Los Angeles Board and Care Home Neglect Lawyer

Elderly adults in Los Angeles County who live in assisted living facilities have rights, and it is important to know when a facility could be liable for neglect. The term "assisted living facility" is often used alongside other terms that you may be familiar with such as "board and care facility," "memory care facility," or "residential care facility for the elderly (RCFE)." In all of these cases, there may be minor distinctions among them, but it is important to know that they provide older adult residents with basic care and supervision, but they are not medical facilities. They are, however, required to be licensed, and they are regulated by the state of California.

If you have an elderly loved one at an RCFE who suffered harm from elder abuse or neglect, you should seek advice from a Los Angeles board and care home neglect lawyer who can help you with a claim.

The important thing to know is that RCFEs, including board and care homes, have a duty to provide specific types of services to their residents. The following are the types of services that board and care homes in California must provide, according to the California Department of Health Care Services:

• Room and board;
• Three meals a day, as well as snacks;
• Supervision;
• Assistance with personal care, including activities of daily such as eating, getting dressed, help with personal hygiene, and bathing;
• Help with self-administration of medication;
• Housekeeping assistance and laundry;
• Transportation (or arranging transportation); and

Neglect and abuse at a Los Angeles County board and care home can take many different forms, and it may be difficult to spot certain signs of negligence. According to the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), the following are some of the common signs that point to neglect at board and care homes, and other types of assisted living facilities:

• Unexplained bruising, welts, cuts, or lacerations;
• Broken bones;
• Sprains, strains, or dislocations;
• Use of medications that have not been prescribed;
• Changes in the resident's behavior, including any emotional changes like anxiety or depression;
• Resident becoming despondent or non-responsive;
• Dehydration or malnourishment;
• Unsanitary living conditions;
• Lack of necessary medical aids; and/or
• Any report from an elderly resident at the board and care home of abuse, neglect, or negligence.

The U.S. Department of Justice emphasizes that elder abuse may not always be obvious, so it is important to seek help when any signs of abuse or neglect appear.

If you have concerns about an elderly loved one's safety or well-being at an assisted living facility in Southern California, you should get in touch with one of our Los Angeles board and care home neglect lawyers as soon as possible. Contact the Southern California Nursing Home Law Group to learn more about how we can help.