A 2018 California state audit of nursing home facilities revealed that California health regulators allowed insufficient caregiving to occur at nursing homes all over the state.  The audit also found that there was a significant increase in incidents in recent years that could potentially cause death or serious injury.

California Nursing Home Abuse Statistics

From the year 2006 to the year 2015, validated instances of substandard care at nursing home facilities throughout the state of California had increased by 31 percent.  In addition, the number of incidences of noncompliance in nursing home facilities that caused or could have caused deaths or major injuries also rose by 35 percent during this same time period.

The Role of the California Department of Public Health

The California state auditor made a point to single out the California Department of Public Health noting that the department had not performed necessary inspections and it also failed to issue timely citations for instances of substandard care.  Additionally, according to the audit, the department’s nursing home licensing decisions were lacking in transparency and were not consistent.  The department’s oversight failures were said to increase the risk that nursing home facilities may not provide residents with sufficient care.

California Advocates for Nursing Home Reform

Michael Connors, a member of the California Advocates for Nursing Home Reform is concerned that nursing home operators are able to make significant profits by doing business using their own companies.  This hurts residents, since nursing home chains can use deals with these other companies in order to siphon off money that was intended for medical care to pad and hide their profits.  Currently, there is legislation pending within the California State Assembly, which if passed, could have the result of increased transparency of these business deals among nursing home owners.

If you or a loved one has suffered from injuries due to nursing home abuse in Los Angeles, California, contact the Peck Law Group today.  The attorneys within the Peck Law Group have successfully handled many nursing home abuse cases for their clients.

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.