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North Hollywood Elder Abuse Lawyers
150 years of combined experience fighting for seniors who are abused by their caretakers
Turning 60 does not mean that anyone has the right to take advantage of a senior. That principle applies even more if a senior needs to be under the care of a long-term care facility, assisted living facility, rehabilitation center, or an at-home healthcare provider. Any type of abuse of a senior, physical, sexual, or emotional, by any type of caretaker is unconscionable. Caretaker institutions and individual caretakers must be held accountable for the physical harm they cause and the psychological damage they cause. At Garcia & Artigliere, our North Hollywood elder abuse lawyers have been fighting for the elderly since 1993. We’ve obtained more than $3 billion in settlements and verdicts. We’re ready to help obtain justice for you or a senior you love today - call our offices today.
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How can our North Hollywood elder abuse lawyers help?
- What is the definition of elder abuse?
- What are the signs an older person is being abused by a caretaker in North Hollywood?
- How can I help a loved one who is being abused in North Hollywood?
- How do your North Hollywood elder abuse attorneys advocate for elder abuse victims?
- Do you have a North Hollywood elder abuse lawyer near me?
What is the definition of elder abuse?
According to the National Council on Aging, elder abuse involves the following types of mistreatment:
- Physical abuse. Physical abuse involves any type of forceful contact, threat, or denial of essential needs that causes pain, illness, distress, or death. Examples of physical abuse include hitting, punching, pushing, the use of physical or chemical restraints, and denying a senior necessary nutrition or medications.
- Sexual abuse. Sexual abuse “involves forcing an older adult to watch or be part of sexual acts.” Sexual abuse in North Hollywood also includes promising better treatment in return for sexual favors.
- Emotional abuse. Emotional abuse often occurs to North Hollywood seniors because of the false belief that intimidating or making a senior feel guilty is a legitimate form of control or abuse. Emotional abuse includes yelling at, threatening, and isolating seniors.
- Gross neglect is the intentional failure to provide for a resident’s or a patient’s medical needs, food, drink, cleanliness, shelter, or other critical care needs.
Another common form of abuse is financial abuse which is the improper use of the assets of a senior, such as their credit cards or retirement benefits.
Many seniors are abused due to their physical and cognitive challenges.
At Garcia & Artigliere, our North Hollywood elder abuse lawyers fight for seniors who have been abused. We’re skilled at showing the type of abuse that occurred and every way your loved one was harmed by the abuse. In many cases, if your loved one is being abused, a caretaker is abusing other seniors. We fight to stop abuse immediately and compensate seniors fully for their physical and emotional damages.
What are the signs an older person is being abused by a caretaker in North Hollywood?
At Garcia & Artigliere, our North Hollywood elder abuse attorneys advise family members and friends to regularly visit with seniors – whether they’re in a nursing home facility, another type of facility, or living in their home. Phone, email, and internet connections can also help identify the abuse of a senior you cherish.
The signs of abuse you should look for include:
Physical abuse signs:
- Loss of weight
- Fatigue
- Malnutrition and dehydration
- Infections that are untreated
- Bedsores/pressure ulcers
- Broken bones
- Bruises, cuts, and lacerations
- Unclean clothes
- A lack of proper hygiene
- Indications a senior isn’t taking his/her medications
- Assistive devices that aren’t being used
- Eating problems
- Pain
- Indications a senior is being physically restrained or chemically sedated
Emotional abuse signs:
- Withdrawal or unusual quietness
- Not communicating with family, friends, or other seniors
- Confusion
- Nonparticipation in social activities
- Fearfulness
- Irritability
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Rocking back and forth
- Indications your loved one has post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
Sexual abuse signs:
- The need for emergency medical care
- Underclothing that is torn, bloody, or that doesn’t look like it should
- Infections, including sexual infections
- Cuts, bruises, or pain at or near the genital areas
- Unusual sexual conversations
- Fear of a staff member, another resident, or anyone else
- Any of the physical or emotional signs discussed above
Family and friends should also look for signs that a senior:
- Fell
- Wandered or eloped from their facility
- Was abandoned
How can I help a loved one who is being abused in North Hollywood?
If your mother, father, grandmother, grandmother, or any relative is being abused, there are several key steps you should take.
First, please contact our North Hollywood elder abuse lawyers. We’ll review how your loved one is being mistreated, answer all your questions, explain the rights your loved one has, immediately notify the caretaker that we know of the abuse, and fight to ensure your loved one is compensated for his/her medical needs and pain and suffering.
Other practical steps include:
- Visiting your relative as much as possible
- Paying attention to the people who are caring for your loved one to assess the quality of their care and their respect for your loved one
- Examining the facility for any signs your loved one could fall
- Reviewing the prescription drugs your loved one is taking or not taking
You and your loved one should also contact the California Long-Term Care Ombudsman so they can investigate any abuse that may be occurring.
How do your North Hollywood elder abuse attorneys advocate for elder abuse victims?
At Garica & Artigliere, our experienced North Hollywood elder abuse lawyers fight for the elderly across California and across the nation. We’re respected by former clients, insurance carriers, and other lawyers for our preparation, tenacity, skills, experience, and advocacy.
Our lawyers fight for abused seniors by:
- Meeting with your loved one to speak with and observe him or her. We understand the unique challenges of helping your loved one if he/she has cognitive difficulties.
- Reviewing the physical, emotional, and cognitive health of your loved one with skilled elder care physicians
- Investigating what type of abuse is occurring, who is committing the abuse, and why a nursing home or any other caretaker could have stopped the abuse
- Working with the local or state Ombudsman, law enforcement, and any adult protective service agencies that may also be involved in investigating the abuse
- Explaining which laws govern your loved one’s caretaker
- Working with skilled elder care professionals who understand what policies and procedures your loved one’s caretaker failed to implement or use to protect your loved one
Our record of elder abuse results includes several significant results:
- $46 million judgment. Our attorneys Stephen M. Garcia and Matthew M. Coman filed an action that the US Department of Justice pursued asserting that a California skilled nursing management company, its owners, and six nursing facilities were involved in a kickback scheme that violated the False Claims Act.
- $38.5 million settlement. We obtained the biggest Elder Abuse and Dependent Adult Civil Protection Act settlement in California history.
Do you have a North Hollywood elder abuse lawyer near me?
Garcia & Artigliere represents the elderly in North Hollywood and throughout California. We conduct consultations at our California offices, by phone, and by video. We also meet seniors at their residential facilities or homes when necessary.
We’ll calmly and clearly explain how the claims process works and prepare you and your loved one for each phase of the claims process.
Contact our experienced caring North Hollywood elder abuse attorneys now
At Garcia & Artigliere, our North Hollywood lawyers obtained $50 million for our California clients in 2022. We understand the unique challenges involved with representing abused seniors, including addressing their fears and communication difficulties. We fight to obtain compensation for your loved one’s medical bills, daily physical pain, and daily emotional suffering.
To help your family member stop abuse and obtain full compensation please call us or complete our contact form to schedule a free, confidential consultation. We represent the elderly in North Hollywood and throughout California. Our lawyers also represent abused seniors in Arizona, Kentucky, and Louisiana. We handle claims of elder abuse on a contingency fee basis.
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