How old is too old to be left home alone in California? See rules for seniors
Need to go grocery shopping or pick up some prescription medicine?
Stepping out for an errand may mean leaving an elderly relative or friend at home by themselves.
How old is too old to be left home alone in California? What are the penalties for abandoning vulnerable seniors?
Here’s what you should know:
How old is too old to stay home alone?
In California, there are no legal age limit to live independently at home.
However, that doesn’t mean that it’s always safe for seniors to do so.
“Living independently can present serious challenges as seniors experience physical, cognitive and emotional changes,” Florida company Assisting Hands Home Care said on its website, leading to falls, declining hygiene and missed medication or meals.
According to Ivy Living, which operates retirement homes in California, Nevada and Hawaii, there are key indicators that elderly parents or grandparents can no longer live at home alone.
Signs include:
- Mobility issues
- Poor hygiene or self care
- Messy house and yard
- Forgetfulness and getting lost
- Social isolation
What is considered elder abuse in California?
Caretakers who leave older people or dependent adults to fend for themselves can face consequences in California.
According to California’s Elder Abuse and Dependent Adult Civil Protection Act, the population served by adult protective services statewide has grown at a “rapid pace,” due to the “increasing number of older adults in California.”
These older adults often have “more complex needs,” the state says, including cognitive impairments.
Type of elder abuse include “physical abuse, neglect, abandonment, isolation, abduction or other treatment with resulting physical harm or pain or mental suffering,” state law says.
California law defines elder abandonment as the “purposeful and permanent desertion of an elderly person who needs assistance,” according to San Diego law firm Bryant Dieringer & Wilson, LLP.
This might mean leaving the person in their own home, a friend’s home, a hospital, a nursing home or even a public place.
“This type of abuse is abhorrent, and any person who abandons their responsibilities to care for an elderly individual should be held accountable for their actions,” the law firm said.
What are services for older adults living at home?
The National Institute of Aging offers a guide to services for older adults living at home.
Home health care services can help people with medications, wound care, physical therapy and other needs, with providers staying for a few hours or all day long. Medicare and Medicaid cover some costs.
Trained aides can also help with everyday activities such as dressing, bathing and grooming.
“Some older adults, especially people who live alone, simply need someone to check on them,” the National Institute of Aging said on its website. “You can ask family, neighbors, or nearby friends to drop by on a regular basis to make sure the older person has everything they need.”
Some organizations provide volunteers who visit older adults for free.
Seniors can also take advantage of meal delivery services, financial assistance, transportation services and medical alert systems.
Does California have adult daycares?
Adult daycares “offer an alternative to nursing home care for those who do not need 24-hour skilled nursing,” the California Department of Aging said.
Some community-based programs help with personal care, daily living activities and supervision, while others focus on health, therapeutic and social services.
You can search online for Adult Day Program and Adult Day Health Care locations near you.
What are penalties for elder abuse in California?
In California, anyone who abandons an elderly person under certain circumstances can be charged with a misdemeanor or possibly a felony.
Charges ruled under “not likely to produce great bodily harm or death” is punishable by up to $2,000 in fines and a year in county jail.
Elder abuse cases that are possible of causing harm or death can receive a misdemeanor with one year in county jail or a felony charge, which is between two and four years in state prison. Both have a $6,000 fine.
Death caused by elder abuse can be sentences to 25 years to life in state prison, the loss of the possibility of parole and death.
What should I do if I think an older person is being abused?
Every county in California has an Adult Protective Services agency that specializes in helping seniors meet their needs. The agency also investigates crimes associated with elder abuse.
If you think an older person is being abused, call the Adult Protective Services at 833-401-0832. Once connected, enter in a ZIP code to be transferred to that county’s agency.
The hotline is open seven days a week, 24 hours a day.
