Ventura Board and Care Home Neglect Lawyer

When older adults move into board and care homes in Ventura or elsewhere in Southern California because they require assistance with activities of daily living (ADL), they should receive the assistance they need. However, board and care homes do not always provide the level of care that a resident requires. These facilities, along with other types of residential care facilities for the elderly (RCFE), must meet residents’ needs based on their individual medical and health circumstances. Failing to provide the requisite level of care can result in a negligence claim if the senior suffers any type of harm.

An experienced Ventura board and care home neglect lawyer at our firm can assess your case and answer your questions. In the meantime, the following information can help you to understand how board and care homes operate in Southern California and how they can be responsible for injuries resulting from negligent care.

Whether you currently have an elderly loved one in a facility that provides assistance with activities of daily living, or you are seeking a facility where your elderly parent will be safe, it is important to understand some of the different terms used in California to describe facilities based on the level of care they provide. Under California law, the term residential care facility for the elderly, or RCFE, is a broad term used to describe a range of facilities that provide different levels of care to residents. The key thing that separates RCFEs from nursing homes is that RCFEs do not provide regular and ongoing medical care to residents.

There are various types of RCFEs. Sometimes these facilities are described as assisted living facilities, while they can also include memory care facilities, continuing care retirement communities (or CCRCs), adult residential care facilities (or ARFs), and board and care homes. When the term “board and care home” is used specifically, it usually refers to a smaller type of RCFE that is more homelike and serves a small number of residents.

Unlike nursing homes, board and care homes and other RCFEs do not have nurses on staff who provide medical care. Instead, the board and care home provides a residential environment with certain forms of assistance, including with activities of daily living. The California Department of Social Services cites the following as services that a board and care home is usually required to provide:

• Supervision;
• Safe living accommodations;
• Nutritional meals and snacks, including meals and snacks for residents with modified diets based on medical needs;
• Assistance with personal care, including a range of ADLs like bathing, eating, dressing, or administering medications;
• Observation of residents to ensure they are receiving proper care;
• Transportation for residents who require medical appointments; and
• Activities and planned social programming.

As the California Department of Social Services emphasizes, these are minimum requirements. Failing to meet these requirements usually signals negligence at the facility, and failing to meet these requirements can result in serious injuries to residents.

Anyone who has concerns about an elderly loved one’s safety at a Ventura board and care home, or at another type of RCFE in Southern California, should seek help from one of the experienced Ventura board and care home neglect attorneys at our firm. We know how difficult these cases can be, and we also know how important it is to ensure that you hold the facility accountable for any injuries that your elderly parent or other loved one has experienced. Contact the Southern California Nursing Home Law Group today to learn more about how we assist seniors and their families in Ventura.