Protect Our Parents

⚠️ Three things every family needs to understand about elder abuse and “protection” systems:

1️⃣ Financial abuse accounts for 60–80% of all elder abuse cases. It’s by far the most common threat to seniors, yet our legal system still doesn’t treat it with the seriousness it deserves.

2️⃣ Powers of Attorney — the documents most families think are simple and safe — are frequently weaponized for undue influence and coercive control.

3️⃣. Guardianship is too often the default “solution,” but it strips away seniors’ basic rights under the label of protection. And “supported decision-making,” which is being pushed as the better alternative, still lacks the real-world research and strong safeguards needed to prevent exploitation.
We owe our parents and grandparents better than systems that create new vulnerabilities while claiming to solve them.

Some states, like Florida, require guardians and personal representatives to have attorney representation to file petitions, motions and for defense in probate court. No pro se for family guardians or personal representatives. Note that the USA trust and estates market has ballooned from $130B in 2010 to $290B in 2025 with a trajectory likely to continue.

An older woman in her early 70s is in transitional care after a recent hospital stay.

She has no active insurance and is working hard on her Medicare/Medicaid application.

The facility has been pressuring her almost daily to sign lengthy financial forms that include an irrevocable assignment of all her rights and broad power of attorney language.

They have not informed her of her state and federal rights that protect her from having to sign these while her application is pending. She has refused.

At the same time, she had a trust managed by a professional fiduciary in California.

The trustee recently claimed the trust is fully depleted, but has never provided any accountings or statements. She is now requesting full disclosure from the custodian.

She is actively advocating for herself; asking for clear information about her medications, treatments, and care plan.

She feels isolated due to scheduling that keeps her from other residents and constant interruptions that cause her to miss dining room hours and delay her important application calls.

This is a reminder that:

✅ Residents have the right to refuse broad financial agreements while Medicaid-pending.

✅ Trustees must provide regular accountings.

✅ Facilities cannot pressure residents into signing away rights.

✅ The Long-Term Care Ombudsman can be a powerful free advocate in these situations as well, but as always, proceed cautiously.

These challenges are far more common than most families realize. Stand up for your rights and help those you care about do the same.

OMG. A cage for the unwanted.

“When she entered the asylum, she expected to see people who needed medical help. Instead, she found a warehouse of "inconvenient" women. There were wives who had argued with their husbands about money. There were daughters who refused to marry men they didn't love. There were women who were simply too loud or too independent.”

A fascinating but sad story. This happened to my grandmother. Piecing together family history/genealogy can be surprising as was this remarkable find.

As an advocate for older adults, this news concerns me.

Many seniors experience undiagnosed declines in financial decision-making capacity long before other signs appear. This leaves them especially vulnerable to commission-based recommendations that may benefit the advisor more than the client. ⚠️

The dropped Retirement Security Rule would have expanded fiduciary standards requiring more advisors to put the client’s best interest first, like with 401(k) rollovers. But, now we’re back to the 1975 rules with fewer protections.

Fee-only tax accountants, CFP professionals, and fiduciary advisors who avoid commission conflicts are worth consideration and discussion. Families, please have these conversations early and plan for capacity issues.

Our older parents and loved ones need stronger safeguards, not weaker ones.