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Who Must Report Suspected Abuse
In California, mandated reporters are required by law
to report suspected physical abuse, abandonment, isolation,
financial abuse, or neglect, or is told by an elder
or dependent adult that he or she has experienced behavior
constituting abuse or reasonably suspects abuse shall
report the known or suspected instance of abuse by telephone
immediately.
The mandated reporters of elder/dependent adult abuse
include and are defined by law (Welfare & Institutions
Code 15610) as:
Elder Care Custodians
Includes administrators or employees, including support
staff and maintenance staff, who work directly with
elders as part of their official duties in any of the
following public or private facilities when the facility
provides care to the elderly:
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24-hour health facilities
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Clinics
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Adult day care centers
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Sheltered workshops
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Home health agencies
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Community care facilities and residential care
facilities
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Respite care facilities
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State Department of Social Services and State
Department of Health Services licensing divisions
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County welfare departments
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Offices of patients' rights advocates and office
of the long-term care ombudsman
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Offices of the public guardian and public conservator
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Any other protective or public assistance agency
which provides health services or social services
to elders
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Health Practitioners
Physicians, psychiatrists, psychologists, dentists,
optometrists, podiatrists, chiropractors, nurses, counselors,
emergency medical personnel, any state or county public
health or social service employee who treats an elder,
a coroner or a religious practitioner who diagnoses,
examines or treats elders.
Designated employees of adult protective service
agencies
Employees of the county welfare department or department
of social services, including support staff and maintenance
staff, who work directly with elders as part of their
official duties.
Designated employees of law enforcement agencies
Employees of a city police or county sheriff's department,
or a county probation department, including support
staff and maintenance staff, who work directly with
elders as part of their official duties.
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