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When a California assisted living facility harms the person you trusted it to protect, you have the right to fight back. At The Elder Justice Firm, our California assisted living abuse lawyers represent seniors and families across the state who have suffered abuse, neglect, or exploitation in residential care. We focus on one thing: holding negligent facilities accountable and recovering justice for the people they were paid to keep safe. If you believe a loved one is being harmed, trust your instincts and take action.
Call us today at (855) 880-4500 for a free case evaluation. We work on a contingency fee basis, so you pay nothing unless we recover compensation for your family.
Elder abuse is not one practice area among many at our firm. It is the only work we do. That focus has helped us recover over $200 million in settlements and verdicts for California families, including more than 20 recoveries of $1 million or more.
When you bring us an assisted living abuse case, our attorneys handle it directly. You will never be passed to an anonymous intake department. Our team has been featured by Good Morning America, ABC's 20/20, People, the Los Angeles Times, and The Washington Post for our work on behalf of seniors.
Here is how we help families who suspect abuse or neglect:
Past results never guarantee a future outcome. They do show what focused, prepared representation can accomplish for injured seniors.
Abuse can happen in any facility, regardless of cost, reputation, or location. California law protects residents from many forms of mistreatment, and families do not have to prove that anyone intended harm to hold a facility responsible.
Assisted living facilities are licensed in California as Residential Care Facilities for the Elderly, or RCFEs. They provide room, board, supervision, and help with daily activities, but they are not licensed to deliver skilled medical or nursing care.
The California Department of Social Services licenses and inspects these facilities under the Residential Care Facilities for the Elderly Act. When a facility accepts a resident whose needs exceed what it is licensed to provide, that decision alone can be a form of neglect.
Assisted living abuse takes many forms. The cases we handle most often involve:
Residents are often unable or afraid to report mistreatment, so families must stay alert. Common red flags include:
If something does not seem right, trust your instincts and take action immediately.
California gives older adults some of the strongest protections in the country. The Elder Abuse and Dependent Adult Civil Protection Act, found in Welfare and Institutions Code § 15600, allows families to pursue civil claims against facilities that abuse or neglect residents.
Under this law, an elder is any California resident who is 65 years of age or older. The Act defines neglect broadly to include the failure to assist with hygiene, provide food, clothing, or shelter, protect residents from health and safety hazards, or prevent malnutrition and dehydration.
Elder abuse claims can carry heavier consequences than an ordinary negligence case. When a family proves by clear and convincing evidence that a facility acted with recklessness, oppression, fraud, or malice, Welfare and Institutions Code § 15657 allows recovery of attorney's fees and costs, along with damages for the resident's pain and suffering.
These enhanced remedies exist to deter the kind of profit-driven understaffing that puts residents at risk. They also make it possible for families to hold large facility operators accountable when they cut corners on care.
If you suspect abuse, reporting it can protect your loved one and other residents in the same facility. You can take several steps at once:
California law also requires facility staff and many professionals to report suspected mistreatment to authorities under Welfare and Institutions Code § 15630.
Every case is different, and no lawyer can promise a specific result. When abuse or neglect is proven, California law may allow a family to recover several types of compensation.
Economic damages cover measurable financial losses, such as:
Non-economic damages address the human toll of the harm, including:
In cases of extreme misconduct, a court may also award punitive damages to punish the facility and deter future neglect.
Legal deadlines are strict, and missing one can end a valid claim before it begins. In California, most claims for physical abuse, neglect, or wrongful death must be filed within 2 years of the injury or death under Code of Civil Procedure § 335.1.
Financial elder abuse claims follow a different rule. Families generally have 4 years from the date they discovered, or reasonably should have discovered, the abuse under Welfare and Institutions Code § 15657.7. Because evidence can disappear quickly, we encourage families to speak with an attorney as soon as they suspect a problem.
Assisted living facilities and nursing homes are licensed differently in California. Assisted living facilities, or RCFEs, provide supervision and help with daily tasks, while nursing homes provide skilled medical care. The type of facility affects which regulations apply, but both settings owe residents a duty to keep them safe from abuse and neglect.
Watch for physical signs like bruises, bedsores, or sudden weight loss, and emotional signs like fear or withdrawal. Unexplained financial changes can also point to exploitation. If your loved one seems different or a facility resists your questions, trust your instincts and look closer.
Liability often extends beyond a single caregiver. Depending on the facts, we may pursue claims against the facility, its management company, corporate owners, staffing agencies, or individual employees. Our investigation is designed to identify every party whose conduct contributed to the harm.
We handle assisted living abuse cases on a contingency fee basis. That means no upfront costs and no hourly bills. We are paid only if we recover compensation for your family so that you can pursue justice without financial risk.
Yes. When preventable abuse or neglect causes a death, surviving family members may bring a wrongful death claim and, in some cases, a survival claim on behalf of the estate. These claims can seek compensation for the suffering your loved one endured and the loss your family now carries.
Every case follows its own timeline. Some claims resolve through settlement in a matter of months, while others require litigation and take longer. We prepare each case as if it will go to trial, which positions families for the strongest possible result.
Your family deserves answers, and the people responsible deserve to be held accountable. The Elder Justice Firm has recovered justice for seniors across California, and our California assisted living abuse lawyers are ready to review your case today.
Our founding trial attorneys and team offer a free case evaluation, and we never charge a fee unless we recover compensation for you. Do not wait until a deadline passes or important evidence is lost.
Call The Elder Justice Firm now at (855) 880-4500 to speak with a California assisted living abuse lawyer and protect your loved one.
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