Monday, April 28, 2014
Elderly Mineral Wells woman fights state for independence
Dallas News | myFOXdfw.com
The State of Texas is trying to get custody of an elderly woman, even though she says she wants to stay in her home.
The same thing happened to her sister three years ago, and people familiar with the way these cases work say the system is being abused.
Suzanne Foley, 85, wants her independence and says she has a right to stay in her own home with the help of a caregiver. However, Adult Protective Services wants her in a nursing home.
Foley suffers from Alzheimer's and dementia, according to her caregiver, Kathy Gilbreath.
But Gilbreath says Foley can still get around her house.
"She dresses herself every day," said Gilbreath. "She's a very independent woman."
Foley is from Switzerland, but her house in Mineral Wells has been her home for the past 20 years.
However, on Tuesday, a county judge in the town of Palo Pinto held a hearing, where the State of Texas asked to take over Foley's affairs and her sizeable bank account.
The judge closed the court to the public and now has issued a gag order, prohibiting the participants from discussing what happened.
The process is familiar to Virginia Pritchett, who was good friends with Denise Tighe, Foley's sister.
"This guardianship law is a big money grab," said Pritchett.
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Elderly Mineral Wells woman fights state for independence
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9 comments:
There is no question that many guardianships are npt about anything but how much money can be grabbed.
I am glad to see this story gaining momentum on Facebook.
She wants to stay at home and that's what this woman should have.
APS should be out doing their job instead of tormenting people. This is how they got bad reputations.
Outrageous! Leave this woman alone!
Closed court and gag order?
You can bet there are bad things going on in that court.
The state needs to back off and now.
SHAME on you, State of TX and APS.
SOB's what a vague statement.
The Caregiver is spending too much money so what does that mean? Show me the numbers!!! Now just wait until the court rules to disregard Suzanne Foley's wishes along with that goes her income, her house, all within her home, her life savings into the pockets of the county and the appointed anointed ones.
This is all about the GREED the money grab you SOB's I wish I could write it out but the good people, the volunteers at NASGA would be forced to reject my comment.
All you reading YOU are next your next trip to the doctor he/she can call those SOB's at the state think not? Think again.
Leave Suzanne Foley alone she is being taken care of properly in her own home.
The caregiver deserves a decent wage for doing her job.
Again show me the numbers!!!
The court can appoint a conservator only to oversee this lady's money, and the concern about amounts paid to the caregiver will disappear.
Instead, it will appoint a full guardian and conservator, who will dump this lady in a nursing facility, take her house and possessions, and spend hundreds of times more, while collecting a hefty fee for the guardian/conservator and all of the lawyers involved.
LEAST RESTRICTIVE ALTERNATIVE IS THE LAW!!! Confidentiality rights belong to the CLIENT, not to lawyers who want to hide their illegal shenanigans.
Thank you Fox News for covering this story. Your coverage is critical to public exposure of the dark side of the protection industry, by private guardians for profit and Public Guardians.
Suzanne Foley is one example of a national pattern of operation of the protection industry according to the number of media and press articles as well as NASGA's case studies.
How much is too much? And over what period of time? Vague allegations on information in the court records submitted by who?
‘Court records show Foley has about $250,000 in her accounts. The state is asking for guardianship, claiming her caregiver, Gilbreath, spent too much of her money.’
Dr. William Tedford is wise, speaking from experience:
But Dr. Tedford says too often, the state interjects itself into these people's lives, and caseworkers, lawyers and accountants take over without being asked.
"I think primarily the main motive in most cases is just plain greed -- looking for the money," said Tedford
Sylvia Rudek
Officer/Director National Association To Stop Guardian Abuse
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