Santa Monica Elder Abuse Attorneys

Call Our Law Firm If an Elderly Loved One Has Been Abused

At McGee Lerer Ogrin, we are committed to standing up for elders who have been neglected, mistreated, or taken advantage of. Our firm has decades of experience helping families in Santa Monica and throughout Southern California fight back against elder abuse.

If you suspect that someone you love is being harmed, exploited, or neglected, likely because they are an elder, we’re here to listen, investigate, and act. Elder abuse, intentional or reckless conduct towards someone 65 years or older, in all its forms, calls for serious legal action. With our Santa Monica elder abuse lawyers by your side, you can explore your options with confidence and learn how to take action to protect your elderly loved one as soon as possible.

Call (310) 692-9582 today to request a free case evaluation with our firm. We are always ready to hear from new and returning clients.

Elder Abuse is an Epidemic

Elder abuse often goes unreported, but that doesn’t mean it’s rare. In fact, according to a comprehensive national study published in the National Library of Medicine, approximately 1 in 10 seniors in the United States experiences some form of elder abuse each year.

Many victims of elder abuse are unable or too afraid to speak up. Others may suffer from cognitive impairments, isolation, or emotional manipulation that keeps them from reaching out for help. It’s often a family member or trusted caregiver who becomes aware of what’s happening and decides to take action. Our lawyers are here to help you do exactly that.

Types of Elder Abuse

Elder abuse can take many forms. Oftentimes, more than one type of mistreatment is happening at the same time, making it even more important to bring it to an end as soon as possible.

Common types of elder abuse our law firm sees in cases include:

• Physical abuse: Includes hitting, pushing, slapping, rough handling, or inappropriate use of restraints. Physical abuse can leave visible injuries, but it also causes long-term trauma and fear.
• Sexual abuse: Any non-consensual sexual contact with an elderly person, particularly those who are vulnerable due to cognitive or physical limitations.
• Emotional abuse: Includes verbal insults, humiliation, threats, manipulation, and isolation. This type of abuse can be just as damaging as physical harm, devastating a senior’s mental health.
• Neglect and self-neglect: Neglect occurs when a caregiver fails to meet a senior’s basic needs, such as hygiene, food, medication, and safety. In some cases, the neglect may amount to “reckless elder neglect.” Self-neglect may occur when an elder is left to live in unsafe or unsanitary conditions without support.
• Abandonment: Involves a caregiver deserting an elder who needs help. This could be as blatant as leaving someone alone at a hospital or as subtle as failing to check in or provide scheduled care.
• Hospice care exploitation: A growing form of elder abuse involves family members enrolling an elderly loved one in a hospice program, not out of medical need, but to fraudulently collect Medicaid or insurance funds. Such cases often involve excessive medication, lack of meaningful care, and accelerated health decline due to unnecessary treatment. This form of exploitation is not only unethical, but it may also be criminal.

If you recognize any of these forms of mistreatment in your family, it’s time to seek legal guidance. We can help you investigate the situation and hold the responsible parties accountable.

Financial Elder Abuse & Exploitation

Financial elder abuse is one of the most common forms of abuse affecting our elderly loved ones today. Often, it’s committed by someone the elder knows and trusts: a caregiver, a family member, or a financial professional. In other cases, strangers use manipulation or scams to gain access to an elder’s money or assets.

At McGee Lerer Ogrin, we help families expose and pursue claims against individuals or institutions that have financially exploited elderly people. Financial elder abuse cases require a careful mix of legal strategy and investigative skill, and we are fully prepared to take swift action on your behalf.

Common forms of financial elder abuse include:

• Unauthorized financial transactions: Withdrawals from bank accounts, credit card charges, or transfers of assets that were not approved by the elder or were made under suspicious circumstances.
• Power of attorney abuse: Misusing legal authority to control someone’s finances for personal gain—often involving investments, real estate, or estate planning decisions made without consent.
• Fraudulent documents: Forged signatures on checks, deeds, wills, or contracts; creating or modifying documents to divert funds or change inheritance terms.
• Scams targeting seniors: Phone, internet, and mail scams that exploit confusion, fear, or loneliness, such as fake IRS calls, phishing emails, or lottery hoaxes.
• Undue influence: When a person uses emotional manipulation, threats, or isolation to coerce a senior into giving away money, changing beneficiaries, or surrendering control of their assets.

Financial abuse doesn’t just take a financial toll; it often leaves lasting psychological trauma once the extent of the theft and abuse comes to light. Many elders feel ashamed or fear retaliation, which is why families must often step in to uncover what’s really happening. If you suspect your senior loved one has been taken advantage of financially, we can help you investigate the facts, stop the abuse, and pursue full recovery of misappropriated funds by using legal action.

How McGee Lerer Ogrin Can Help

Pursuing an elder abuse claim is usually legally complex, but with a strong team behind you, the process becomes manageable. At McGee Lerer Ogrin in Santa Monica, we act swiftly and thoroughly to protect your loved one and your family’s rights.

We can help our elder abuse clients with:

• Free, confidential consultations to understand your situation
• Investigation of abuse or neglect claims
• Collection of medical records, financial documents, and witness statements
• Coordination with medical and forensic experts to establish wrongdoing
• Filing civil claims for damages, restitution, and justice
• Pursuing wrongful death lawsuits in cases involving fatal abuse or neglect
• Arguing for relocation or emergency protective measures when needed

Whether your case involves a nursing home, assisted living facility, or an in-home caregiver, we bring the same aggressive and compassionate approach to every case. We handle the legal work, so you can focus on caring for your loved one.

Speak with a Santa Monica Elder Abuse Attorney Today

If an elderly loved one has been abused, neglected, or exploited, start exploring your legal options to try to set things right. We encourage you to speak with us as soon as you can, so we can try to address the abuse without delay. At McGee Lerer Ogrin, we offer free consultations with our Santa Monica elder abuse attorneys, so you can get more information without paying anything up front.

We are ready to help. Call (310) 692-9582 now.