Every day, seniors in Merced County suffer abuse and neglect at the hands of those entrusted with their care. Our former defense attorneys know how facilities hide the truth — and we use that knowledge to fight for your family.
Merced County sits in the heart of the San Joaquin Valley, home to approximately 280,000 residents — including more than 35,000 seniors aged 65 and older. As a growing university town anchored by UC Merced and surrounded by California's agricultural heartland, the county's senior population is expanding rapidly while healthcare infrastructure struggles to keep pace.
With over 15 skilled nursing facilities serving the region, Merced County faces a persistent challenge: staffing shortages in a region with a limited healthcare workforce. Facilities competing for qualified nurses and aides often cut corners, leading to understaffing, inadequate supervision, and preventable harm to vulnerable residents.
At California Nursing Home Law, attorneys Michael Young and Thomas Wallin have spent decades fighting for elder abuse victims across California's Central Valley, including Merced County. As former nursing home defense attorneys, they know exactly how facilities try to cover up abuse — and they use that insider knowledge to tear those defenses apart.
Our attorneys represent Merced County families in all types of nursing home abuse and neglect cases:
If you suspect a loved one is being abused or neglected in a Merced County nursing home or care facility, it is critical to act quickly. Contact the following agencies to file a report:
These organizations provide resources, support, and advocacy for seniors and their families in Merced County:
California provides some of the strongest legal protections for nursing home residents in the country. Key laws that protect Merced County seniors include:
Welfare & Institutions Code 15600-15675 — This landmark California statute allows elder abuse victims to recover enhanced damages, including attorney's fees and costs. It covers physical abuse, neglect, financial exploitation, abandonment, isolation, and other forms of mistreatment.
California Penal Code Section 368 — Makes it a felony to inflict unjustifiable physical pain or mental suffering on an elder or dependent adult. Violations can result in imprisonment and significant fines.
Health & Safety Code 1599 — Guarantees nursing home residents fundamental rights including dignity, privacy, freedom from abuse, adequate medical care, and the right to voice grievances without retaliation.
Our nursing home abuse attorneys represent families in every city and community across Merced County, including: