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Facilities in Los Angeles County
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What counts as sexual abuse in a nursing home
Federal rules give every nursing home resident the right to be free from abuse, including sexual abuse, by staff, other residents and visitors (42 CFR 483.12). Sexual abuse includes any sexual contact a resident did not or could not agree to. A resident whose dementia prevents consent cannot agree to sexual contact. The nursing home must report an allegation to the state within two hours and protect the resident while it investigates.
Warning signs of sexual abuse
Bruising or bleeding in the genital area or inner thighs, a new genital or urinary infection, torn or stained underclothing or bedding, pain when sitting, and a resident who suddenly fears a particular staff member or resident, resists being bathed or changed, or becomes withdrawn. Residents with dementia often cannot describe what happened, so changes in behavior matter.
What to do now
- Call 911 or local police first. Sexual abuse is a crime.
- Ask that the resident not be bathed or changed before a medical exam, and keep the clothing and bedding.
- Report it to CDPH: file a complaint
- Call the California Long-Term Care Ombudsman CRISISline, 1-800-231-4024, open 24 hours: Ombudsman program
- Write down dates, the staff on shift and anything the resident said, and ask the facility in writing for the chart and its incident report.
Free nursing home case review
We read the inspection record and the chart with you and tell you plainly whether there is a case. You pay no fees and no costs unless we win.
Talk to a Los Angeles nursing home abuse lawyer
Beverly Law represents residents and families in claims against nursing homes for abuse, neglect, sexual abuse and assault, bed sores, falls and fractures, sexual abuse, dehydration and malnutrition, medication errors and wrongful death. We start with the same public record shown on these pages, then request the resident’s chart and staffing records.
California’s Elder Abuse and Dependent Adult Civil Protection Act allows added remedies, including attorney fees, when neglect or abuse is proven to be reckless, oppressive, fraudulent or malicious (Welfare and Institutions Code section 15657). Filing deadlines can be as short as one year depending on the claim, so talk to a lawyer early. The consultation is free, in English or Spanish, and you owe no fees and no costs unless we win. Call (310) 552-6959.
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Questions families ask
How often is sexual abuse reported in Los Angeles County nursing homes?
From 2023 through October 30, 2026, Cal Health Find lists 1,152 intakes with a sexual abuse allegation at 262 facilities, and CDPH substantiated 121. Abuse in nursing homes is widely believed to be underreported.
Can a nursing home be held responsible for sexual abuse by an employee or another resident?
It can. A facility may be liable when it failed to screen or supervise staff, ignored warning signs, left a resident with a known risk unsupervised, or failed to report and protect. A criminal case against the abuser is separate from a civil claim against the facility.
What does “substantiated” mean on Cal Health Find?
It means CDPH found enough evidence to support the allegation. “Unsubstantiated” means CDPH could not confirm it, often because there was no witness or physical evidence; it does not mean the report was false.
How much does a nursing home abuse lawyer cost?
Beverly Law takes nursing home cases on contingency: the consultation is free and you owe no attorney fees and no costs unless we recover money for you.
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Related pages
Los Angeles County nursing homes · Bed sores · Falls · Dehydration and sepsis · How to use Cal Health Find
Sources
Important: This page reports findings from public records of the California Department of Public Health and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. A citation or deficiency is a regulatory finding by a government agency; it is not a court judgment and not proof of civil or criminal liability. Criminal defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty. Lawsuit allegations are claims, not findings. This page is general information, not legal advice, and reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship with Beverly Law. Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Data as of: October 30, 2026. Methodology and corrections.