation within ten days – or 24 hours if there is an imminent danger of serious injury or death. The complaint should provide information about what has occurred, who was involved, and how the resident was affected.
For more information on filing a report with the CDPH if you suspect nursing home elder abuse in Los Angeles, read Part Two of this series.
The California Department of Social Services also accepts complaints of elder abuse against licensed facilities via their online portal. Anyone can file a complaint with the CDPH, not just relatives or residents.
Mandated Reporting of Elder Abuse
Individuals who work in direct contact with elders may be considered ‘mandated reporters’ under California law. This status means those individuals are required to report known or suspected abuse as soon as possible.
Mandated reporters include:
- Care providers and custodians
- Administrators, supervisors and licensed staff of a care facility
- Medical providers
- County Adult Protective Service agent
- Law enforcement workers
- Social workers
Failure of a mandated reporter to report elder abuse is a crime. Mandated reporters are required to identify themselves on written reports. Those not considered mandated reporters can choose to report anonymously. The Department of Health is required by California law to keep your identity confidential from the facility.
Talk to a Los Angeles Nursing Home Abuse Attorney
If your complaints are not being handled to your satisfaction by the relevant authorities, talk to a Los Angeles nursing home abuse attorney. Dudensing Law can provide you with a free consultation to determine if you have a case. To talk to an elder abuse attorney in LA, San Francisco/Bay Area or Sacramento, fill in a contact form here.