Mother made me promise I would see to it she could stay in her home until her final day. But her court appointed guardian took away her comfort and made her life miserable.My Mother suffered from dementia. Familiar surroundings give a person with dementia comfort, whereas major changes make the person agitated and uncomfortable.
Mother always took great pride in her decorating; she liked a European look, and had beautiful things from her country, Ukraine, which was her heritage. She had a large Ukrainian rug hanging in her living room; she loved that rug, and it was one of many things that made her house her home.
The guardian decided that Mother’s house was not modern enough --- she took down Mother’s prized Ukrainian rug. She disposed of Mother’s treasured Ukranian dolls and much of her furniture. Mother’s beautiful living room transformed into a stark room, void of the precious knick knacks and personal items that made it comfortable and familiar for her --- things that made her happy and gave her pleasure.The Guardian also decided to remodel the kitchen. She had a new floor installed--- it wasn’t necessary nor did my Mother want it, but what Mother wanted didn’t matter to the Guardian. She replaced the curtains Mother lovingly hand sewed and with ugly gray funeral parlor looking curtains. A new refrigerator, a microwave, new vacuum, new windows and two air conditioners – all unnecessary expenses. Mother hated air conditioning, it made her cough and too cold. The Guardian used my Mother’s money to modernize Mother’s home for the Guardian’s comfort and the comfort of her staff --- not my Mother’s. Mother complained of the mess and the mental stress of the construction.
Mother told me it wasn’t her home anymore; and sadly, she was right. The Guardian turned my Mother’s home from her castle to a prison.
The Guardian charged Mother $280 an hour, over $46,000 for her fees in the first year of misery alone. She treated Mother like a child, didn’t do her job, ran up exorbitant and unnecessary expenses, and worse of all, despite my best efforts, I was powerless to help her. My complaints and pleas for help fell on deaf ears.
In Memoriam - Stephanie Hordijuk
May 2009 ~ Guardianship abuse victims recognized during Elder Abuse Prevention Month
This story is another example of exploiting vulnerable citizens for profit: The real reason behind Guardianships. This Guardian made the changes to your mom's home in anticipation for resale once the scheme/plan to 'displace' your mom into
ReplyDeletea facility 'warehouse' where she will be neglected, emotionally and/or physically abused, medicated into a stupor/immobility that will lead to her morbidity/premature death. The guardian will get the 'secret' Probate court to issue orders to restrain you and others from visiting or w/supervised visits convenient to the facility's schedule so there will be no effective Advocate's to petition for your Mom's well being and healthcare needs.
The Guardians' motivation is to 'spend down your mom's assets' following Federal Gov't guidelines before placement onto the Medicare/Medicaid System BUT prematurely and illegally per Constitutional Laws easily violated in 'secret' courts so the Guardian can bill fees at exhorbitant rates as if your Mom's accounts were his/her personal PIGGY BANK for services that any clerk could do and volunteers do for FREE. While needy indigents are left 'waiting' for the bed and services your Mom will be using.
Fraud, Waste, and Abuse:
report this case to:www.hhs.gov/stopmedicarefraud or call 1-800-HHS-TIPS (1-800-447-8477) ......and follow up with every new incident.
This profile demonstrates the callous regard for "the best interest of the ward". The guardian fixed up the house for everyone else's comfort --- forget about the ward.
ReplyDeleteShe looks so content sitting there in the picture - in her comfortable home. And then the stark pictures really are dramatic.
ReplyDeleteWhat a crying shame.
And the guardian got paid well, I'm sure, for making this innocent woman miserable.
A person with congnitive impairment absolutely needs familiar surroundings. Changing everything --- taking out everything personal and warm -- is cruel.
ReplyDeleteShameful! Illegal! and UNAMERICAN!
ReplyDeleteBEWARE: This could be you or your loved one featured here on the NASGA blog.
Question: What will you do, starting today, to help stop this out of control court sanctioned elder abuse, under the label of guardianship?