Elder Abuse and Nursing Home Neglect Lawyer in Santa Rosa

Table of Contents

Who investigates neglect in a Santa Rosa nursing home or care home, and where do I file a complaint?

Sonoma County’s Adult Protective Services page directs suspected abuse in a long-term care facility to the Long-Term Care Ombudsman at (707) 526-4108 or the 24/7 crisis line, 1-800-231-4024. The Law Offices of J. Chrisp has an office in Santa Rosa at 3558 Round Barn Blvd, Suite 200.

The Law Offices of J. Chrisp handles many elder abuse cases. The firm represents injured people in Santa Rosa and across Sonoma County, including older adults and dependent adults harmed by caregivers or care facilities. Consultations are free, the firm works on a contingency fee with no fee unless we win, and 877-J-CHRISP (877-524-7477) is answered 24/7.

Reporting abuse to Sonoma County Adult Protective Services

If anyone is in immediate danger, call 911 first. Sonoma County Adult Protective Services (APS), a program of the Human Services Department’s Adult and Aging Division, accepts and investigates reports of suspected abuse or neglect. It serves adults 60 and older and adults with disabilities aged 18 to 59. Reports can also cover self-neglect.

The county lists two APS lines staffed 24 hours: (707) 565-5940 and (800) 667-0404. It asks callers to use the hotline for reports involving physical abuse or an immediate health and safety concern. Other reports can go through the APS Web Intake form. People who are not mandated reporters may report anonymously.

Which state agency licenses the facility

Facility complaints go to different state departments depending on the type of facility:

Skilled nursing facilities: The California Department of Public Health regulates them and investigates consumer complaints. Filing through its Cal Health Find database sends the complaint to the district office that oversees the facility. Complaints can also be made by phone to that district office.
Residential care facilities for the elderly and continuing care retirement communities: The California Department of Social Services Senior Care Program licenses and monitors them. Its Community Care Licensing complaint hotline is 844-LET US NO (844-538-8766). The department keeps a complainant’s name anonymous unless the complainant gives permission to use it.

Resident protections under state and federal law

California treats a caregiver’s failure to protect an elder or dependent adult from health and safety hazards as one example of neglect (Welfare and Institutions Code section 15610.57).

Nursing homes that take part in Medicare or Medicaid must also meet federal participation requirements (42 CFR 483.1). One of them is the resident’s right to be free from abuse, neglect, misappropriation of resident property and exploitation (42 CFR 483.12). That right includes freedom from corporal punishment, involuntary seclusion and any physical or chemical restraint not required to treat the resident’s medical symptoms.

Offices and Sonoma County communities served

Besides the Santa Rosa office, the firm has its main office in Lower Lake at 9667 Highway 29, (707) 994-0529, and an office in San Francisco at 1330 Bush Street, Suite 9D. Founding attorney Jesse Chrisp was born in Santa Rosa. Over $350 million has been recovered for the firm’s injured clients across Northern California since it was founded in 2010.

Sonoma County communities on the firm’s service list include Petaluma, Rohnert Park, Windsor, Healdsburg, Sebastopol, Sonoma, Cloverdale, Geyserville, Glen Ellen, Kenwood and Rincon Valley. The firm has Spanish-speaking staff.

Frequently asked questions

How fast must a nursing home report suspected abuse under federal rules?

Under 42 CFR 483.12(c)(1), a covered nursing home must report alleged violations immediately. The outer limit is 2 hours if the events involve abuse or cause serious bodily injury, and 24 hours otherwise. Reports go to the facility administrator and to other officials, including the State Survey Agency and adult protective services where state law gives it jurisdiction in long-term care facilities.

Where would a Sonoma County elder abuse lawsuit be filed?

Under Code of Civil Procedure section 395, except as otherwise provided by law, the superior court of the county where the injury occurred is a proper court for an action for personal injury or for death from a wrongful act or negligence. A county where any defendant resided when the action was filed also qualifies. The Superior Court of California, County of Sonoma, holds court in Santa Rosa.

Can a mandated reporter file a Sonoma County abuse report online?

Yes. According to Sonoma County Adult Protective Services, an online report through its Web Intake form satisfies the state requirement for mandated reporters.

If an older or dependent family member was abused or neglected in Santa Rosa or anywhere in Sonoma County, call the Law Offices of J. Chrisp 24/7 at 877-J-CHRISP (877-524-7477) for a free consultation. There is no fee unless we win.

About the Law Offices of J. Chrisp

The Law Offices of J. Chrisp is a Northern California personal injury law firm founded by attorney Jesse Chrisp, who was raised in Lake County. The firm represents injured people, with offices in Lower Lake (main office), Santa Rosa and San Francisco, and serves Sonoma, Napa, Lake and Mendocino counties and the San Francisco Bay Area. Consultations are free, the firm works on a contingency fee with no fee unless the firm wins, and the phone is answered 24/7 at 877-J-CHRISP (877-524-7477). The firm was named to Best Law Firms 2026 (Tier 1, Santa Rosa, Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs). Jesse Chrisp has been recognized by The Best Lawyers in America since 2024 and selected to Super Lawyers from 2023 to 2026.