Tuesday, December 14, 2010

IL Dept. on Aging Honors Advocates

The Illinois Department on Aging (IDoA) hosted its annual awards ceremony to recognize individuals and organizations whose contributions and accomplishments in assisting older adults merit recognition. Each year the awards ceremony serves as the final event during the Governor’s Conference on Aging where advocates and experts from across the state gather to focus on issues that affect the aging population. This year’s conference was December 8-10 at the Chicago Marriott Downtown.

“These individuals and organizations put a great deal of time and effort into addressing the needs of older adults,” said IDoA Director Charles D. Johnson. “And getting together for this conference, which is the largest statewide meeting of those who work in the aging network, provides the perfect setting to honor them.”

One of this year’s award winners was the Honorable Lisa Madigan, Attorney General for the State of Illinois. Ms. Madigan received the Sid Granet Aging Network Achievement Award on behalf of the Illinois Association of Area Agencies on Aging for her aggressive legal action against those taking advantage of older adults. She has been instrumental in drafting legislation and launched “Operation Guardian,” with brings together state and local law enforcement and health inspectors to conduct unannounced inspections of nursing homes to ensure compliance and to remove residents with outstanding warrants.

“I'm honored today to receive this award from the Illinois Association of Area Agencies on Aging,” said Attorney General Lisa Madigan. “These are very tough times for all of us, and seniors have been hit particularly hard. It is imperative we protect them from both physical and financial harm. I am proud to accept this award in recognition of the important work that my office does every day to ensure that older citizens are treated with the respect they deserve.”

Full Article and Source:
IL Dept. on Aging Honors Advocates Who Assist Older Adults

6 comments:

tvfields said...

Congratulations Sylvia! After all, isn't Lisa Madigan the one who successfully prosecuted your cousin for taking advantage of your Aunt Helen? Now, if only you could work the same magic to bring about in Illinois and/or elsewhere the laws which are needed to protect individuals against perps like those who took advantage of my father during his final hours, while on a morphine drip and under a Do Not Resuscitate order ...

Muse said...

I wonder what Lisa Madigan thinks about guardianship abuse....

StandUp said...

Advocates should always be praised to the fullest extent. We as a society need to promote advocating and good deeds.

Anonymous said...

Lisa Madigan has selective memory.

Madigan is sitting on Bill Waddell's complaint via his widow Mary Waddell.

Sharon Mehrtens is the person who was temporary guardian via emergency petition for guardianship when there was NO EMERGENCY!!!

Bill Waddell was blindsided, he had previously executed Power of Attorney documents.... he was declared a ward of the state of Illinois via ex-parte appointment (a hearing is when all parties are present) on the same day the bogus petition for guardianship was filed:

NO NOTICE OF HEARING to Bill Waddell or his wife Mary Waddell

NO WARNING

Bill Waddell died within 6 days after being declared a ward of the state of Illinois.

B E W A R E: This could happen to YOU! or someone you love.

In Illinois a person with a physical disability (permanent or temporary) is a prime candidate for probate mob.

Bill Waddell was a Veteran. This is how we treat those who sacrificed for us: churned into products to feed the protection racket.

Jane Branson said...

Reading this article gives me the immpresion Illinois Dept. on Aging are stepping up and helping their older adults. I would like to ask Lisa Madigan, the Attorney General for the State of Illinois, to please contact our "New" Ohio, Attorney General, Mike DeWine and share with him how you are protecting and helping your Elders in Illnois. The previous Ohio Attorney General and his Elder Abuse Commission sat silent after I made numerous attempts of pleading with them to help my Mother, Mollie Florkey. My first cry for help was to the Ohio Dept. of Aging but they laughed at me and told me, "my Mother has no rights." Mom was forcibly and illegally evicted from her home, forced in a facility by the poa/dpoahc, isolated from family and friends, then threatened to keep quiet. When I reported the abuse and negligence to the Ohio Dept. of Aging, Ombudsman, & Ohio State Health Dept. they all informed me to get a lawyer. They saw Mom's bloody leg wounds and bleeding bedsores, they heard Mom demanding to return home. They were even mailed tape recordings of the social worker harassing Mom and me at the facility and still they [all] turned their back, walked away and did nothing to save my Mother from the needless suffering, abuse and almost dying prematurely the poa/dpoahc allowed. Even the judge refused to allow Mom's voice to be heard in a court of law or to even allow my evidence, proof the poa/dpoahc allowed Mom to suffer and was holding her prisoner. Mom was not even allowed in the court room to testify. The guardian ad litem documented, " Mollie Florkey did not want a guardian and she wanted to return home." But Mollie's words were silenced by a corrupt judicial court system. The judge appointed Mollie a guardian that forced her back to the nursing facility where she continues to be isolated from family, friends and spiritual associations. Mollie's, wishes, health care and personal needs are completely ignored. Lisa Madigan, Illinois Attorney General, it would be greatly appreciated if you would contact our Ohio attorney General, Mike DeWine and share with him how you Protect and Help your Elders in your state. Please request he take action and help Mollie Florkey return home to live in a "Least Restrictive Environment." There is family willing and able to care for Mollie at home where she will recieve one on one care. Perhaps Mike Dewine, Ohio attorney General will listen and make the decision to help Mollie Florkey. It is going to take a leader to step up and help if our Elders are to be Saved. Then perhaps Ohio will be able to celebrate the oganizations, individuals whose contributions and accomplishments in assisting older adults merit recognition.

Anonymous said...

Lisa Madigan has dropped the ball with Operation Guardian. She has failed to see that the Cook County Probate Court is providing an on-going census for the public aid nursing homes through the court's abuse of OBRA accounts. While Madigan divulged the fact that Esformes is beefing up the census in his public aid nursing homes with criminals, Madigan has failed to account for the manner in which the elderly disabled are placed into his home.

Please complete your investigation, Ms. Madigan. The exploitation of the elderly through the Cook County Probate Courts is being done on your time clock...you have ultimate accountably.

Please finish your investigation.

See www.probatesharks.com and read about OBRA accounts.

www.probatesharks.com