Preying on the old and disabled

Elderly and disabled people, locked in their rooms, not fed adequately, living in filth.

It should be a crime, right? Well, it is, if the home they’re living in is an unlicensed personal care home — and there are estimated to be hundreds operating throughout the state.

Trouble is, until recently, the crime was a misdemeanor, and shutting down one of these places is a complex undertaking, requiring the coordination of several agencies.