ATTORNEY NEWSLETTER
A recent investigation of elder care in the city of angels reveals that many of the aged and infirm are being attended to by wolves in sheep’s clothing… A two-year investigation starting in 2012 and ending in April of this year reveals a level of elder abuse that is cause for concern. The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors initiated the audits after an investigation by Kaiser Health News revealed that public health officials directed inspectors to close ongoing investigations in certain cases to “mitigate the backlog.” A closer look reveals that these cases were prematurely “closed” prior to a full investigation. While public health officials reported the complaints were “fully” investigated, the reality is many cases were closed without the proper paperwork—five involving patient deaths. In other cases, inspectors found that nursing homes failed to follow doctor orders, or to properly check for adverse patient reactions to toxic medications, or install preventative measures to mitigate injury to elderly patients. Astonishingly, when inspectors issued citations to the malevolent violators, supervisors intervened to covertly downgrade the findings, sans notice to the investigator.
One clear culprit to the ubiquity of elder abuse is the lack of state funding. Presently, there are simply not enough investigators to investigate and timely report on hundreds of cases of covered up elder abuse. Many feel that if lawmakers in Sacramento cannot properly fund investigators, then Los Angeles County should immediately terminate its contract with the state to handle county inspections.
Los Angeles County is responsible for inspecting over 2,500 health facilities that range from nursing homes and acute-care hospitals, to hospices. A recent county audit completed in April exposed a backlog of 945 nursing home investigations that had been open for more than two years. Widespread media reports that broadcast such disheartening information, can only add fuel to the fire of those fiends brandishing pitchforks over loved ones entrusted to their care, and eager to profit from elder abuse. With such investigative reports, it is obvious that government has failed at its mission to protect the public from harm, and that is why it becomes imperative that family and friends of the elderly become proactive at the first sign of elder abuse.
The Evans Law Firm, Inc. handles physical and financial elder abuse cases, personal injury, consumer fraud, insurance fraud, banking fraud, and qui tam (whistleblower/false claims) litigation. If you or a loved one is a victim of abuse or fraud, contact the Evans Law Firm, Inc. for a free and confidential consultation at 415-441-8669 or via email at info@evanslaw.com.
