Every state operates differently. 
Elder abuse lawyers and state officials advocating for the elderly are always looking at the procedures of other states to find out what is working in the fight against abuse and neglect.
New legislation is waiting the approval of the governor in California to develop a secure website for police, doctors, and other authorities to report suspected elder abuse and neglect. The current system in California, and in a good portion of the country, involves a phone call to the state’s elder abuse hotline to report all forms of suspected abuse. The biggest flaw with the hotline, however, seems to be that, because it is used by both lay citizens and legally obligated authorities to report abuse or neglect, callers deal with long wait-times which in turn causes frustration and hang-ups.
The proposal in California suggests a reporting website for police and other civic authorities which would eliminate a large portion of the callers and lessen wait times, allowing the public to speak to a representative faster. The goal, of course, would be to create an easier reporting process for individuals with information, reducing the number of hang-ups and encouraging more people to come forward. According to a 2010 study of county calls, one in four callers hang up rather than wait while they are placed on hold. Developing a website and separating callers would also speed up the reporting process for doctors and police who do not have time to sit and wait through hour-long wait times to report suspected abuse.
“This effective reporting system will ensure that our seniors’ voices are heard and abuses are not overlooked,” said Sen. Juan Vargas, a San Diego Democrat who carried the bill.
Reporting Elder Abuse in New Jersey
As elder abuse lawyers, we know how frustrating the long wait times can be for the elder abuse hotlines. Phone representatives for these hotlines work very hard to keep up with an influx of calls while getting all necessary details, but this often results in a lot of waiting. Approving proposed legislation to ease the process almost seems like a no-brainer. Elder abuse lawyers at the Mininno Law Office hope to see that this legislation is passed and similar systems start to pop up nation wide.
The New Jersey Ombudsman’s Office works to investigate allegations of elderly abuse and neglect. You can report any suspicions anonymously by calling their 24 hour toll-free hotline toll at 1-877-582-6995, or emailing at ombudsman@advocate.state.nj.us. We feel that anonymity is very important for those who could lose their job or feel uncomfortable revealing potential elder abuse. The problem with the current New Jersey system is that the only way to anonymously report abuse is to call and wait to speak to a representative. A website similar to the one being proposed in California for the general public would allow someone to report abuse over the internet without having to use their email address. An anonymous secure website would be an efficient and quick way to report elder abuse to state authorities.
Elder Abuse Lawyers in New Jersey and Philadelphia
If your loved one is currently a resident of a nursing home or care facility and you are worried that the care they are receiving is negligent, abusive, or inadequate , contact the Mininno Law Office for a free case evaluation with an elder abuse lawyer. You may also call for a free consultation at (856) 833-0600 in New Jersey, or (215) 567-2380 in Philadelphia.
Ms. Sanders is now testifying in support of a bill authorized by Senator Fran Pavley that will enforce new regulations on the issuing of signature stamps. The bill would make it harder for caregivers with ill intentions to obtain the stamps by requiring that a bank employee witness and sign all requests for new signature stamps. Customers given the stamps will also be provided with information on the risks associated with them, in hopes that people will be more aware of the signs of theft or fraud, and also more careful of where the signature stamps are kept. The bill would also increase the punishment for financial elder abuse in California.
Olivia Cull underwent surgery as a baby that left one side of her heart smaller than the other. She lived her life this way, until she was a senior in high school. Doctors wanted to install a catheter in her heart to prep for the final surgery that would correct the small side of her heart. She was nervous, but her mother reassured her that the catheterization procedure would only take a few hours, and that she had done it many times before. Doctors told the Culls Olivia would be home before dinner. 
In 2003, Maria (37) walked into the emergency room at Downey Regional Medical Center in California with complaints of severe headaches and vomiting. Maria was sent home with Tylenol. A few days later, after her symptoms worsened, Maria returned the ER, where doctors determined that it would be necessary to check her for a shunt related brain infection. She was transferred to Lakewood Regional Hospital, but her treating physician did not include any of Sanchez’s within her report, and the consulting neurologist at Lakewood failed to look at any of her records. He also didn’t test for the infection she was sent to Lakewood to be tested for. Sanchez’s condition worsed and she was finally admitted to the Lakewood ER after she fell out of her wheelchair.