A Twin Falls County volunteer board that provides legal guardians for the elderly, developmentally disabled and others who can't afford such a service will soon be back in business.
County commissioners voted on Tuesday to reform the Board of Community Guardians, just seven months after they disbanded the organization over concerns about its operating practices and a lack of volunteers.
Those issues were also aggravated by the actions of former guardian and board member Cindy Laws, who in March was charged with felony abuse or neglect of a vulnerable adult for allegedly stealing more than $6,000 from a 93-year-old woman with dementia. Laws, no longer involved with the organization, entered an Alford plea to the charges last month - acknowledging a jury would likely convict her without actually admitting guilt - and is set to be sentenced Oct. 26.
The guardians will now meet with clinic staff to put their board back together. Dennis Voorhees, a board member and Twin Falls attorney specializing in elder law, praised commissioners on Tuesday for their prompt and careful action on the matter and said the various parties involved in the board's work are now focused on avoiding more problems like Laws'.
"I don't think that the public sees this as reflecting on the board," Voorhees said, noting his organization kept a very clean record over the years. "It's been a wonderful experience to work through this tightening-up process with the commissioners."
Full Article and Source:
County Commission Puts Guardians Back to Work
See also:
Laws Takes Plea Deal for Charges Related to Abuse/Neglect of Vulnerable Adults
Court-appointed caretaker accused of more crimes
Guardian Accused of Exploitation
I wish they weren't back in business. Too bad.
ReplyDeleteWrong, Dennis Voorhees. The public sees the problems as a direct reflection of the board.
ReplyDeleteI think if they're serious about doing a good job, that they should put out a statement to tell exactly what they did to clean up the mess.
ReplyDeleteSaying they're all hopped up to get going doesn't assure anyone that the same theft won't occur again.
Did they apologize for not catching Cindy Laws or supervising her closer?
The organization did not keep a clean record over the years, Mr. Voorhees. Cindy Laws is an example of that.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Anon 1, I wish they had just folded and we'd have less "professional" guardians in the world.
ReplyDeleteWe need these types of organizations, but why isn't there more law enforement screening and monitoring - processes easily available through hi-tech?
ReplyDelete