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Pasadena Elder Abuse Lawyers
Strong advocacy for seniors who have suffered caretaker abuse since 1993
Old age should mean having the time to enjoy the sweeter pleasures of life – family, friends, sharing stories, and being able to trust caregivers. What old age should never be about is being subject to physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse, and loss of respect or dignity. Sadly, many long-term care facilities, short-term rehabilitative centers, adult daycare centers, and in-home service ages fail to protect their residents and patients from elder abuse, and that’s when thousands of seniors and families have turned to Garcia & Artigliere. For a combined 150 years, our Pasadena elder abuse lawyers have fought to hold caretakers accountable when they tolerate or fail to prevent abuse. We’ve obtained more than $3 billion in recoveries. Call us today to assert your rights.
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How can our Pasadena elder abuse lawyers help?
How is elder abuse defined?
According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), elder abuse is a serious problem often underreported because many seniors are afraid to speak out, either due to their cognitive impairments or because they are too afraid.
At Garcia & Artigliere, our Pasadena elder abuse lawyers help abused seniors assert their rights. We file claims against every type of caretaker who allows abuse to happen – as well as the person who commits the abuse.
The CDC defines the elderly as anyone 60 or older, and elder abuse as “An intentional act or failure to act that causes or creates a risk of harm to an older adult.” The different types of elder abuse in Pasadena include:
- Physical abuse. This type of abuse includes pain, functional impairment, illness, distress, or death due to the intentional use of force, restraints, or the denial of essential needs such as food and medications. Examples of physical abuse include punching, slapping, hitting, and burning a resident or a patient.
- Sexual abuse. This type of abuse involves nonconsensual sexual interactions of any type with a senior. Sexual abuse includes rape, sexual assault, sexual harassment, forcing a senior to watch sexual acts against their will, and the promise of better treatment in return for sex.
- Emotional abuse. Caretakers at nursing homes and other facilities and homes often improperly use emotional tactics to control or punish the elderly in Pasadena. Humiliation, disrespect, threats, harassment, and the isolation of any senior are unacceptable and abusive.
- Every senior should have access to critical medical care, clean clothes, good hygiene, safe shelter, and nutritious food and drink, but sadly, this is not always the case. Gross neglect is intentionally neglecting a senior’s needs, while general neglect is the failure to meet those needs because of carelessness, unreasonable conduct, or inaction.
The CDC also considers financial abuse—the improper use of a senior’s financial assets or undue financial pressures—to be a form of elder abuse.
Our Pasadena elder abuse lawyers have the experience and resources to show what type of abuse occurred, how it happened, and why it was preventable.
When should I suspect that a senior is being abused in Pasadena?
At Garcia & Artigliere, our Pasadena elder abuse lawyers strongly advise family members and friends to visit with their loved ones and speak with them when in-person visits aren’t practical. There are different signs for each type of abuse:
Physical abuse signs:
- Malnutrition and dehydration
- Bedsores/pressure ulcers
- Untreated Infections
- Burns
- Fractured limbs and broken bones
- Cuts and bruises
- A lack of good hygiene
- Clothes that are unmatched or not clean
- Wheelchairs, walkers, and other assistive devices that aren’t functional
- Sleep disorders
- Eating disorders
- Physical pain
- Indications that your loved one isn’t taking their medications
- Signs that physical or chemical restraints are being used
Emotional abuse signs:
- Confusion
- Lack of communication
- Isolation for residential or social activities
- Loss of contact with family and friends
- Signs your loved one is afraid
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Rocking back and forth
- Signs of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
Sexual abuse signs:
- Undergarments that are ripped, bloody, or don’t look right
- Pain, infections, or bruises in or near the genital areas
- Unusual conversations about sex
- Fear of a caretaker, another resident, or anyone else
- Sexually-transmitted diseases
- One or more of the physical and emotional signs discussed above
Other signs of abuse of a Pasadena senior include:
- Falling
- Wandering or elopement
Abandonment
What should I do if someone I love is being abused in Pasadena?
There are many ways you can help your parent, grandparent, or other elder relatives if you suspect they’re being abused. We suggest you start by calling our Pasadena elder abuse lawyers. We’ll answer all your questions, explain your loved one’s rights, immediately work to stop the abuse, and fight to obtain full compensation for the harm to your loved one.
Other practical suggestions include:
- Visiting your loved one as much as possible
- Looking around the home or facility where your loved one is and speak to the people taking care of them to judge their level of concern
- Reviewing what medications your loved one is taking and whether they are indeed taking them
You can also contact the California Long-Term Care Ombudsman to report abuse and request an investigation.
How do your Pasadena elder abuse lawyers hold caretakers accountable for abuse?
At Garica & Artigliere, our respected Pasadena elder abuse attorneys have more than 150 years of combined experience fighting for seniors who suffer abuse and neglect. We fight by:
- Speaking with and observing your loved one
- Reviewing your loved one’s health with experienced elder care doctors
- Investigating who is abusing your loved one, how and when the abuse occurred, and why the caretaker should have prevented the abuse
- Working with local officials such as the ombudsman, police, and adult protective service agencies
- Reviewing the laws and regulations that govern your loved one’s caretaker
- Working with nursing homes, assisted-living facilities, and caretaker professionals to show what laws were violated and what policies and procedures could have prevented the abuse
Here are several cases that illustrate our ability to obtain favorable results:
- $46 million (through a US DOJ False Claims Act case) in November 2023. Our attorneys Stephen M. Garcia and Matthew M. Coman proved that the defendants—a California skilled nursing management company, its owners, and six nursing facilities—engaged in a kickback scheme.
- $38.5 million settlement. Our firm obtained the largest Elder Abuse and Dependent Adult Civil Protection Act settlement in California history.
See more of our success stories here.
Do you have a Pasadena elder abuse lawyer near me?
Garcia & Artigliere represents seniors in Pasadena and across California. We meet seniors at our California offices, their residential facility, and at their homes. We also conduct consultations by phone and through video.
We’ll calmly and clearly guide you and your loved one through the claims process.
Talk with our experienced caring Pasadena elder abuse lawyers today
At Garcia & Artigliere, our Pasadena attorneys are seasoned trial lawyers. We often obtain settlements before trial because insurance companies and defense lawyers understand how effective we are when we try cases before judges, juries, and arbitration panels. We understand the unique issues involved when handling senior abuse cases, including the relevant laws, the standard practices caretakers should follow, and how to present the claims of abused seniors who often have physical and cognitive impairments.
To help your loved one stop abuse and receive compensation for their harm, please call us or fill out our contact form to schedule a free, confidential consultation. We represent seniors in Pasadena, throughout California, Arizona, Kentucky, and Louisiana. Our lawyers handle elder abuse claims on a contingency fee basis.
Se Habla Español.