Judge grants guardian, conservator for DC Councilmember Vincent Gray; kids accuse wife of fraud

by: Daniel Hamburg

WASHINGTON (DC News Now) — Court documents filed in D.C. Superior Court reveal new information about Ward 7 Councilmember Vincent Gray’s health.

On Wednesday, a judge ordered a guardian and conservator to oversee his best interests.

This ruling comes after Gray’s two children petitioned the court to take power away from his wife, who they said has engaged in fraud with Gray’s assets and kept them from seeing their father.

On Thursday, Gray announced he had dementia and would no longer vote on council legislation for the rest of his term.

‘Not an easy decision, but it is the right decision’: DC Councilmember to stop casting council votes due to dementia

Gray, 81, has had a distinguished career both on the D.C. Council and as mayor of D.C. But his two children said his wife of five years, Dawn Kum, who’s nearly 25 years younger than the councilmember, is taking advantage of him.

Their attorney Doug Gansler said following Gray’s first two strokes, “She actually refinanced his house without his knowledge and took out $475,000, in that manner. She then took another $77,000 from the home.”

In a petition filed in August, Gansler said Gray’s wife “is squandering [his] money on frequent high-end vacations and luxury shopping sprees.”

He said Kum isolated Gray from his children, not allowing them to visit him in the hospital and at home.

“She blocked his phone. She wouldn’t let them visit their own home. The house that Jonice and Carlos [Gray’s children] actually grew up in,” Gansler said.

He said she also withheld information about Gray’s health condition.

“On certain occasions when Petitioners have been able to see their father outside the presence of DK, VG has told Petitioners, with tears in his eyes, that he is happy to see them and that he did not know they were unaware of his strokes, his health complications, or his whereabouts,” court documents said.

In or abGray’s Communications Director Chuck Thies said the petition represents and advocates “for the interests of one side of a complicated legal matter.” He said the proceedings are a private family matter, not council business.out mid-December 2021, Gray could not count backward from 20 and could not recite the months of the year backward, according to court documents.

Gansler said it’s been a gradual decline since then, after four total strokes.

He also said Kum injected herself into a leadership role in Gray’s job as Councilmember, forcing the hiring of her daughter’s long-time live-in boyfriend to essentially be Gray’s healthcare aide.

“It’s very sad that someone would try and take advantage of him like this,” Gansler said.

Gansler said Wednesday’s decision by a judge to grant a conservatorship is important for Gray, his children and his legacy.

“Going forward, he will have a guardian that’s exercising his or her judgment in the best interests of Mayor Gray and making sure that his assets are protected so that he has, access to quality health care going forward,” Gansler said.

DC News Now reached out to Kum and her attorney several ways for comment but they have not responded.

Gray’s Communications Director Chuck Thies said the petition represents and advocates “for the interests of one side of a complicated legal matter.” He said the proceedings are a private family matter, not council business.

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Judge grants guardian, conservator for DC Councilmember Vincent Gray; kids accuse wife of fraud

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D.C. Council member Vincent C. Gray says he has dementia, won’t cast votes

Texans owner Janice McNair's son drops bid for guardianship of his mother

A bid for guardianship of Texans owner Janice McNair has been dropped by her son.

Robert Cary McNair Jr. had filed an application for guardianship of his mother last November while alleging that her mental capacity had been diminished by a stroke. The decision to drop the case comes a couple of weeks after a judge in Houston denied McNair's request to have his mother undergo a medical exam by an independent physician.

Texans CEO Cal McNair sided with his mother in trying to block both the exam and the guardianship application.

“Mr. Cal McNair is delighted that the frivolous lawsuit against his mother, Janice McNair, was dismissed today,” Cal McNair's attorney Paul Dobrowski said in a statement, via the Houston Chronicle. “He is relieved that she will not be burdened by an unnecessary medical examination nor placed under a repressive guardianship that would restrict her rights. She will continue to be actively involved as Founder and Senior Chairperson of the Houston Texans.”

Janice McNair co-founded the Texans with her late husband and became the team's principal owner upon Bob McNair's death in 2018.

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Texans owner Janice McNair's son drops bid for guardianship of his mother

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Son drops guardian case vs. Texans owner, mom Janice McNair

Houston Texans Owner Janice McNair Fights for her Guardianship as Son Takes Her to Court

Houston Texans Owner is Fighting Son's Claims That She's Incapacitated and Needs Guardian

Houston Texans owner Janice McNair's son testifies she couldn't remember names of grandchildren

Judge rules in favor of Texans owner Janice McNair, denies older son's request for cognitive exam

Local nonprofit helps maintain 101-year-old woman's home | Inspiring Indiana

At 101 years old, Ernestine Pinner is one of Indiana's few centenarians. 

She's lived in her home on the near north side of Indianapolis in the historic Martindale–Brightwood neighborhood for 65 years. 

Her daughter, Karen Turner, said Pinner refuses to move out even though she can no longer afford the home repairs and upkeep. 

"I just do what I can to make her comfortable," Turner said. 

But after storms damaged the aging house, Turner says she found Home Repairs for Good in 2021. 

"I was at wits end after I contacted the insurance company and was unable to get any help. Then, they were able to come in and help out," Turner said. 

Source:
Local nonprofit helps maintain 101-year-old woman's home | Inspiring Indiana

D.C. Council member Vincent C. Gray says he has dementia, won’t cast votes

By Paul Schwartzman

Vincent C. Gray, a pillar of District politics for more than two decades whose deteriorating health kept him from seeking another D.C. Council term, said Thursday he would no longer vote on legislation because of “age-related dementia,” an announcement that followed a Superior Court judge’s ruling to appoint a guardian and conservator for him.

Gray’s pronouncement came after his two adult children, Jonice Gray and Carlos Gray, asked Judge Leslie Meek to appoint an overseer for their 81-year-old father, whom they described in a petition as “extremely fragile” after suffering “at least four strokes since November 2021.”

Douglas Gansler, the attorney representing Gray’s children, said a court-appointed social worker who evaluated Gray at his home Oct. 18 concluded that the council member isn’t able to live independently because of his physical condition and impairments, which prevent him from making decisions about his health care and finances.  (Continue Reading)

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D.C. Council member Vincent C. Gray says he has dementia, won’t cast votes

Guardian Assistance Program Seeking Volunteers

The Central Oregon Guardian Assistance Program (COGAP) was established as a non-profit organization in August of 2023 in Bend, Oregon. COGAP provides pro bono and low-cost guardianship services to Central Oregonians with limited means who are incapacitated and unable to make medical, housing, and financial decisions for themselves. Often these individuals may be unhoused, dealing with learning or cognitive disabilities, mental illness, acute medical needs, dementia, or Alzheimer’s Disease and/or substance abuse disorders.

COGAP is looking for visitation volunteers. These volunteers would regularly visit COGAP clients that are in facility-based care. The idea behind this volunteer job is to make them feel cared for and not forgotten. COGAP will set up training beforehand and volunteers can shadow staff on visits until they feel comfortable doing it by themselves. It’s very rewarding for all parties involved! We will conduct background checks on all volunteers.
Other COGAP volunteer opportunities are available as well and can be found by going to www.connectcentraloregon.org.

COGAP is currently supported by St. Charles Health System, Deschutes County, Horner Law, LLP, Central Oregon Health Council, OnPoint Community Credit Union, and WaFD. For more information about the Central Oregon Guardian Assistance Program, visit www.co-gap.com

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Guardian Assistance Program Seeking Volunteers

My 74-year-old husband will likely go into a nursing home within the next 5 years or so — is it immoral to put our assets into a trust ASAP and protect them from the US government?

by Maurie Backman

Although aging is a blessing, it can bring about some challenges. A loved one of yours may reach the point where they need long-term care, whether in the form of a home health aide, an assisted living facility, or a nursing home, and it's essential to plan and prepare for it.

A study by Urban Institute for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) found that 70% of adults who survive to age 65 develop a severe need for long-term services and support before they die. And unfortunately, the costs involved can be catastrophic.

In 2023, the monthly median cost to have a home health aide was $6,292, according to Genworth. The monthly median costs to stay at an assisted living facility and a private room at a nursing home were $5,350 and $9,733, respectively.

Seeing as how the median retirement savings account balance of Americans ages 65 to 74 was just $200,000 as of 2022, according to the Federal Reserve, it’s clear that the typical senior can’t afford these expenses. The problem, though, is that Medicare won’t pay for long-term care, and many people can’t afford separate insurance to help pick up the tab.

If you have a loved one who needs long-term care, you may have a choice – place their assets into a trust to qualify for Medicaid, which commonly pays for long-term care, or deplete their assets by paying for long-term care only to potentially have them wind up getting government assistance anyway. When you think about it that way, the decision to opt for a trust is a pretty easy one to make.

The problem with long-term care

It’s a big myth that Medicare enrollees are entitled to coverage for long-term care. Medicare will only pay for care that’s medical in nature. If you have surgery and need to recover for a few weeks in a skilled nursing facility, that’s covered under Medicare Part A.

But long-term care is often not medical in nature, but rather, custodial – meaning, pertaining to everyday activities. And while Medicare will pay for you to recover from an injury or have and recuperate from surgery, it won’t pay for someone to help you with everyday living (things like bathing, dressing, and cooking) not related to a medical issue. (And no, aging is not considered a medical issue.)

It’s for this reason that so many older Americans end up with a financial dilemma when they realize they can’t afford long-term care. And while long-term care insurance could help cover those costs, it can be prohibitively expensive.

The American Association for Long-Term Care Insurance puts the average cost of a plan first purchased at age 65 at $1,700 a year for men and $2,700 a year for women for up to $165,000 in benefits. And while it's possible to lock in lower annual premiums by putting coverage in place at a younger age, you're then paying those premiums for a longer period of time. So that’s not a great solution.

Using Medicaid to pay for long-term care

While Medicare typically won’t pay for long-term care, Medicaid often will. Non-profit KFF estimates that in 2020, 4.2 million people used Medicaid long-term services and supports (LTSS) delivered in home and community settings and 1.6 million used LTSS delivered in institutional settings. Medicaid covered over half of all LTSS spending in the U.S. that year.

The problem, though, is qualifying for Medicaid.

Eligibility for Medicaid varies by state, but generally your income and assets need to be below a certain limit to get approved. Certain types of assets and income are exempt from calculation. If your countable income and assets exceed the limit, a state may still find you eligible if you "spend down" the excess.

Another way to meet the asset limit is to strategically move assets into a trust so they’re not counted as income. Specifically, you'll want to look at a Medicaid Asset Protection Trust. As the name implies, it's an irrevocable trust designed to exclude assets from being counted toward Medicaid eligibility. If a trust of this nature is established, and assets are transferred into it five years before your loved one applies for Medicaid's long-term care benefits, those assets will not impact their ability to qualify.

But while establishing one of these trusts is perfectly legal, the question is, is it immoral? And the answer is, not necessarily.

The whole reason these trusts exist is because far too many seniors would be trapped without them. Also, think about it this way. Your loved one worked hard to accumulate some assets. Does your family deserve to lose out on them because the need for long-term care arose and you can’t reasonably pay for it?

Furthermore, say you decide not to create a trust and you deplete your loved one’s assets paying for care for a period of time. At that point, your loved one might qualify for Medicaid anyway.

All told, there’s a huge gap in coverage for long-term care, and that’s something lawmakers may need to address given an increasingly aging population. But for now, you shouldn’t feel overly guilty for exploring a legal loophole designed to help families of modest means afford the long-term care they need.

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My 74-year-old husband will likely go into a nursing home within the next 5 years or so — is it immoral to put our assets into a trust ASAP and protect them from the US government?

Bad habits that raise your risk for dementia

New research shows there are some surprising bad habits that may increase your risk of getting dementia.

By Ivanhoe Newswire

ORLANDO, Fla. (Ivanhoe Newswire) - Every three seconds, someone in the world develops dementia. Currently, there are more than 55 million people living with dementia worldwide, and that number is expected to double every 20 years.

Now new research shows there are some surprising bad habits that may increase your risk of getting dementia.

Did you know sitting for long periods of time at work or home doesn’t just increase your risk for obesity, heart disease and diabetes, but it can also raise your risk for dementia? Researchers at UCLA found sitting for at least 12 hours a day increases your risk by 63%.

“The data’s pretty solid that physical activity and exercise helps maintain brain health,” said Glenn Smith, PhD, clinical neuropsychologist at the University of Florida.

Poor oral hygiene is also a factor. A study looked at 144 participants in Milwaukee and found severe tooth loss increased their dementia risk six times more than people who lost fewer teeth.

“We all know that the mouth is the gateway to the rest of the body. So, if we can clean our mouths properly, we can certainly have a tremendous effect, not only in dentistry, but also in overall health,” said Lawrence Hier, DDS, MS orthodontist and inventor of PlaqueHD.

Other bad habits include not getting seven to nine hours of sleep per night, drinking too much alcohol, and isolating yourself.

“The effect of social isolation and loneliness on our health is as powerful as things like smoking, high blood pressure, obesity,” said Richard S. Schwartz, MD psychiatrist.

So, get some shut eye, drink in moderation and call a friend to keep your brain in tip top shape.

Skipping vaccines could also increase your dementia risk. A study found those over 65 who got a flu shot lowered their risk for Alzheimer’s, a common form of dementia, by 40% and those who got a pneumonia vaccine were 30% less likely to develop dementia.

Contributors to this news report include: Milvionne Chery, Producer; Chuck Bennethum, Editor.

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Bad habits that raise your risk for dementia

82-year-old Florida scam victim sends multiple $6,000 cash payments to stranger in Indianapolis

The suspect told the woman she won the lottery and sent bogus checks to pay off her credit cards

An 82-year-old Florida woman was scammed for thousands of dollars after he told her she won the lottery and sent bogus payments to pay off her credit cards.

By: Adam Walser

LAND O' LAKES, Fla. — A Land O’ Lakes widow received a call saying she won millions in the lottery, even though she never even played.

The ABC Action News I-team talked to her about how a scammer convinced her to send thousands of dollars in cash to another state and how we’ve learned from federal authorities that this type of crime is growing rapidly.

Stranger promised $8 million prize

“They took advantage of somebody that was gullible,” said the victim.

Eighty-two-year-old Mary doesn’t want us to show her face or use her full name because she’s still afraid of the scammer who ruined her life.

It started with a “too good to be true” call from a man who introduced himself as “Michael Baxter” and said he represented Mega Millions.

“They told me they were coming to my home to present me with the check,” Mary said.

She said he told her she won $8 million.

Mary said the man then asked her for her credit card information.

“They told me they were going to pay off both Sam’s Club and Truist, and they did. They paid them both off,” she said.

Mary got confirmation from banks that payments had been made to her credit card accounts.

But it turns out those deposits were written with checks that weren’t good.

“About 10 or 12 days later, they reversed the payments,” Mary said.

Payments sent to “Michael Baxter” in Indianapolis

But in the meantime, the man told Mary he was going to send a $12,000 payment to her card, but she first had to take out $6,000 cash advance to cover the taxes.

She took $6,000, put it into an envelope and took it to a UPS store in Land O’ Lakes.

She then shipped the package to Michael Baxter at a residential address in Indianapolis.

When asked if she thought that made sense, Mary replied, “No, because my bank didn’t question me.”

UPS receipts show Mary sent multiple shipments of cash to recipients at the same address.

WFTS

One shipment was sent to a woman named “Ella."

“That he said was the bookkeeper,” she said.

We contacted investigative reporter Kara Kenney at our sister station in Indianapolis.

She went to the address where Mary sent the money and discovered an 85-year-old woman named Ella lived there.

WRTV

Ella said she did not know Michael Baxter and had not received any packages.

We also found a news account online about a Mega Millions lottery scheme in Indianapolis in 2015 involving a suspect who used the name Michael Baxter.

“Michael” calls us back

There are multiple people named Michael Baxter in Indianapolis, but none have the same phone number or address given to Mary.

One number had a Pennsylvania area code.

We called it and left a message.

A man who identified himself as Michael later called me back.

“What do you call me for?” the man asked in broken English.

We asked him what happened to Mary’s money.

WFTS

“I don’t know Mary,” he responded.

He called back minutes later, saying he wanted to talk to Mary.

Another number Mary said he used to call her was from outside the United States.

Reported elder fraud increases 11%

The FBI says elder fraud is on the rise.

“With any kind of fraud, what the fraudsters want to do is to get folks to not think clearly and send money immediately,” said FBI Special Agent Keith Givens.

In 2023, the bureau received 101,000 elder fraud complaints involving losses of 3.4 billion dollars.

That’s an 11-percent increase over 2022.

Mary contacted Truist and Synchrony Bank, which issued her Sam's Club card.

Neither would return her money.

She’s also contacted the Florida Attorney General’s Office and law enforcement in Pasco County and Indianapolis.

So far, no one has been charged.

“I know I'll never see a dime of it. My head’s not in the clouds that way, you know,” Mary said.

Mary now owes nearly $40,000 from the cash advances and charges.

She once had an 800-credit score, but now can barely pay her bills and is having to continue working.

“I'd like to get to the bottom of this to where I can get my credit rating restored,” Mary said.

She also is speaking out to try to keep the same thing from happening to someone else.

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82-year-old Florida scam victim sends multiple $6,000 cash payments to stranger in Indianapolis

Adult Protective Services teaches public how to fight elder abuse

by SBG San Antonio Staff Reports

Adult Protective Services is hosting an event on Wednesday to teach the public how to recognize and combat elder abuse. (SBG San Antonio)

SAN ANTONIO - October is financial exploitation awareness month, and here in Texas, Adult Protective Services wants to make sure seniors don't get scammed.

The Adult Protective Services Division of the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services is hosting its 5th annual Elder Abuse and Financial Exploitation Symposium.

Speaking with officials with APS, they tell me that it is unfortunately common for older adults to be exploited financially.

According to APS, studies show that at least one in ten older adults faced some form of abuse in the last year.

Some victims lose an estimated total of 28 billion dollars annually due to financial exploitation.

The Department of Justice released that at least ten percent of adults aged 65 or older will experience some sort of elder abuse in a given year.

Speaking with Ann Cortez, APS South District Director, she says that usually, group assets are easily accessible, and there is usually an issue of isolation that makes them much more vulnerable.

One way to make sure your friends and loved ones do not fall victim is to be engaged with them.

“You look for signs where you feel that something is not quite right. Maybe they, a month ago or two months ago, they were fine, able to provide, and now you’re seeing disconnect notices."

This conference is expected to last throughout the day from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the San Antonio Food Bank on Old Highway Ninety.

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Adult Protective Services teaches public how to fight elder abuse