October 6, 2021
5 Ways You Can Advocate for Your Loved One
It’s easy to feel helpless and stressed in the face of life’s changes, especially when you are responsible for the welfare of a family member who cannot speak or advocate for themselves. To help you take action, we’ve collected 5 ways you, as a caregiver, can advocate on behalf of your loved one, and ensure they are getting the fair treatment and care they deserve.
1. Contact an Aging Life Care Specialist
The Aging Life Care Association will help you find a specialist who can walk you through everything from home care to insurance, to crisis intervention and conservatorship.
2. Become an Essential Caregiver
We’ve talked about this legislation before, but it is important enough to mention again. Essential Caregivers are allowed inside care facilities to take care of and visit loved ones during the Covid-19 Pandemic. You can read more about the Essential Caregivers Act here. This is one of the best ways to ensure your loved one receives regular visitors and gets the care they need at their senior living facility.
3. Get In Touch with Your Local Ombudsman.
A long-term care ombudsman is responsible for advocating for the rights of those living in care facilities. If you have questions, or need someone to take charge of a situation, the ombudsman can help you get the help and information you need. Care facilities are required to have the phone number of your local ombudsman displayed prominently. Wise and Healthy Aging provides more information about ombudsmen and their role in elderly care and rights.
4. Contact Your Congressman
Occasionally there are laws and acts proposed in Congress that improve assisted care facility policies and provide more funds and grants dedicated to taking care of elders across the country. We recently posted about one of these proposed laws, and encourage you to contact your congressman to implore them to take action on these policies. It is one of the best ways to utilize the law to advocate for those who can’t advocate for themselves.
5. Call Gharibian Law.
When a situation has gone far enough and you know your loved one has been taken advantage of or abused, call Gharibian Law (866-642-5915). While a lawsuit might seem daunting, we are here to guide you through the process and give you the best legal representation possible.
September 16, 2020
What is Elder Neglect Under California Law?
Elder abuse affects one of the most vulnerable populations: older adults. A person may even abuse an elder because of the victim’s vulnerability, defenselessness, or financial gain. Thankfully, California legislators don’t tolerate elder abuse or neglect, and the state has strict laws in place prohibiting abuse among nursing homes, caregivers, and family members.
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September 2, 2020
Elder Abuse Is On The Rise in the U.S.
As the elderly population increases, elder abuse rates are also rising without equally increased awareness. The number of Americans 65 and over is expected to nearly double by 2030 because of the 74 million baby boomers born between 1946 and 1964, and the number of people 85 and over is escalating at an even faster rate.
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August 12, 2020
Nursing Home Companies Indicted for Misusing Federal Money Received Hundreds of Millions of Dollars in Pandemic Relief
A considerable number of Nursing Home companies are being sued for Medicare Fraud after receiving more than $300 million in coronavirus relief payments. The accusations against the facilities include putting elderly residents into unnecessary therapy services and delaying patients’ release to obtain higher Medicare payments.
August 5, 2020
2020 Elder Abuse Awareness Month under Pandemic’s Shadow
The UN General Assembly designated June as the month to raise awareness for Elder Abuse worldwide. According to WHO estimates, 1 in 6 people aged over 60 suffers from abuse, which means nearly 141 million people globally. And this number might be much higher as Elder Abuse is one of the most hidden and underreported violations of the law.
April 15, 2020
Understaffing in Nursing Homes: Effects on the Elderly
Nursing home facilities are in front of an understaffing crisis, which can lead to serious injuries or even death among nursing home residents. Some states don’t have legal mandates on the ratio of nursing home staff to senior residents, meaning the problem can go unchecked.
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