8.9.2011
Texas representative Ted Poe and other elder law advocates for disabled and elderly individuals united on Tuesday along with others concerned about elder abuse calling for federal intervention in guardianships. Mr. Reino offers Texas guardianship legal services to protect elderly people across Texas.
Latifa Ring, a Houston native who organized a task force on the issue, said the current guardianship system grants county and state governments complete authority over guardianships and puts too much power in their hands.
Mr. Reino, a Texas guardianship lawyer reports how individuals that are declared unfit by courts to care for themselves and then abused or exploited by court-appointed caretakers often cannot fight back or deplete their life savings by becoming caught in legal battles to free themselves from guardianship.
Advocates recount stories of guardianship abuse. They later drafted a recommendation urging lawmakers to make guardianship and elder abuse a federally regulated issue.
Lucila Covington, a retired occupational therapist from Arlington, Texas, echoed Eklund’s stance. She said she and her husband sought guardianship for their daughter, Cecilia, who has Down Syndrome, after a professional recommended they do so in 2003.
Covington said Cecilia was mistreated by her appointed caretaker, but when she and her husband complained to the Texas agency on oversight and consumer protection they were ignored — and now they are caught in the appeal process as they try to recover legal guardianship of their daughter.
Ring said she will testify about elder abuse Wednesday at a forum hosted by the Victim’s Rights Caucus, a bipartisan group that represents victims and introduces legislation regarding victim’s rights.
The caucus was founded and co-chaired by Rep. Ted Poe, R-Humble, who Ring said has been working with her taskforce to raise awareness about elder abuse and to push for reform.
Blair Bjellos, a Poe aide, said the congressman believes guardianship should remain a state and locally-administered system, but that its flaws merit discussion on a federal level.
Advocates of guardianship reform have organized meetings and a demonstration to publicize their cause. Texas guardianship attorney offers a free consultation.