The wife of Genesee County Prosecutor David Leyton is locked in a legal battle over the care of her parents, who the head of an elder abuse prevention program said had been "neglected."Leyton, a Democratic candidate for Michigan attorney general who has campaigned as a protector of senior citizens, said he is not a party to the case and has acted strictly as a support for his wife, Therese, as she and her siblings have talked about how to provide assistance to their parents while following their wishes to remain independent.
"My role is to provide love and support for my wife," he said. "Many, many people who have aging parents have faced this situation."
The dispute started after Therese Leyton's sister, Alisa Kaufman, petitioned in Probate Court for guardianship for her 90-year-old father and 82-year-old mother, who live in the Flint area but are not being named by The Flint Journal.
Investigations by the state Department of Human Services and a county elder abuse prevention team that described unclean, potentially dangerous conditions in the home -- documents Chief Probate Judge Jennie Barkey said "sickened me."
Concerns over the elderly couple's well being caused Barkey to grant temporary guardianship of the parents to Kaufman in June. Barkey reversed that decision five weeks later after investigators reported that conditions at the home had improved.
Full Article and Source:
Democratic Attorney General Candidate David Leyton's wWife, Siblings Argue Over Care of Parents; Investigation Finds Elder Couple Received "Minimal Care"
It can happen to anyone!
ReplyDeleteAs reported by the full article, "As Michigan's next attorney general, David Leyton will continue his strong efforts to protect senior citizens from abuse, neglect and exploitation," the Web site says.
ReplyDeleteSounds like a former prosecutor who is now my state rep. Rather than fix the problems in the system, he's become a probate attorney since becoming state rep. Needless to say, he has not introduced legislation mandating the development of or use of a protocol which has been proposed to prevent situations like that reported by ABC online at http://abcnews.go.com/2020/mary-ellens-mansion-elder-abuse/story?id=8976473&page=1 and http://www.abcnews.go.com/2020/mary-ellens-mansion-elder-abuse/story?id=8974477
I've been told that Michigan currently has an elder abuse task force like the Elder Abuse Commission here in Ohio. Does Michigan have any NASGA members able and willing to advocate there what has been advocated to and reported by the Commission in Ohio? If so, I'd like them to write me at tvfields@oh.rr.com
It never ceases to amaze me, how people who neglet their parent, have the interstines to complaint about other family member that have taken responsibility for the needy parents... I wonfrt hoe muvh, fif Slids Kaugman recieved during the time she was appointed guardian of ther parent; to the time Therese Leytons accusers said that he "home had improved???And how dare, Probate Judge Jennie Barekey state based on heresay, that the home where the Leytons's were taking care of the parent alicia Kaufman did not want to take responsiblity- "sickened me"... only lesson to be taught, indeed MI AG Candidate may now consider doing something about the abuses taking place at the guardianship circuit court!!!
ReplyDeleteWell, we don't know what's going on here really and if the parents are not being cared for of if DHH is overstepping like it does in so many abusive guardianships.
ReplyDeleteI hope David Leyton gets enough of a bad taste in his mouth about it that if he gets elected, he pays attention to elder abuse.
Yes, it can happen to anyone.
ReplyDeleteAnd, when parents want to make their own decisions, what is a person to do? Go against their wishes and end up with world war III? This is a fine line with freedom and choice and breaking their trust, going against their wishes. People do not realize once that trust is broken, it is never repaired. Not all people live the way others think they should. My heart goes out to the family who did their best to honor their parents wishes and privacy.