Elder Abuse

• The United States Census Bureau projected in 2000 that California's elderly population will have doubled by 2025 to 6.4 million - a larger growth rate than any other state.


• The California State Department of Finance claims that the number of California residents age 85 and older - those who are most likely to need nursing homes --- will nearly double by the year 2030, when the bulk of baby boomers will come of age.


• In 2005, the Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development reported that one-fifth of California's nursing facilities did not meet state-mandated requirements for staffing levels.


• In 2006, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services reported that twice as many of California's 115,000 plus residents are placed in physical restraints as are nationally.


• From 2001 to 2005, the California Department of Health Care Services, found that two-thirds of all reported deficiencies caused or could have caused significant harm to one of more residents in nursing homes. More than half of all complaints in nursing homes are related to poor quality of care. Eighteen percent of substantiated complaints were related to mistreatment or abuse.

Together, these staggering statistics and projections illustrate the urgent need to address and remedy the poor quality of care in many of California's skilled nursing facilities.

Prosecuting Elder Abuse

The Bureau is composed of three programs designed to bring increased accountability to those who abuse California's elderly population.

Violent Crimes Unit

The Violent Crimes investigates and prosecutes physical elder abuse committed by individual employees against patients in elder care facilities. These crimes include homicide, rape, false imprisonment, assault and battery.