How to Take Action When Elder Neglect or Abuse Is Suspected in Marin County

If your loved one has been harmed in a nursing home or assisted living facility, knowing where to turn can feel overwhelming. Unfortunately, elder abuse and neglect remain serious problems across Marin County, from San Rafael and Novato to Mill Valley and Sausalito. For more than 25 years, our firm has represented families impacted by these issues, and we believe they deserve clear guidance on how to recognize warning signs, report concerns, and hold negligent facilities accountable.

This page provides a step-by-step resource for Marin County residents navigating the painful reality of suspected elder abuse.

Marin County is home to a number of licensed nursing homes and a wide array of assisted living and residential care facilities. These are located throughout the county’s communities, including:

• San Rafael
• Novato
• Mill Valley
• San Anselmo
• Larkspur
• Sausalito
• Tiburon
• Corte Madera

While many facilities provide compassionate and appropriate care, issues such as understaffing, inadequate training, and corporate profit-seeking too often result in resident neglect, serious injuries, or even preventable deaths.

California law defines an elder as any person age 65 or older. A dependent adult is someone between 18 and 64 with physical or mental limitations that restrict their ability to carry out daily activities, often requiring care in a hospital or long-term care facility.

Both groups are legally protected, and caregivers are required by law to provide safe, dignified, and appropriate care.

Under California’s Welfare and Institutions Code, elder abuse includes:

• Physical abuse
• Neglect (including failure to provide food, hydration, medication, or assistance)
• Abandonment
• Isolation
• Abduction
• Any treatment that causes physical harm, pain, or mental suffering

In nursing homes and assisted living facilities across Marin County, abuse and neglect often appear as:

• Unexplained bruises, fractures, or repeated injuries
• Bedsores (pressure ulcers) from a failure to reposition the resident
• Malnutrition and dehydration
• Overmedication or the improper use of chemical restraints
• Ignored medical issues or untreated infections (like UTIs or sepsis)
• Sudden behavioral changes, such as withdrawal, agitation, or fearfulness

If you notice any of these warning signs in San Rafael, Novato, Mill Valley, or elsewhere in Marin County, it’s critical to take immediate action.

• Call 911 in Emergencies: If your loved one is in immediate physical danger, contact emergency services right away.
• Seek Medical Evaluation: Have an independent doctor at MarinHealth Medical Center or another trusted provider assess and document any injuries, health declines, or concerns.
• Report to Oversight Agencies:
• Adult Protective Services (APS): To report suspected abuse or neglect of an elder in any setting in Marin County, call their 24/7 hotline at (415) 473-2226.
• Long‑Term Care Ombudsman: To report abuse or rights violations in a long-term care facility, contact the local program at (415) 473-7446. You can also call the statewide crisis line at (800) 231-4024.
• California Department of Public Health (CDPH): To file a formal complaint against a nursing home (skilled nursing facility), call the San Francisco District Office that oversees Marin County at (800) 554-0352.
• California Department of Social Services (CDSS): For complaints involving assisted living or residential care facilities, call the Bay Area Community Care Licensing office at (408) 324-2148.
• Document Everything: Take photos of injuries and unclean conditions. Keep a log of dates, times, conversations with staff, and your specific observations.

While state agencies can investigate and issue citations, their resources are stretched thin, and their focus is on regulatory compliance, not on compensating your family for harm. Legal representation ensures your loved one’s rights are aggressively protected and that negligent facilities are held financially accountable.

With over 25 years of experience, the attorneys at Nursing Home Law Group focus exclusively on these cases. If your loved one suffered harm in a facility in San Rafael, Novato, Mill Valley, or any other Marin County community, contact us. We offer free consultations and are dedicated to protecting vulnerable residents and helping families achieve justice.

Elder abuse causes devastating and long-lasting harm, but you are not powerless. By learning the signs, reporting concerns to the proper authorities, and contacting an experienced attorney, you can safeguard your loved one and help prevent others from suffering the same fate.

If you suspect elder neglect or abuse in Marin County, call Nursing Home Law Group today for a free, confidential consultation.