Santa Ana Home Health Agency Abuse and Neglect Lawyer

Santa Ana Home Health Agency Abuse and Neglect Attorney

Having to take care of an elderly loved one can be overwhelming, and there’s nothing wrong with asking for help when you need it. You may choose to reach out to a home health agency, which will dispatch a qualified healthcare professional to your home or your loved one’s home to act as their primary caregiver. You put a lot of trust in this professional, and if they abuse your loved one, you should call a Santa Ana home health agency abuse and neglect lawyer.

At Hunter Law, we understand how hard it can be to take on a healthcare provider of any kind in an abuse or neglect case. Depending on the agency, they may be ready to fight back extensively in order to avoid any kind of scandal that could hurt their business. However, your priority should be seeking justice with the help of someone who has handled Santa Ana home health agency abuse and neglect cases.

Hire a Home Health Agency Abuse and Neglect Lawyer

It’s important to have someone by your side who understands the potential home health agency abuse and neglect penalties, as well as someone with significant knowledge of the state’s home health agency abuse and neglect laws. The most important decision you can make for your case is to hire a home health agency abuse and neglect lawyer. Stephen R. Hunter has spent 16 years helping elderly clients seek justice for elder abuse and neglect. He can help your case, too.

Instances of nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and home health agencies engaging in abusive behavior toward patients are not rare. According to recent information from the California Department of Aging, there have been over 200,000 reported cases of elder abuse across the state. It’s believed that many of these cases are not reported at all due to fear and other factors. You should contact a lawyer immediately if you feel you or a loved one is being abused.

Being abused or neglected by a healthcare professional can be hard to accept. The physical injuries you may have endured can be bad enough without considering the effect this situation may be having on your mental health.

You should reach out to a local support group like the Santa Ana Counseling Center or NAMI Orange County. Having someone to talk to about what you’re going through can be good for you, as can having a safe space to vent about your concerns.

Examples of Home Health Agency Abuse and Neglect

Abuse and neglect can take many different forms, and some of them may be more obvious than others. It’s important to be able to recognize the different forms of abuse and how they can affect your loved one. You should also keep in mind that you will only have two years to file a personal injury claim due to California’s statute of limitations on such claims. Here are some examples of what home health agency abuse and neglect can look like:

• Physical abuse: Generally, physical abuse is one of the most common forms of abuse, as well as the easiest to identify. Any kind of purposeful physical injury or excessive use of force can be considered physical abuse. Improperly restraining a patient can also be seen as physical abuse. If you suspect your loved one is being abused, you should check their body for bruises, cuts, and other injuries.
• Emotional abuse: Emotional abuse can be harder to prove without video evidence, audio evidence, or witness testimony. It can involve threatening or humiliating a patient, screaming at them, or isolating them from friends and family. Emotional abuse can often be as painful as physical abuse, if not more so in some situations.
• Financial abuse: Financial abuse can be hard to notice quickly, but it can have far-reaching consequences. If you suspect your home health agency representative is financially exploiting your loved one, you should look into your loved one’s financial records and see if there have been significant changes. Financial abuse can include stealing money and valuables, or even coercing a patient to change their will.

FAQs Santa Ana, CA Home Health Agency Abuse and Neglect Law

What Are the Rules for Home Care Agencies in California?

The rules for home care agencies in California are stringent and specific. Home care agencies must be licensed by the state, have specially trained staff who have gone through extensive criminal background checks, and follow strict regulations for patient care. If you suspect that the home care agency representative you have hired is engaged in criminal behavior or abusing your elderly loved one, you should reach out to the agency and hire a lawyer to help you build a case.

What Is the Law for Elder Abuse in California?

Any intentional behavior that causes harm or endangerment to an elderly person who is 65 years old or older is considered elder abuse in California. Depending on the facts of the case, the penalties for elder abuse can range anywhere from misdemeanor charges to felony charges, with the penalties including jail time and restitution. If you suspect elder abuse, you should contact the police and hire a lawyer to help you file a civil claim.

Who Oversees Home Health Agencies in California?

The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) primarily oversees home health agencies in California. They are the ones who ensure that every agency meets the state standards for clinical care. The California Department of Social Services (CDSS) oversees some home care agencies. They provide non-medical assistance and are responsible for registering home care aides, among other services.

In California, home health agencies are audited by state and federal agencies alike, depending on the situation. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and the Office of Inspector General (OIG) are federal agencies that ensure that home health agencies are Medicare and Medicaid compliant. The California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) and the California Department of Developmental Services (DDS) are state agencies that ensure program compliance.

Contact a Lawyer Today

At Hunter Law, we can help you pursue legal action for abuse and neglect. Contact us to speak to someone on our team about how we can help and what we can do for you.

Costa Mesa Hospital Abuse and Neglect Law Resources:

• Elder Abuse in America
• Reporting Nursing Home Abuse or Neglect
• Pressure Ulcer AKA Bedsore: A Common Injury in Elder Abuse Cases
• When To Consult An Attorney: Elder Abuse and Neglect
• California Nursing Home Abuse Laws – All You Need To Know
• Legal Protection Against Elder Financial Abuse in California: What You Need to Know
• How to File an Elder Abuse Lawsuit in California
• Warning Signs of Elderly Sexual Abuse in California Nursing Homes
• Why Experience Matters in Fighting Elder Abuse Lawsuits