Push The Walker

With support from advocates across the country, a Colorado couple pushed a walker from Morris, Ill., to Bloomington in protest of how Paul LaBounty thinks his parents were pushed around in their last days as wards of the state.

An only child, LaBounty said he was not allowed to make final health decisions for his parents. His father had scripted a variety of wills, one of which named his cousin as a guardian. That will happened to be on hand at the time of his father's death. And, despite being his mother's health care surrogate, LaBounty was denied any decision making for her. Decisions were made instead by a state-appointed guardian, the cousin, who LaBounty said didn't attend either funeral, and a trust company, which he alleges mishandled funds.

There is money involved - an amount LaBounty can't pinpoint for certain but significant enough to pay attorneys fees racking up since his parents' deaths in 2003. The LaBountys badgering also led to the discovery of a previously missing trust agreement for between $160,000-$200,000.

Money is the root of this, the LaBountys say.

Anna LaBounty died in December 2003, six months after her husband, Darrell, suffered a heart attack. She had early dementia and her health deteriorated after admission to long-term care. She went from regular breakfast club meetings to losing 20 pounds in five weeks and being administered a psychotropic drug.
Source:
Greeley pair embark on elder abuse protest

See also:
Predatory Trust

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People somehow believe that "proper planning" will alleviate the problem. Those of us who have suffered through an ordeal of probate court know better. What the court does in the guise of "advocacy and protection" is little more than imprisonment, murder and plunder.
The exposure you give to this horrible violation of human rights makes you a great advocate.
Paul La Bounty

Many rights are violated by starvation, drugging, restraints, deprivation, imprisonment, plundering of funds, failure to recognize prior wishes, etc., etc. etc. Illinois passed a law that allows the state to appoint a guardian to those over sixty found in a condition of self-neglect. I no longer live in that state but I am sure other states have similar legislation on the books" It is profitable!
Document, Educate and Act! The vulnerable disabled deserve better.
Helen La Bounty