Long Beach Adult Day Care Abuse Attorney

Compassionate Elder Abuse Lawyer for Patients in Nursing Homes & Assisted Living Facilities in Long Beach.

Unfortunately, not all adult daycares treat people the way they are supposed to. If you suspect your elderly loved one is being abused or neglected at an adult daycare center, you have an obligation to remove him or her from the facility and file a complaint. You may also want to speak to an experienced adult day care abuse attorney in Long Beach about taking civil action.

Why Choose Us?

Since 2002, Travis Siegel of Siegel Law has been fighting for the rights of senior citizens and their families. Call for a free case evaluation at (562) 645-4145. Siegel Law serves clients from Tustin, Irvine, Santa Ana, Huntington Beach, Long Beach and all nearby areas in Southern California.

Adult daycare centers and adult day health care centers are supposed to provide a valuable service to adults in need of assistance. They are particularly helpful for families that provide care for elderly relatives at night and on weekends but have a job to go to on weekdays. These facilities should help the elderly by feeding them, administering medication, looking out for their safety, and keeping them occupied. They also should give families peace of mind, knowing that their vulnerable loved ones are being cared for while they are at work. If you have put a loved one in an adult day care center or day health center and suspect abuse, our Long Beach adult day care abuse lawyer can help during a free consultation.

What Are Adult Day Care Centers?

Adult daycare centers are facilities that provide care and supervision for elderly people, but only during certain parts of the day. Such centers are not appropriate for people in need of full-time care, or without family members who can spend at least some time taking care of them.

Many of these centers have a social focus to ensure that attendees continue to have full and enriched lives around other people. Social isolation is a major issue for the elderly, so these centers give them a chance to visit with others of the same generation, as well as younger staff members. These centers often include arts and crafts projects, supervised outings, and live entertainment. Some fitness programs may also be offered, though they are usually pretty minor (like yoga or swimming) rather than physical therapy.

What Are Adult Day Health Care Centers?

Adult Day Health Care (ADHC) centers are like standard adult daycares, except that they offer medical attention for attendees who need greater care and treatment. These facilities include registered nurses and therapists on staff.

Elderly loved ones who need regular physical therapy or medical treatment, in addition to exercise and socialization, are prime candidates for ADHC centers. Such centers may be more expensive since they keep licensed medical staff on hand, but they include more healthcare services than standard adult daycare centers. Doctors may also spend one or more days each week at these centers to provide additional care and checkups as needed.

There are also Alzheimer’s care centers that provide targeted and specific treatment for those with serious dementia and Alzheimer’s. These very specialized centers have staff members who are trained specifically to provide care and activities for people suffering from Alzheimer’s.

Common Types of Adult Day Care Abuse and Neglect

Elder abuse and neglect can come in many forms, including:

• Physical abuse: Hitting, pushing, pinching, etc. Be on the lookout for cuts and bruises that can’t be explained. Physical abuse can also be denying the patient water or food, or not keeping her warm enough.
• Medication abuse: Giving the wrong medication or wrong dose, withholding medication, or overmedicating. If your loved one seems overly tired or in a stupor, there may be a medication issue.
• Sexual abuse: Any kind of unwanted touching of the private areas or inappropriate language can be classified as sexual abuse.
• Verbal abuse: This can include yelling, taunting, threatening, belittling, mocking, or any form of verbal communication that doesn’t respect the patient’s dignity.
• Financial abuse: This can include stealing from a patient, using the patient’s debit or credit card, forcing or tricking the patient to write a check, etc.
• Lack of supervision: This can be not noticing that a patient is having a stroke or choking on food, allowing him to wander away from the facility, allowing another patient to harm him, or allowing him to hurt himself.

Adult Day Care Abuse vs. Nursing Home Abuse

Any form of abuse is wrong. When it impacts our elderly family members who cannot defend or even speak up for themselves, it is especially vile. It is important to report suspected abuse and contact an elder abuse attorney as soon as possible.

Nursing homes have elderly residents around at all times. Adult daycares only watch people temporarily. This means there is more opportunity for abuse at a nursing home. The residents may also be easier targets since they usually have greater physical and mental restrictions, which is why they needed nursing home care, to begin with.

On the other hand, employees at an adult day care might undergo less scrutiny and fewer background checks than those at a nursing home. Many nursing home employees have degrees and certifications to be working in their fields. There are also more regulations in place for nursing homes than adult daycares, though ADHC centers have to uphold many of the same regulations as nursing homes since they provide healthcare.

Compensation for Elder Abuse and Neglect

Victims of elder neglect or abuse are entitled to compensation for the same damages as a personal injury victim, including pain and suffering, medical expenses, future medical costs, and punitive damages. In addition, the spouse of the elder abuse victim may have a claim for loss of consortium.

But an adult daycare facility isn’t just going to hand you a check. Their insurance company is going to try to minimize their liability for any injuries. Often times, an insurance company will offer a settlement that is less than substantial. To get the settlement your loved one deserves, you’ll need a knowledgeable adult day care abuse attorney fighting for you. Long Beach attorney Travis Siegel of Siegel Law is passionate about defending the rights of the elderly. Call Siegel Law today for a free consultation with a Long Beach adult day care abuse lawyer.

Additional Information

• Finding Adult Day Care in Los Angeles
• Different Elder Care Environments
• Community-Based Adult Services (CBAS)-formerly Adult Day Health Care -(ADHC)
• CBAS/ADHC – Community-Based Adult Services/Adult Day Health Care