In a scathing audit of the state guardianship program in 2008, State Auditor Crit Luallen found that understaffing in the program put wards of the state at risk."The reason this is such a critical issue is that these are often people without a voice," Luallen said recently. "They are among our most vulnerable citizens."
Today, there are 2,835 active wards of the state in Kentucky, with just 38 guardians to oversee all their personal and financial needs. That's roughly one guardian for every 75 wards.
That ratio is "preposterous," said University of Kentucky professor Pamela Teaster, one of the nation's leading researchers on public guardianship. An appropriate ratio would be 20-1, as it is in Virginia, Teaster said. At the very least, Kentucky should cap the number of wards a guardian oversees, as Florida does, at a 40-1 ratio, she said.
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Luallen: Not Enough State Guardians
I wish State Auditor Crit Luallen would speak to the issues of oversight and monitoring in regard to the existing number of guardianships.
ReplyDeleteShe says people are often left without a voice but what she doesn't address is that this happens often in guardianship situations where conditions are "ideal".
An appropriate ration would be 20 to 1, Pamela Teaster?
ReplyDeleteCome on, how can a guardian serve 20 people and serve them all fairly and equally.
20 to 1 is preposterous.
Please Kentucky don't look to Florida, the "Sunshine State" as your role model. My mother, Rita Denmark is currently held against her will in Florida by a court appointed guardian. Mom was put on anti-psychotic drugs by this guardian in what appears to be her solution to silence moms pleas, to go home! My mother was a life long resident and domicile of PA yet held prisioner/hostage/ward of the "Sunshine State".
ReplyDeleteMom said many times, "I haven't hurt anyone, I haven't broken the law, how can they make me stay here?" Shame on the state of Florida, don't let gramma visit there!
Your absolutely right Betty
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