Napa County leaders are moving toward passing a law requiring that privately hired caregivers working in the county undergo criminal background checks says California Elder law Attorney Steven C. Peck.

The effort comes after years of lobbying by elder advocates concerned about the vulnerability of seniors with workers in their homes. While registered nurses must undergo background checks, caregivers do not indicates California Elder Abuse Attorney Peck.

The goal, as Napa County District Attorney Gary Lieberstein told the American Canyon City Council earlier this month, is preventing elder abuse. “We want to stop this before it starts,” Lieberstein said.

Lieberstein told the council that there is no barrier to parolees becoming caregivers, and said that even when a woman agrees to let a grandchild care for her in exchange for room-and-board or wages, she may not know if the caregiver has a criminal history.

“We think she has the right to know,” Lieberstein said.

Jane Hinshaw, an investigator with the District Attorney’s Office, said elder abuse cases are particularly difficult to investigate. Oftentimes elder abuse comes in the form of theft or taking financial advantage of seniors. Physical evidence is not always available, and victims are reluctant to testify or even acknowledge the crimes.

“The biggest problem that we have with elder abuse is that it’s underreported,” Hinshaw said.

Similar measures passed at the state level and signed by the governor have not been enforced, local officials say, because the agencies charged with implementing the measures have not formally drafted or imposed the regulations states Steven C. Peck a Los Angeles Elder Abuse attorney who can be contacted toll free at 1.866.999.9085 or on-line at www.premierlegal.org.

About the Author

Attorney Steven Peck has been practicing law since 1981. A former successful business owner, Mr. Peck initially focused his legal career on business law. Within the first three years, after some colleagues and friend’s parents endured nursing home neglect and elder abuse, he continued his education to begin practicing elder law and nursing home abuse law.