CALIFORNIA ELDER ABUSE AND DEPENDENT ADULT CIVIL PROTECTION ACT
Elder abuse can take many forms, including domestic elder abuse, institutional abuse and self-neglect. Domestic elder abuse occurs in the home of the victim or the caregiver, and the abuser most commonly in these situations are a family member, friend or paid caregiver. Institutional abuse occurs in a nursing home or other such assisted living facility. Lastly, there is self neglect in which the elderly person’s own actions endanger his/her life, such as depriving oneself of food and water. However, this last category of self neglect is not a crime. Institutional abuse was the basis of a recent lawsuit filed in Alameda County.
A Northern California resident filed a civil lawsuit against the High Street Care Center for elder abuse on Monday, November 3, 2008. The patient, Grover Brown, suffered from paraplegia and multiple sclerosis. The lawsuit filed on behalf of Mr. Brown alleged that the nursing home neglected to protect him from bed sores, and as a result, it led to such severe infection of his bone and bone marrow that he had to have his coccyx removed. Although Mr. Brown is only 39 years old, he is protected under the California Elder Abuse and Dependent Adult Civil Protection Act. This Act protects the elderly and dependent adults from willful actions of their caretakers.
Elder abuse may be hard to spot, but if you suspect that you or someone you know has been a victim of elder abuse, we may be able to help you. The law firm of Greenberg & Rudman LLP will advance all costs and expenses related to your case, and we only collect fees if we win your case. Call us now at 1-800-252-9776 (1-800-ALAWPRO) to talk to one of our elder abuse attorneys. To find out more about elder abuse, please visit our website at www.alawpro.com.
