Sierra County
Nursing Home Abuse Lawyers
As California's second-least-populated county, Sierra County's seniors face extreme isolation and virtually no choice in care facilities. Our former defense attorneys travel to your community to fight for your family, no matter how remote.
Elder Abuse in Sierra County
Sierra County is a remote mountain county in California. Tucked deep in the northern Sierra Nevada mountains, the county's tiny communities, from the historic Gold Rush town of Downieville to the ranching community of Loyalton in Sierra Valley, are connected by winding mountain roads that become treacherous or impassable during winter months.
Many families are forced to send loved ones to facilities in neighboring Nevada or Plumas counties, making regular visits difficult and oversight nearly impossible. Distance like this can let abuse and neglect go unnoticed.
At California Nursing Home Law, attorneys Michael Young and Thomas Wallin have spent decades fighting for elder abuse victims in rural and remote Northern California, including Sierra County. As former nursing home defense attorneys, they know how facilities in isolated areas operate, and they are committed to holding every facility accountable, however remote it is.
Types of Cases We Handle in Sierra County
Our attorneys represent Sierra County families in all types of nursing home abuse and neglect cases:
Nursing homes in Sierra County: every certified facility in the county, with its CMS star rating, inspection findings and citation history.
How to Report Elder Abuse in Sierra County
If you suspect a loved one is being abused or neglected in a Sierra County nursing home or care facility, it is critical to act quickly. Contact the following agencies to file a report:
- Sierra County Adult Protective Services (APS)
(530) 289-3711: Report suspected abuse or neglect of elderly and dependent adults in Sierra County. - California Long-Term Care Ombudsman, Sierra County Region
(800) 831-9505: Investigates complaints about nursing homes and assisted living facilities. Visit website - California Department of Public Health (CDPH), Licensing & Certification
(800) 236-7510: File complaints about facility licensing violations. File a complaint online - Sierra County District Attorney
(530) 289-3269: Prosecutes criminal elder abuse cases in Sierra County. Visit website
Senior Advocacy & Support Organizations
These organizations provide resources, support, and advocacy for seniors and their families in Sierra County:
- Sierra County Health & Human Services
County agency providing senior services, social support, and advocacy for older adults throughout Sierra County. - California Advocates for Nursing Home Reform (CANHR)
Statewide advocacy organization providing resources, referrals, and legislative advocacy for nursing home residents and their families. - National Center on Elder Abuse (NCEA)
Federal resource center providing research, training materials, and elder abuse prevention resources.
California Elder Abuse Law
California law gives nursing home residents specific legal protections. Key laws that protect Sierra County seniors include:
Elder Abuse and Dependent Adult Civil Protection Act
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.
Criminal Elder Abuse
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 fines.
Patients' Bill of Rights
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.
Cities We Serve in Sierra County
Our nursing home abuse attorneys represent families in every city and community across Sierra County, including: