California Gov. Jerry Brown recently signed bills into law that offer protection to senior citizens. Some of the legislation looks to help the elderly with assisted-living issues and to fend off abuse.
One of the bills establishes a confidential Internet reporting system for elder abuse. Los Angeles County alone represents 25% of all senior abuse cases in the state and many fear that those numbers are underreported.
The new Internet system requires those reporting abuse to provide the same information they would over the phone but without having to wait on the line.
“This effective reporting system will ensure that our seniors’ voices are heard and abuses are not overlooked,” said Sen. Juan Vargas (D-San Diego).
Another bill requires residential facilities to conspicuously post notices for at least 30 days and provide written notices to residents and their responsible parties if the facility’s license is in jeopardy. This legislation was in response to a nursing home in Santa Cruz where residents were only given two weeks of notice.
California is home to the largest number of senior citizens in the U.S., with 4.1 million, according to the Administration on Aging. Assisted-living facilities house 165,000 seniors in the state.