On May 3, 2010, Disability Rights California issued a report that revealed very few cases of nursing home abuse are treated as a crime, no matter the severity of the abuse. The report is based on a careful investigation of 12 confirmed cases involving physical and sexual abuse of nursing home residents. The investigation found that abuse by nursing home staff is often not reported to law enforcement and those cases that are referred are rarely prosecuted.
The investigation verifies what most nursing home residents and their families have long known: the law enforcement system treats them as second-class citizens, or worse.
The report also finds fault with nursing home operators for obstructing abuse reporting.
CANHR strongly supports the recommendations by Disability Rights California, especially its call to amend California law to require immediate reporting by mandated reporters to both law enforcement and the ombudsman.
Click here to read the full report.
Click here to read Disability Rights California’s May 3, 2010 press release:
http://www.disabilityrightsca.org/news/2010/2010-5-3-nursingpressrelease.htm