Key California Agencies

The following agencies and entities play critical roles in ensuring the rights of older adults.

Agencies Providing Protective and Support Services

Department of Social Services (DSS) oversees California's Adult Protective Services (APS) program and other key "safety net" programs like "In Home Support Services," which provides personal assistance to people with disabilities who cannot manage on their own. County APS programs investigate reports of abuse and neglect that occur in private homes, acute care hospitals, clinics, adult day care facilities, and social day care centers. APS workers also assist older adults and other adults who are functionally impaired and those experiencing or at risk for abuse, exploitation, neglect, or self neglect by providing or making referrals for case management, emergency shelter, in-home protection, transportation, and counseling.

Department on Aging (CDA) administers programs that serve older adults, adults with disabilities, family caregivers, and residents of long-term care facilities. Funds from CDA programs come from the federal Older Americans Act, the Older Californians Act, and Medi-Cal. CDA contracts with Area Agencies on Aging to provide services. CDA services that promote elder justice include:

Service that enhance independence and autonomy, including programs that help older adults find employment, live independently, stay engaged, and avoid the need for nursing home care. CDA also provides services for caregivers.
The Long Term Care Ombudsman Program improves the quality of life of residents of nursing homes and residential care facilities by acting as their independent advocates. Local Ombudsman staff and volunteers visit residents, monitor conditions, investigate and resolve resident complaints, advocate for needed change, and provide education.
Legal assistance programs protect and defend the rights of older adult. They provide assistance to stop elder elder abuse and exploitation and defend tenants whose rights have been violated.

Every five years, CDA produces a state plan on aging. To see the current plan, go to California's State Plan on Aging: 2017-2021. For a complete list of CDA's programs and services, go to CDA programs and services.

California Office of Emergency Services (CALOES) Victim Services Programs provide direct services for victims of crime including domestic violence, elder abuse, sexual assault, stalking, and teen dating violence, among others. They provide and oversee services for victims of crime. They provide funds to Victims Advocates who work in collaboration with District Attorney offices to ensure that victims understand the criminal justice process, advocate on their behalf, and provide support and referrals. CALOES also makes grants to public and non-profit agencies to provide counseling, shelter, legal assistance, case management to victims. As the result of a special initiative to reach older victims, CALOES provides funds to elder abuse multidisciplinary as well as counseling, legal assistance, case management, support groups to older victims of elder abuse and financial exploitation. See CALOES grant programs.

Holding Perpetrators Accountable

Attorney General's Office/Bureau of Medi-Cal Fraud and Elder Abuse investigates and prosecutes cases alone or in collaboration with local law enforcement when the circumstances require special expertise or resources. This includes abuse in nursing homes and fraud by health care providers.

Consumer Protection and Regulatory Agencies

The following agencies have responsibility for protecting older Californians against abuse in nursing homes and other health care facilities; abuse and fraud by providers of financial products; and financial institutions.

NEW. Department of Financial Protection and Innovation, formerly the Department of Business Oversight, regulates financial products and services and reviews claims of unlawful, unfair, deceptive, or abusive practices. The new organization has asked for advocates’ help in raising awareness and created a social media kit for doing so.See CCFPL.
California Department of Consumer Affairs enforces consumer protection laws, collaborates with law enforcement to fight consumer fraud, resolves disputes between consumers and businesses, promotes the use of fair and valid licensing examination programs, and ensures that consumers have a voice in the marketplace.
California Department of Insurance (DOI) provides protections against fraud and scams involving annuities, long term care insurance, and other products that are commonly marketed to older people. It operates the “Senior Gateway,” a website to provide information on how to avoid becoming victims of personal or financial abuse.
Elder Financial Abuse Interagency Roundtable (E-FAIR) is a collaboration of governmental agencies in California that was created to protect seniors from financial abuse through coordinated action, information sharing and collaboration. Representatives come together to discuss current issues with the potential to impact seniors, such as predatory mortgage and financing.

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