Florida Senator Ronda Storm "Very Concerned" Authorities in Florida Soft on Criminals

American crime and lack of punishment. There is a murdered police officer as a result. Seven days ago, 24-year-old Michael Phillips, a career criminal, murdered Florida police officer Ronald Harrison.

Shortly after that, SWAT officers killed Phillips. Now yesterday, Sergeant Harrison was buried. And it never should have happened. That's because the killer Phillips had 19 arrests and a violent history. He should have been in prison. After he shot Sergeant Harrison, his girlfriend called 911...

MICHAEL PHILLIPS' GIRLFRIEND: I am his girlfriend and he's calling me and shooting that gun off and threatening me and I don't want to be involved, is what I'm scared of and why I called, because I think he's drunk and doing crazy stuff and he called me — he told me that he shot a cop three times.

O'REILLY: So what was Michael Phillips doing out on the street? Well, Judge Manuel Lopez put him there. Prosecutors wanted no bail on an assault beef. But Lopez let Phillips out. So we sent "Factor" producer Jesse Watters down to talk with Judge Lopez.

JESSE WATTERS: Hey, judge, why did you give that guy such a low bail? Hey, judge, why did you give Michael Phillips such a low bail? Judge, you have an obligation to talk to us here. You're a public official. Why was the bail so low?

MANUEL LOPEZ, FLORIDA CIRCUIT JUDGE: I'm not going to answer any more questions about this case right now. I've already given my statement to the media. And I'm not going to collaborate any more on this.

WATTERS: Well, a lot of people are saying that your statement was insufficient.

LOPEZ: That is the public's right to reach that opinion. I've given the only statement I'm going to give, sir. Can I make it any clearer than that? Anything else you'd like to say? I'm not going to respond to your comment.

WATTERS: Why was the bail so low? The guy had 19 arrests. Burglary, battery, witness tampering, drug possession, it was a mile long. The guy was obviously a violent criminal with no respect for law enforcement. Wasn't there a red flag? Do you want to come on "The O'Reilly Factor?"

LOPEZ: Absolutely not.

O'REILLY: Joining us now from Tampa, Florida State Senator Ronda Storms

RONDA STORMS, FLORIDA STATE SENATOR: Well, first of all, this has been very traumatic for our community. It's been traumatic for the law enforcement family. And it's been very
traumatic, I believe, for the judge. People are holding him accountable.

the fact of the matter is this killer was 12-years-old when he started his career. And he had a mile long...

O'REILLY: No, there's no question about it. I mean, that's why...

STORMS: Battery...

O'REILLY: Right.

STORMS: Right.

O'REILLY: Every...

STORMS: Assault...

O'REILLY: And not only that...

STORMS: Everything.

O'REILLY: ...he — not only was he a criminal with multiple convictions and a violent man, but he was a Nazi. Did you know that?

STORMS: Right.

O'REILLY: This is an Aryan guy who made statements, anti-black statements, this, that and the other thing. So you got a guy on an assault beef. And the prosecutors come in in Hillsboro County. And they say to Judge Lopez, don't let the guy out.

STORMS: Right.

O'REILLY: The guy's too erratic. He's violent. He's a racist. We've got him now. Keep him in. And not only does Judge Lopez, Senator, say I'm going to give him bail, he gives him some $150 bail. Come on. I mean, you know, fine — everybody makes mistakes, including judges, but this is a colossal mistake. Inexplicable mistake, is it not?

STORMS: Well, it's a huge mistake. And the result is blood is spilled of an innocent law enforcement officer. And that's terrible.

STORMS: Well, I think what we need to take a look at in the legislature, and I believe Florida senators and Florida House members are very concerned. We were there at the funeral. We went to the wake. We sat there. We offered our condolences with the family. And so I think that they really care about it. We have two retired law enforcement officers in the Florida Senate. And I think they care about...

Edited for E.A. read the entire interview on Fox News here >>

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Good for you Senator Ronda Storms, we are glad finally some's there to speak up for the victims and their families. We admire your gumption in standing up with your constituency and saying ENOUGH!

Let this be a warning to others , if you are soft on criminals, when they go out and hurt others you will be accountable, think twice before you release these monsters out to pillage ,rape and murder otherwise you might find a Television Camera and some very UN happy people in your own backyard.

Please take a minute and send Senator Ronda Storms a note of appreciation for speaking up for the victims and their familes , Senator Storms you Rock!

storms.ronda.web@flsenate.gov

Letter From Inspector General to E.A.s Editor

Please click to enlarge

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Mrs Bradley with all due respect, stealing from an elder in such a blatant manner is wrong, and you should be involved or at the very least honor congresswoman Ronda Storm's request and investigate.

Financial Exploitation of Elderly is Common

TRACI L. WEISENBACH, The Huron Daily Tribune

When most people think of abuse, physical abuse is often the first thing to come to mind. However, there is another kind of abuse that isn’t as easy to see, but it can be just as devastating for the victim.

Perhaps some of the worst aspects of this kind of abuse are that it often goes undetected — and it is happening at an alarming rate across the nation to a very vulnerable portion of the population: the elderly.

This abuse is called financial exploitation. Unfortunately, it’s the most admirable characteristics of the elderly that make them prime targets for this exploitation.

According to information from the Federal Bureau of Investigation website, older Americans are most likely to have a nest egg. They’ve been saving for years so they can enjoy life in retirement. They own homes and usually have great credit. According to Consumers Digest, about 70 percent of all funds deposited in financial institutions are controlled by people age 65 and older. This makes senior citizens prime targets for fraudsters who are looking to make some easy money.

The elderly are more likely to be trusting of others. They believe others will do them no harm, and they want to be polite. This makes it difficult for them to say “no” sometimes — including at times when it’s vital.

This also can lead to being exploited.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, there were 34.9 million people over the age of 65 in the U.S. in 2000. That number is expected to increase to 52.1 million by 2020. The number is expected to be 61.7 million by 2030.

Because of these aforementioned factors, it’s not surprising that an estimated five million elderly per year are victims of financial exploitation, according to the National Center for the Prevention of Elder Abuse. It’s being considered the crime of the 21st century.

These figures are troubling, especially considering many cases are never reported to authorities. According to a Consumers Digest article “The Fleecing of America’s Elderly” from the spring of 2000, a conservative estimate states one in 14 financial abuse cases goes unreported.

The Consumers Digest article also states financial abuse consistently ranks second in most states as the most prevalent form of elder abuse, behind physical abuse.

Of the financial abuse cases reported, few are investigated, and only a handful are prosecuted or reach the court system, the Consumers Digest article stated. The U.S. Administration on Aging defines financial abuse as “the improper act or process of using an older person’s monetary resources without consent, for another’s benefit.” Michigan law describes financial exploitation as “a person who is in a relationship of trust with a vulnerable adult to obtain or attempt to obtain ... the vulnerable adult’s money or property for his/her own benefit ... through fraud, deceit, misrepresentation, or unjust enrichment.”

In William Pickering’s case, a non-family member was the one who financially exploited him. However, 60 percent of those financially abusing the elderly are adult children, according to a 1998 National Elder Abuse Incidence Study. In-home care providers are the second largest group. Because the abusers often are quite close to the victim, the victim is often unwilling to report the abuser because he/she would feel guilty.

According to the Consumers Digest article, most financial abuse victims are women and most abusers are younger men. While William Pickering’s case was the exception to this, there is one aspect of his case that is quite common — having the “caretaker” abuse his/her power of attorney rights. This is common partially because of the ease in getting a power of attorney agreement.

There is no federal law covering financial abuse of the elderly. Each state has an Adult Protective Services agency designed to prevent and address problems of the elderly. These programs were mandated by the Social Security Act in 1974. These agencies focus on providing assistance to the abused, rather than punishing the abuser.

The more this crime is reported, the better this type of abuse can be prevented in the future.

Abridged >>

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We need to stop complaining that out of fourteen cases of elder financial abuse only one is reported and take care of that one that IS reported!

Hardly a week goes by where we don't report new cases of elder financial abuse on this site and the victims complaint that nothing happens, so rather than complaint that elder abuse is not being reported, lets take care of the ones that ARE being reported !

We have been reporting the case of Clara and Dr. Fernandez elder abuse for three years now at a great sacrifice and expense in costs and privacy to the family , many crucial witnesses to the abuse have yet to be questioned!

So how about it ! Authorities isn't time you started doing your job in protecting the victims? Especially the ones that have the courage to come forward and report it ?

Former Social Worker from Dept of Health and Human Services Joins the Fray Stealing from Elders

AUGUSTA, Maine --A former caseworker with the state Department of Health and Human Services has been jailed for 30 days for stealing more than $9,000 from elderly and incapacitated clients whose interests he was assigned to protect.

Albert Bouchard, 47, of Limestone, who pleaded guilty to theft, was sentenced Friday in Aroostook County Superior Court to two years in prison, with all but 30 days suspended. After his release, he faces five months of house arrest and two years of probation, a time in which he must perform 200 hours of community service.

Over a 15-month period in 2001 through 2003, Bouchard stole money from clients and used it to buy fine jewelry, electronics, gift certificates and furniture for himself, his family and his girlfriend.

"Albert Bouchard worked for the agency that is charged with protecting the elderly from predators like Albert Bouchard. He committed a gross abuse of the trust placed in him by the state to care for our most vulnerable citizens," Attorney General Steve Rowe said Tuesday in a statement detailing the thefts.

Bouchard charged a $300 digital camera to the account of an elderly woman with dementia and made several cash withdrawals from her account, Rowe said. While tapping another client's account to buy a $1,300 large screen television for his home, he delivered a used, 27-inch TV to the nursing facility at which the client was living.

Two other accounts belonging to clients with dementia were charged for several pieces of jewelry, including a $600 diamond anniversary ring and a $700 gold rope chain necklace. Bouchard delivered inexpensive substitutes to the clients, who were then living at nursing care facilities, Rowe said.

Gift certificates charged on three client accounts to the Aroostook Centre Mall in Presque Isle were given as Christmas gifts to Bouchard's then wife and children and his girlfriend and her children.

Bouchard entered his guilty plea in May, after a jury was selected and the day before he was scheduled to go to trial. He paid full restitution at the time of sentencing.

"What made this case especially egregious was the calculated and deceptive nature of the theft," Assistant Attorney General Leanne Robbin said.

She said the state has several elder exploitation cases in the prosecutorial pipeline, "but typically, these are not people who are licensed social workers for the state who are stealing from the elderly."

More common, she said, are cases involving theft by a family member or "someone who comes in as a housekeeper, and gets the person's trust -- and checkbook."

Robbin said she was unaware of any similar misdeeds by state caseworkers but noted that the Maine Bureau of Adult and Elder Services has initiated checks within its system to reduce that possibility.

"Bouchard's conduct unfairly tarnishes the reputation of the many other dedicated caseworkers who strive to care and protect the elderly," Rowe said

Titled and bold by blog master for emphasis

Glad the judges are getting tough on Elder abuse and he will serve time, I hope he doesn't get his old job back.

"typically, these are not people who are licensed social workers for the state who are stealing from the elderly."

Seniors in Double Crisis

CANADA .- By ANDREW HANON, SUN MEDIA

Those in temporary safe houses fleeing elder abuse now face accommodation crunch Officials at one of Canada's only safe houses for seniors fleeing abuse are bracing for a housing crunch of their own.

The safe house, which has seven beds in a secret location in the city, is one of only two such facilities in Alberta.

Seniors in crisis can stay there, free of charge, for up to 60 days. But with the rental market so tight in the city, officials say a growing number of people are having trouble finding a new home when it's time to move out.

"Housing is becoming a real issue,"

A social worker with the city's elder abuse intervention team said demand for such services is only going to escalate as public awareness of the issue continues to grow.

"(Elder abuse) is a good 10 years behind in recognition of other kinds of family violence," said Trina Schmidt.

The society's Ruth Adria says the process is too arbitrary and "totally flawed."
She said the current standards of determining a senior's competency are not well-defined and can lead to horrific cases of financial abuse.

She says in too many cases, perfectly competent people are having all their decision-making authority taken from them and placed in the hands of others.

Abridged >>

Region Ahead of the Game in Responding to Elder Abuse

CARTERVILLE - ILLINOIS .- BY JOHN D. HOMANTHE SOUTHERN

When it comes to serving and protecting senior citizens, Southern Illinois is working ahead of the curve statewide.

Last week, Gov. Rod Blagojevich signed House Bill 734 into law, ensuring that seniors always have access to critical elder abuse services when needed the most.

The bill, sponsored by state Rep. John Bradley, D-Marion, and Sen. Gary Forby, D-Benton, is also supported by the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) and the Illinois Association of Area Agencies on Aging.

Although the Department on Aging runs a 24-hour Elder Abuse Hotline, many elder abuse situations are reported locally, where providers rarely have 24-hour, weekend or evening hotlines available. Such is not the case in this region, however.

Carol Aronson, director for Shawnee Alliance for Seniors in Carterville, said the agency, which serves 13 counties, has maintained a 24/7 access program since the late 1980s.

"We're way ahead of the game in that regard," Aronson said. "We have five management staff members who are part of an on-call rotation. Even if it's after hours or on the weekend, anyone can call and our answering service will pick up and relay the message to our on-call person."

Aronson said calls alleging elder abuse are prioritized. First-priority calls are those in which the alleged victim may be at risk of physical harm.

"In that case, we will send a case worker out to see the person before the end of the day."

Financial exploitation allegations, for example, are a lower priority, but case workers still respond in less than a week.

Aronson said her agency received 775 elder abuse calls in 2006, a number that continues to rise with each passing year. She said David Mitchell is director of the Protective Service Unit at Shawnee Alliance.

"Of those 775 calls, 62 occurred after hours," she said. "And about 47 percent of the total calls had allegations that were substantiated after we conducted an investigation."

Sadly, Aronson said nearly 14 percent of every 1,000 residents in the Southern Illinois region have either reported or been victims of elder abuse. That is nearly triple the state average of 4.9 percent.

"Elder abuse is a serious problem that demands an immediate response by elder abuse service providers, no matter when they occur," Bradley said. "To give seniors the protection they deserve, but hopefully never need, provider agencies must ensure that they are always ready to respond to reports of neglect or mistreatment."

Forby said every moment counts when responding to elder abuse.

"Rep. Bradley and I will keep working diligently with senior advocates and service providers to ensure that our older citizens never have to wait to receive assistance in their most vulnerable hour."

For more information on the bill, contact Bradley at 997-9697 or Forby at 439-2504. Shawnee Alliance for Seniors may be reached by calling 985-8322.

john.homan@thesouthern.com

351-5805

Elder Beaten While Walking His Dog,

Savannah-Chatham police say they are looking for one of two suspects accused of beating and injuring a 76-year-old man when he was walking his dog.

According to police, suspects Randolph John Bernard and Mitchell Barefield attacked Omar Boone at about 10pm on August 2. Boone was walking his dog in the 200 block of East 33rd Street when the attack occurred.

Police say the suspects shouted insults at Boone as he walked down the street. Witnesses say the insults eventually turned into a violent confrontation. Police say one witness tried to stop the beating.

Boone suffered bumps and bruises from the attack and required medical treatment.

Detectives from the Central Precinct arrested 19-year-old Barefield on charges in connection with an August 18 beating. He released on August 20 on a $3,900 bond.

Police are still looking for the second suspect, 20-year-old Bernard. They say he is a SCAD student, 5-feet-11, 150 pounds with brown eyes and brown hair. Police say he lives in St. Clairville, Ohio, but could still be in Savannah.

Anyone with information on his whereabouts is urged to call police at 912.651.6934.

Medicare Will Not Pay for Preventable Conditions Acquired at Hospitals

Medicare no longer will reimburse hospitals for the treatment of preventable errors, injuries and infections that occur in the facilities under a new rule scheduled for publication this week, a move that CMS officials said could save lives and millions of dollars, the New York Times reports. Under the rule, Medicare no longer will reimburse hospitals for the treatment of certain "conditions that could reasonably have been prevented," and the facilities "cannot bill the beneficiary for any charges associated with the hospital-acquired complication" (Pear, New York Times, 8/19).

The eight conditions for which Medicare no longer will reimburse hospitals for treatment include: falls; mediastinitis, an infection that can develop after heart surgery; urinary tract infections that result from improper use of catheters; pressure ulcers; and vascular infections that result from improper use of catheters. In addition, the conditions include three "never events": objects left in the body during surgery, air embolisms and blood incompatibility (USA Today, 8/20).

The rule, proposed by CMS in April and mandated by a 2005 law, will take effect in October 2008. CMS officials said that next year they plan to add three additional conditions to the list (Zhang, Wall Street Journal, 8/20).

Hot Topic: Cryonics

Death is not a topic that people like to think about, and that is just as true of healthy life extension advocates as anyone else. We have to recognise, however, that the future of healthy life extension (regenerative medicine, stem cell therapies, understanding the biochemical processes of aging, and nanomedicine, to name a few fields) will not arrive soon enough to benefit everyone. Many people are too old, or suffer from other conditions that will kill them before cures can be developed. This is an unpleasant reality that we must face.

Do we just write these people off and forge ahead regardless? Of course not. Instead, we turn to the science and business of cryonics, a serious effort to solve this problem that has been underway since the early 1970s.

...................What is Cryonics?

Cryonics is the only option for life extension open to many older and seriously ill people: those who cannot wait for the promised therapies of the next few decades. It is the science of placing humans and animals into a low-temperature, biologically unchanging state immediately after clinical death, with the expectation that advances in medical technology may eventually enable full restoration to life and health. A small industry of cryonics providers exists to freeze or vitrify your body on death, in the hopes that future scientists (most likely using nanotechnology and nanomedicine) will be able to revive and repair you.

The practice of cryonics is an ongoing medical experiment with an unknown chance of success. Responsible cryonicists understand that cryonic suspension is an educated gamble. The chances are certainly better than zero, however, and as one wag noted, "the control group in this experiment isn't doing so well." By this, he was referring to the vast number of people who are cremated, buried or otherwise interred. The chances of any plausible future science restoring them is zero. Cryonic suspension is, after all, only the second worst thing that can happen to you.
The cryonics community is tightly knit, friendly and supportive. The community, and the industry it supports, have been ever-so-slowly growing since the early 1970s. To find out more about cryonics, you might want to peruse the following locations:

Alcor explains cryonics
Common myths and misunderstandings about cryonics
Cryonics at Wikipedia
The Cryonet community, archives and resources

In addition, an excellent article on the philosophy and practice of cryonics can be found here at the Longevity Meme:

Why Cryosuspension Makes Sense, Part I
Why Cryosuspension Makes Sense, Part II

Cryonics was in the news throughout 2003 and early 2004, largely thanks to the cryopreservation of baseball star Ted Williams and the ensuing high profile family fight over his will. This publicity led to local government efforts to regulate the cryonics industry, first in Michigan and then in Arizona, where the two largest cryonics providers are based. A new cryonics research group made headlines in Florida at the end of 2003, when the cryonics community rallied to try to prevent an unfavorable zoning ruling against the business.
In addition to the publicity, it is becoming clear that backers of cryonics like Saul Kent of the Life Extension Foundation are beginning to put more money and time into pushing the cryonics industry forward into the 21st century. This makes sense for them, based on the arguments I put foward at the top of this page. They have thought long and hard about the likelihood of living long enough to benefit from the technologies of the future, and decided to put more effort into cryonics. One result of this renewed funding is Suspended Animation, a cryonics company that focuses more on research than providing services. Another is the Timeship, an ambitious project to expand the cryonics industry: Visit the Timeship website

You can sign up for cryosuspension fairly easily - both inside and outside the US - through one of the established cryonics providers or cryosuspension groups. You can learn more at the websites for the companies. Alcor is the largest of the providers, has the most comprehensive online information. If you have questions, pick up the phone or e-mail and ask. Company staff will be happy to help.

Alcor Life Extension Foundation
Cryonics Institute
TransTime

Cryosuspension is expensive, on a par with major surgery, but can be paid for in a cost effective manner through life insurance. You purchase a policy that pays out to the provider on your death and they take it from there. This is far and away the most common payment method for those of us who are not fortunate enough to be wealthy baseball stars.

Visit the Longevity Meme Org site for more info >>

90 Year Old Recovers From Beating Aired on National TV

(WJZ) BALTIMORE by Mike Hellgren

Video of a 90-year-old man beaten inside his home by a caregiver has caused outrage nationwide since Eyewitness News broke this story.

As Mike Hellgren reports, a nurse accused of abuse is still on the run.

Surveillance video shows a home healthcare worker pointing her finger at, then striking, 90-year-old John Taylor. She hits him repeatedly over several minutes.

And now that worker, Anastasia Oluoch, is on the run facing a warrant after she failed to show up in court.

Taylor's daughter Jaki says her best move was installing those cameras in her home.

"The camera saw what I didn't. I'm so thankful for the cameras. He wasn't able to tell me what was going on," said Jaki.

Now, her dad is recovering at Levindale in Northwest Baltimore and Jaki wants to see Oluoch locked up. If found guilty, she faces a possible 100 years in jail.

"That's my greatest fear--that she would be employed by anyone else," Jaki said.

Since Eyewitness News first broke the story, media outlets nationwide are airing the video. That spotlights a growing problem. Elderly abuse complaints are up 20% since 2000, but eight in 10 cases are never even reported.
Levindale's doctor Susan Levy has cared for the elderly for decades.

"Frequently, the senior may be very uncomfortable or very fearful that there's going to be retaliation. Any time you see something that you can't explain, then you need to ask questions," said Levy.

Experts recommend doing a criminal background check on anyone you hire, so something like this does not happen to your loved one.

"He has such a strong will to live, so if he's fighting, and he's not giving up, I'm not giving up on him, and I will fight to the very end to get this story out there, and to save as many people as possible from this horrible situation happening to them," Jaki said.

See a Video of the Beating Here >>

More Heart Wrenching Letters Come in To E.A. over the Weekend -Elders Pleading for Help

Because Justice is not only blind to the desperation of the elderly who are being preyed upon by predators, but it is deaf to the cries of victims nationwide

Please click to enlarge

Hi,

I have tried, to no avail to get help from the Florida abuse hotline.
The situation is this:

I live in government subsidized housing for the elderly in Eustis, Florida.
There is a disgusting vulture named Bob Gardner, who also lives here.
To illustrate the type of character he is, just look under FDLE Sex offenders, and read his flyer.
This is his new pastime:

1. One of our residents, (Lucy Honican), got terminally ill, and eventually died. Bob "pretended" to be her friend, and wound up with all of Lucy's apartment contents, and her nice car.

2. Another resident, (Bob Nadon), had to go and get both legs amputated. Bob has Mr. Nadon's checkbook, and was given his TV.

3. Another resident, *Harold Griswald", also got terminally ill. Bob convinced Harold's family that he would take care of Harold. (Bob was heard to say "I don't even like Harold." Same results.. Harold died, and Bob got his van, apt. contents, etc.

(I have no idea of what is being done with their bank accounts.)

4. The latest victim, (Mr. Al Galdi), is about 90 years old. Bob got him to sign over "power of attorney!"

One look at Mr. Galdi would tell you that he is probably incapable of making such a decision! Mr. Galdi owns a beautiful car. I remember Mr. Galdi felling me that he has a daughter in Closter, NJ. Unfortunately, Hippa regulations prohibit the management here from giving me more info.
Can you please help to stop this maggot?

Florida statutes prohibit this type of exploitation, and he should be in jail.

Email the writer of this letter here >>

Link to F.D.L.A. here >>

See Related Posts : Elder Abuse - What to do When Authorities Refuse to Help

Who Are Public Agency Investigators Protecting: The Neglected Elder Or The Perpetrator of The Neglect?

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Dear Mr. xxxx;

I scribbled out your name because the person that is victimizing the elders in your building has a record and is clearly dangerous and if he finds out that your reaching out to us for help he could further victimize you and your neighboors who are problably too afraid and with good reason to speak up.

Thank You for having the courage to speak up I realize how hard this must be for you.

We will do everything in our power to call atention to your plight and get help for you and for the other elders that are being victimized, and yes we have a pretty good idea what's is happening to their bank accounts! It's usually the same pattern after an elder gives Power of Attorney in most places this is considered fraud under undue influence.

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Warning : Big Problems Ahead for Elders and Their Families

Sunday, August 19, 2007 By Jan Warner and Jan Collins

Question: My parents have been secretive about their finances ever since I can remember. As they aged (they are now in their late 70s), I would ask about powers of attorney because of my concern about handling matters for them if they became unable to do so. They would tell my husband and me (I am an only child) that everything was under control and, could they not handle their affairs, I would find everything in order.

My father has suffered a debilitating stroke from which he will not recover, and my mother broke her hip. I finally got a key to their home from her purse, and after hours of searching, my husband and I found their "everything is under control" package: a notebook containing a couple hundred pages of trust documents and instructions, some signature pages having not been signed or witnessed; and a number of deferred annuity statements and bank statements. No powers of attorney or wills. I called the banks and annuity companies, all of which refused to talk to me. I called the "trust network" responsible for this mess, and they hung up on me.

I have now been to a lawyer who tells me that I will basically have to sue my parents to gain court-appointed conservatorship and guardianship over both of them. In this way, he says, we can get to the bottom of this awful mess. I blame myself for not being more aggressive with my folks. They trusted the word of strangers who took advantage of them as opposed to trusting their only child. I hope you will print this so your readers will understand that seniors are indeed targets for abuse.

To learn more about expert advise on this dilemma click here >>

You can learn more information about elder care law and write to the authors on http://www.lifemanagement.com/nextsteps/