Jim Snyder, speaker pro tem of the Silver Haired Legislature, acted as the power of attorney for his parents.
Despite calling it a positive personal experience, Snyder said he believes the current system leaves vulnerable adults open to abuse.
That is a view shared by some in the Kansas House of Representatives.
Rep. Bob Bethell, R-Alden, spends a great deal of time on senior issues. He sits on an oversight committee for the Kansas Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services with Adult Protective Services and has been involved with the Kansas Attorney General’s Office with its abuse and neglect exploitation efforts.
“One of the biggest problems we see with abuse of the elderly is people who have been given power of attorney,” Bethell said. “That person, often one of the elder’s children, has a totally different attitude as to the elder’s estate and what it’s for.”
He said some look at it as an entitlement for themselves rather than something the elder put together for their own purpose.
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Power of Attorney Process Under Scrutiny
Almost everything leave vulnerable elderly up for abuse, including PoA's.
ReplyDeleteBut what's the answer? Guardianship?
No. The answer is that when PoA's are abused, the abusers are charged with a crime and prosecuted.
In the Danny Tate case, Danny's brother, David altered and created 5 or 6 PoA's, but was he charged with a crime? Not yet.
That's the problem.
You're exactly right, Brady. If abusers of Powers of Attorney are held accountable, they'll stop abusing!
ReplyDeleteIf they can make power of attorneys less effective, then guardianship is made easier.
ReplyDelete