U.S. Senate committee holds hearings, following report by the GAO on problems of guardians financially abusing the elderly.
A report by the General Accountability Office on the financial abuse of elder Americans has resulted in a hearing by the Senate Special Committee on Aging, according to Financial Advisor in “Senators, GAO, Decry Elder Financial Abuse By Guardians, Complicit Courts.”
One of the key recommendations is that courts should more carefully consider whether a guardian is necessary or if the elderly person could adequately be taken care of by a caregiver. If a guardian is appointed, then it is advised that the court should oversee the guardian’s actions and make assessments in the future about whether the guardian is still needed.
It was also recommended that guardians receive mandatory training on their responsibilities.
The government should have a better idea of the scope of this problem in the future. Next year the Department of Health and Human Services will launch a National Adult Maltreatment Reporting System that will collect data from state agencies about elder abuse.
Please contact authorities or an elder law attorney, if you suspect any abuse of elder citizens.
