Friday, May 22, 2009

A Situation That's Ripe For Abuse and Neglect

It's often said that society can be judged on how it treats its weakest members. By that standard, Illinois isn't faring so well.

Some of the weakest members -- adults who are unable to manage their own affairs -- are assigned court-appointed guardians to help them. So far, so good. But reporters took an in-depth look at who watches the guardians, and found the answer is basically no one. There are no professional standards, no licensing requirements to be a guardian. Illinois regulates the people who do hair and nails more closely than the people put in charge of people's financial health and physical well-being.

It's a situation that's ripe for abuse and neglect.

A group of guardianship lawyers, judges and lawmakers in 2001 issued recommendations that would set up safeguards and help ensure that our most vulnerable are adequately protected. Sad to say, that report is sitting on a shelf somewhere, gathering dust.

Full Article and Source:
Guarding against abuse

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

This is a great article and a beacon into the darkness of guardianship for the citizens of IL.

wisernow said...

Darkness is where these mobsters want us, in the dark wanting us uninformed and an easy target, a mark for destruction.

Darkness is a good description of what is going on behind closed doors before the theatrics of the hearing.

All of the decisions are discussed in the best interest of the guardianship racket, with the friends and pals of the probate judge.

In Illinois Land of Looters et al (formerly known as: Land of Lincoln who is turning over in his grave), an adult with physical disabilities, temporary or permament, can be declared a ward of the state, just like that.

BEWARE: there isn't a list of physical disabilites which means that minor ailments of aging, such as arthritis, knee problems etc can qualify you, me and all Illinoisans a notice of guardianship hearing.

How many citizens of Illinois have knowledge of or reviewed the guardianship laws before this racket came knocking on their doors?

Be ready, don't think it cannot happen to you - it can!

Anonymous said...

Thank you for this important article.

It appears the state of IL is waking up to guardianship abuse - and that's great!

Anonymous said...

"It's often said that society can be judged on how it treats its weakest members."

GRADE: F

LDavis said...

Nevada is no better. You should see what they did to my mother & father.
Analogy to this country; a fish rots from the head down. I swear to you I'm not finished yet, by a longshot!!
Anyone abused by WFbank should contact me.

Anonymous said...

Society does treat children better than the elderly -- for the most part.

Overall, we live in a throw away society. When a person has lived past the earning years, society is ready to throw him/her away and move up a youngster.

Anonymous said...

It is my hope that Illinois starts cleaning up their guardianship laws. It's one of the worst states. In IL, you can break your ankle and end up a Ward of the State. Scary.

Anonymous said...

The "safeguards" aren't going to help anyone but the lawyers.