Elder Abuse Cases Surge in LA County, Pasadena Responds with Outreach Effort

Against the backdrop of an increase in allegations of elder abuse in Los Angeles County, more than doubling compared to previous years, the City of Pasadena has launched a new public awareness effort.

Assistant City Manager Nicholas G. Rodriguez announced a new initiative by the Pasadena Elderly and Dependent Adult Liaisons (PEDAL) team to help combat elder financial abuse. 

In collaboration with the Pasadena Department of Transportation, the PEDAL team has launched public service announcements in both English and Spanish. These PSAs were posted in 20 bus stop shelters citywide and in all 26 Pasadena Transit buses throughout July 2024.

The project is designed to raise awareness about elder financial exploitation which leads to more reporting of cases to authorities for action.

“Elder financial abuse public information and outreach is vitally important to our community because the majority of such incidents go unidentified and unreported as victims may choose not to come forward out of fear, embarrassment, or lack of resources,” according to the City Manager’s office..

Established in August 2021, the PEDAL team includes representatives from various city departments, USC’s Keck School of Medicine, Huntington Hospital, and WISE & Healthy Aging. 

The team focuses on improving the quality of life for the city’s elder community, which includes over 3,000 residents in more than 100 skilled nursing, assisted living, and long-term care facilities.

The team leverages its members’ expertise to raise awareness of healthcare matters, resolve issues important to facility residents, and conduct community outreach, code enforcement, and, if necessary, prosecution.

The PEDAL team encourages any older adult whose money or property was taken without their permission, and all other persons who know an older person whose money or property was taken without their permission to call the Pasadena Police Department at (626) 744-4501 and/or Los Angeles County Adult Protective Services at (833) 401-0832.