Bakersfield Personal Injury Lawyers

Elder abuse is a societal problem that only seems to get worse instead of better as the collective population of the United States ages.  Older people sometimes need the help of nursing homes or assisted living centers to be able to function properly on a daily basis, and the increased demand for this help has led to several different issues.  Unfortunately, one local woman was allegedly the subject of elder abuse that led to the arrest of the nurse accused for a felony.

According to police, this alleged Lake Isabella elder abuse occurred on Monday when a 79-year-old patient asked 65-year-old nurse Rene Gachon Gotico, a resident of Delano to help her get to the bathroom at the Kern Valley Healthcare District hospital in Mountain Mesa.  Allegedly, the nurse refused to help her, and when she attempted to stand up to get to the bathroom by herself, the suspect grabbed the patient by the neck and threw her back onto the bed.  The hospital’s nursing supervisor apparently witnessed this act and called police.  Gotico was arrested for elder abuse causing injury, which is a felony.

Elder Abuse Statistics

First, we’d like to extend our hope that the resident who was allegedly abused was not seriously harmed in this incident.  Secondly, this latest example of California elder abuse only adds to the estimated statistics regarding this growing problem.  These estimates indicate that as many as 2 million older Americans have been abused by someone they trusted to help them with their needs, and it’s further estimated that only about 25 percent of elder abuse cases are actually reported.

Bakersfield Elder Abuse Lawyers

Even though the criminal charges faced by this defendant are significant, it’s still possible for the family of the person who was harmed here to file a California personal injury lawsuit as well.  While more facts would need to be determined regarding what actually occurred, if such a claim was successful it could bring a damages award that compensates her for her pain and suffering.

If you or someone you love has been abused in this manner, you need to take action by seeking the help of Bakersfield elder abuse lawyers who have been holding abusers and those who employ them accountable for this type of harm for many years.  Contact Chain | Cohn | Stiles today at 800-322-4529 to schedule a free initial consultation.