I'm just wondering if anyone has experienced this in our current guardianship system? Perhaps, your parents were put in a guardianship and next thing you knew all the money in their estate was gone? OR you were completely isolated from a friend or family member due to the actions of a guardian? Or someone you know was put in a special guardianship with no knowledge?

Just trying to get a feel as to if this is a wide-spread problem like I think it is.

I'm just wondering if anyone has experienced this in our current guardianship system? Perhaps, your parents were put in a guardianship and next thing you knew all the money in their estate was gone? OR you were completely isolated from a friend or family member due to the actions of a guardian? Or someone you know was put in a special guardianship with no knowledge?

Just trying to get a feel as to if this is a wide-spread problem like I think it is.

Can you share a few details about this (without mentioning any names of course)?

Can you share a few details about this (without mentioning any names of course)?

Speaking hypothetically, you wake up one day to find that your brother was been hauled off to Kansas to live in a loony-bin and he has been put there by his guardian with no knowledge to him, and no knowledge to the family. OR
Your mother and father are getting older and having common memory issues. Your sister decided she wants to protect her "inheritance" (even though she has no right to anything until both of your parents pass away). She hires an attorney and files for an emergency ex parte guardianship hearing where she is appointed the temporary guardian of your parents with no real evidence of imminent danger to your parents. While she is temporary guardian she fires the entire staff your parents had working at their house and were familiar with, hires a healthcare company at the suggestion of her attorney. Suddenly, you find yourself unable to call or visit your parents. Next thing you know, a third-party neutral is appointed guardian (a stranger to your parents) and after years in this position he has yet to file an inventory of your parents assets or account for any of his expenditures on their behalf. In a word, there is no financial accountability. Who knows what is happening to your parents money? and the court won't intervene for whatever reason. Your parents mental health starts to quickly go downhill as they are isolated from their family and friends, never leave the house and simply just sit around as prisoners in their own home forced to watch TV. Eventually, the guardian moves them to a lock-down memory care unit against their will. Even though there is plenty of evidence that the guardian has neglected his duties, the court will not remove him. You never receive an accounting until both of your have died lonely deaths. The final accounting shows that all the money your parents had, their entire life savings, has been spent on the guardian fees, excessive and unnecessary expenses, 24/7 healthcare workers, attorneys for the guardian, etc. Simply, your parents have fallen victim to a fraud scheme in which the people the court entrusted to protect them - neglected and took advantage of them.

Is that enough detail?

I'm not sure if this is responsive, but here is a link to a 2010 GOA Report to the Senate - GUARDIANSHIPS- Cases of Financial Exploitation, Neglect, and Abuse of Seniors http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d101046.pdf
The problem appears widespread and is likely to grow as the population ages.

In The Big Book of Clichés there is an entire chapter devoted to the difference between "Problem Pointers" and "Solution Providers."

You seem to feel as if you have a personal problem (Ref: Post #3, above).

Your choices are, or at least seem to be: 1) Change the Situation . . . 2) Avoid the Situation . . . 3) Be Happy Knowing That You Have Done All That You Can Do To Accept the Situation in a Progressive Manner That Allows All Involved To Move Forward in a Positive--rather than Negative--Direction.

Or Not.

Aren't They?