Elder abuse in California abounds, but three proposed assembly bills in Napa County seek to protect seniors in Napa from financial and physical elder abuse. If passed into law, these bills would limit and target elder abuse in Napa, including caregiver fraud, physical injury, and nursing home abuse, and increasing consumer protection against long-term insurance fraud.
As it stands, long-term insurance contracts and policies can contain clauses that charge excessive rates and increases while failing to provide coverage for important medical care and health procedures. The status quo of loose standards for consumer protection allow for fraud that includes unsuitable policies; churning; watered coverage; application misstatements; and fake policies. The proposed legislation in Napa would help seniors who seek long-term insurance without exorbitant rate increases.
The proposed bills would additionally decrease elder abuse in Napa by requiring individuals to file reports within two hours of discovering or witnessing elder abuse that resulted in physical injury; by allowing a more full disclosure of information from nursing homes and long-term care facilities during investigations of elder abuse; and to increase oversight and training for staff and administrators at nursing homes. This last proposal could significantly decrease the incidence of nursing home abuse in California.
The Evans Law Firm litigates on behalf of elder abuse victims in California. If you or a loved one have been the victim of long-term insurance fraud or financial elder abuse in Napa Valley or the surrounding area, contact the Evans Law Firm at 415-441-8669 or email info@evanslaw.com .
