Denise, your Mother will always have a special pla...

Denise, your Mother will always have a special place in my heart. She was so danged funny, even when she was serious. I miss her wit and her enthusiasm. I am glad you two reconnected and got see each other in each other. She was one of a kind and she was always there when NASGA needed help or advice. I think about her often and will always cherish her memory.

Governor Signs Supported Decision-Making Act

Submitted by Carol A. Clark   ALTSD News: SANTA FE — New Mexicans with disabilities and older adults are one step closer to having greater autonomy in their decision-making after the governor signed SB 535 into law last week.  SB 535, an omnibus bill addressing various public health, safety and welfare measures, includes the Supported Decision-Making Act, which will establish a new program within the Office of Guardianship dedicated towards supported decision-making agreements, an alternative to adult guardianship. The New Mexico Aging and Long-Term Services Department (ALTSD) will collaborate closely with the Office of Guardianship to connect interested New Mexicans with supported decision-making resources.  “Providing more pathways to autonomy and self-determination strengthens our communities,” Emily Kaltenbach, ALTSD Cabinet Secretary said. “This legislation will help ensure that those who need it have the necessary support to make informed decisions while maintaining their independence and dignity.”  Currently, more than half of U.S. states,[…]

Caregiver charged after missing RI woman is found alive in parked car

A Rhode Island caregiver is facing charges after the woman in her care went missing for four days and was found alive in someone's car. Source: Caregiver charged after missing RI woman is found alive in parked car

Former General Manager of The Foundry Restaurant Pleads Guilty to Multiple Felony Theft Charges

Concord, NH – Attorney General John M. Formella announces that James Peretti, the former general manager of The Foundry Restaurant (Foundry), located in Manchester, New Hampshire, pleaded guilty in Hillsborough Superior Court Northern District today to two felony theft charges stemming from his tenure at the Foundry. In March of 2024, Peretti was charged with a class A felony count of Theft by Unauthorized Taking or Transfer which alleged that he, pursuant to one scheme or course of conduct, stole from the Foundry across nearly the entirety of his four-year tenure as general manager by generating fraudulent reimbursement claims and using the reimbursement claims as a basis to take cash he was not entitled to. In June 2024, Peretti was charged with a separate class A felony count of Theft by Deception which alleged that he, pursuant to one scheme or course of conduct, also stole from the Foundry by[…]

Thank you so much for this counterpoint, to the Ne...

Thank you so much for this counterpoint, to the New York Times "hit piece". As a heart transplant recipient, and a past Lifebanc volunteer. I was glad to see some type of rebuttal. In my opinion, the Times piece relied heavily on info provided by ex-Lifebanc (disgruntled?) employees. I belong to a few different sites where employees, active or not, will recommend (or not) various organizations for employment. There are a few very disgruntled Lifebanc employees posting and reposting (I sense the same writing style in the posts). I'm sure, at times, the "rules" have to be circumvented, but only so that the organ is used, and not wasted. #DonateLife

Hospice nursing assistant accused of stealing checks from elderly victim

by: Kevin S. HeldST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. – A certified nursing assistant is accused of stealing checks from an elderly woman whom she was caring for and depositing those checks into their own account. According to the St. Ann Police Department’s probable cause statement, the check scam occurred between Jan. 14 and March 31. Police said the victim met Charnell Hawkins in the summer of 2024. Hawkins was performing hospice care for the victim’s husband, who eventually passed away.Following the death of her husband, the victim called Hawkins to share the news. Hawkins allegedly offered to help the victim is she ever needed medical assistance in the future. The victim was injured in a car crash on Nov. 1, 2024, and hospitalized until mid-January 2025. While she was in the hospital, police said the victim contacted Hawkins, and the two arranged for the victim to move into Hawkins’ home in[…]

Recent Criticism of Organ and Tissue Donation: "NO!," the Transplant System is NOT ‘in Chaos’!

by Monty L. DonohewAccording to a recent article in the New York Times, there are issues within the U.S. organ transplant system about which you should be aware if you are a person awaiting an organ transplant, or an intended recipient (the NYT article is behind a pay wall, but you can access the article for free in the Virgin Islands Daily News by clicking here).  If one could believe the headline, the "organ transplant system" is  "in chaos."  The headline is clearly exaggerated and untrue.   Before delving into the specifics of the article, however, these challenges do not regard organ procurement or recovery.  In other words, please do not reconsider a donation!  If anything, the article raises issues that would be resolved by a larger supply of donors and donor organs.  In other words, the criticism does not, and should not, mean that if you are an intended donor,[…]

Camera captures theft in Iowa nursing home, but legislation on the issue remains stalled

Based on video, a Des Moines care facility fired a worker suspected of theftBy Clark KauffmanDES MOINES, Iowa (IOWA CAPITAL DISPATCH) - While legislation allowing all Iowa nursing home residents to have cameras in their rooms has failed to advance this session, the technology is being successfully used in one Iowa care facility.State records show that unlike many Iowa nursing homes, Des Moines’ Greater Southside Health and Rehabilitation has a policy of allowing the use of resident-installed cameras so that family members can remotely monitor their loved ones.The son of one elderly male resident of the home took advantage of that policy and had a camera installed in his father’s room at Greater Southside. Footage captured on Jan. 17, 2025, allegedly shows a certified nurse aide entering the man’s room at about 2 a.m., as the resident slept, and then accessing a locked drawer where the resident kept his money.[…]

Attorney owes $26M for malpractice, elder abuse

BROOKLYN — A federal court preserves a $26 million jury verdict against attorney Howard Kleinhendler, who was accused of legal malpractice, fraudulent inducement and exploitation of a vulnerable adult. The evidence on the record supports allegations that the attorney persuaded an elderly client with Alzheimer’s to sell his 1,000-acre Virginia property for a reduced price of $12 million to a group of investors he had formed without disclosing his conflicts of interest.Read the ruling here. Source: Attorney owes $26M for malpractice, elder abuse

Brooklyn Columbian Lawyers’ April CLE tackles ‘Estate Battles and Guardianship Nightmares’

‘A very nuanced topic; it’s not clear cut and black and white’by Wayne Daren Schneiderman CONEY ISLAND — The most recent Continuing Legal Education (CLE) program for the Columbian Lawyers of Brooklyn was a bit atypical — at least in its execution, by speakers Ellyn Kravitz, Esq., partner at Abrams Fensterman, and Britt Burner, Esq., partner at Burner Prudenti Law.Both women ventured out from behind the large table that typically houses CLE presenters, essentially breaking the fourth wall and making for a more personal and in-your-face presentation for the audience right from the get-go.The CLE took place at Gargiulo’s on the evening of April 2 to an impressive and seemingly inquisitive crowd. The topic, “Yours, Mine, and Who Sues Who? Estate Battles, Blended Families, and Guardianship Nightmares,” focused on “blended families,” or family units where one or both partners have children from a previous relationship.“It’s different than the standard husband, wife,[…]

Caregiving can test you, body and soul. It can also unlock a new sense of self

By Kat McGowan When it was all over, Amanda Cruz felt like a phoenix, a new person rising from what had been. First, though, she had to go through the fire. Pre-caregiving Amanda was a talker. When she was 2 years old, she always waved to everyone on the bus. In her 20s, she moved to Denmark for graduate school knowing nobody and loved it. Later, she worked for city government in a job connecting with constituents. She learned to speak Spanish so she could chat with more people. In 2023, her mom was dealing with a cancer relapse that had progressed into her spine. That July, right before Cruz's parents moved to her neighborhood in South Carolina to be near her, her mom also had a stroke. Cruz helped all along, but in early 2024 she took on a lot more — meal prep, meds, following up on appointments, trips[…]

NC nurse indicted on sexual exploitation of 3 mentally, physically incapacitated patients

Currituck County jurors indicted a nurse anesthetist on charges of sexually abusing patients, including a 16-year-old, under the pretext of medical treatment.  Source: NC nurse indicted on sexual exploitation of 3 mentally, physically incapacitated patients

We can all do our bit to prevent financial abuse

Those who work in professional services are often best placed to spot early warning signs, allowing action to be takenby Rachel WallerThe Financial Conduct Authority recently revealed survey data showing that just four in ten vulnerable customers had made financial services providers aware of their specific needs. It also found a lack of training to address such needs, and ineffective monitoring once identified. Yet ironically, those employed in professional services are often best placed to spot signs of financial abuse — and without their vigilance, the perpetrators can escape scrutiny. And financial abuse is increasing. Hourglass, a specialist charity that targets abuse and exploitation of older people, cites a nearly 50 per cent rise in calls from victims. Likewise, the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (Step) reports that 70 per cent of its UK members, including solicitors and those helping clients with estate and wealth planning, have observed instances[…]

Mass. man accused of embezzling more than $300K from elderly family member

“This case illustrates one of the most common forms of elder abuse, the financial exploitation by a trusted family member.”By Dialynn DwyerA Chelmsford man was arraigned Monday on charges he embezzled more than $300,000 from an elderly family member, authorities announced. Eric Borghetti, 51, pleaded not guilty to five counts of embezzlement by a fiduciary, the Middlesex County District Attorney’s office said in a statement. Prosecutors allege that in September 2019, Borghetti was living with the elderly woman at her Chelmsford home when a fire destroyed the house and injured the victim. Shortly afterward, she allegedly appointed Borghetti to serve as her fiduciary, acting in her best interests, with a Durable Power of Attorney. “The language of the DPOA did not authorize Mr. Borghetti to receive compensation or gifts in connection with his duties under the DPOA,” the DA’s office said. Shortly after the appointment, Borghetti allegedly added himself to the victim’s bank account.[…]

Good job SLCSO for catching this, but the real eld...

Good job SLCSO for catching this, but the real elder exploitation is happening in the guardianship courts. The judges, attorneys, guardian ad litems, doctors, and nursing home employees all collude together to hold elderly hostage while judges sign estates over to attorneys with the swipe of a pen to be liquidated for attorney fees. Cases are dragged out and over billed to take receivership of funds. Go look at the most recent RICO case filed in the northern district of Florida federal court by attorney Mr. Ferderigos. It’s exploitation and genocide of the elderly, criminal enterprise racketeering and RICO crimes.

NASGA thanks Marsha Joiner for writing this book! ...

NASGA thanks Marsha Joiner for writing this book! "Hospice" sounds so friendly and caring --- and there is good hospice too. But like guardianship, if one gets involved with bad hospice, it's a nightmare that never ends.

Anne was my biological Mother-we had the blessing ...

Anne was my biological Mother-we had the blessing of meeting each other again in life when I was 30. The similarities were unbelievable. We both were advocates, we both had a love law. Unfortunately in her later years my siblings kept me away from her. I came looking for Ann‘s video on guardianship because I wanna help Wendy Williams. Wendy Williams is in a fight for her life!

This is scary.

This is scary.

I don't understand how something like this cou...

I don't understand how something like this could happen.

Labow lied to my stepmother and told her my sister...

Labow lied to my stepmother and told her my sister and I were going to use my brother’s funds to force her to let Labow be conservator of his person. Labow planned to put him in a retirement home and sell his multimillion dollar home — she told me “I’m going to make you girls rich.” When I called my stepmother and found out Labow lied, I reassured my stepmother that my sister and I thought our dad should be cared for by his wife. We didn’t become rich but my dad passed away peacefully in his own bed in his own home with his wife at his side.

Really sad that Michigan can't pass any reform...

Really sad that Michigan can't pass any reform.

How can anyone be that cruel? I will understand h...

How can anyone be that cruel? I will understand how this could happen...

My uncle was tricked into signing himself into a c...

My uncle was tricked into signing himself into a conservatorship by an attorney and he made himself the successor trustee & amended our family trust and sold millions in property and will not even tell us where the trust accounts are held. The court told me that there is nothing they can do to help because the trustee/attorney removed my father from the trust that his mother and father left. The trustee closed the accounts and moved the money and he blocked me when I asked him where the accounts were held. The court has said they cannot do anything. The trustee refuses to answer any questions or just goes in circles with vague answers. Meanwhile, my 80 year old uncle is calling me from a neighbor's phone asking me to send him money for food because his phone was disconnected. The conservator and the trustee/attorney worked together to get[…]

The Oregon ombudsman, Fred Steele, is worthless an...

The Oregon ombudsman, Fred Steele, is worthless and in bed with the predators!

hi uwu

hi uwu

Alzheimer’s and Dementia and Guardianship and Conservatorship