Wendy Williams Dementia Denial Pushes Legal Guardian To Order A New Medical Evaluation

by Afouda Bamidele

The cries for Wendy Williams' freedom from her conservatorship have forced her legal guardian to reevaluate her mental state.

The former TV host has repeatedly denied being "cognitively impaired" despite her court-appointed conservator's claims of frontotemporal dementia. Now, her guardian, Sabrina Morrissey, hopes to defend her stance with a new medical evaluation.

Wendy Williams was placed under conservatorship in 2022 but raised concerns about her well-being in 2024 following isolation and mistreatment claims from loved ones. Earlier this year, she denied being unable to make rational decisions while comparing her guardianship experience to a hostage situation.

Wendy Williams To Undergo A Mental Examination Per Her Conservator's Request

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Williams' legal guardian, Morrissey, recently informed the judge overseeing the entertainer's case about her plan to permit another medical examination. She expressed willingness to be transparent about Williams' well-being and mental state, noting:

"[It] would be prudent for [Wendy] to undergo a new medical evaluation that will involve comprehensive neurological and psychological testing by a specialist in the field."

Although Morrissey agreed to a medical reevaluation, she implied the result would be no different than the original diagnosis that landed Williams under her care. On that note, she implored the court to pause her lawsuit against A&E over the Lifetime docuseries, "Where Is Wendy Williams?" which aired last year.

The conservator's letter obtained by TMZ continued: "The Guardian has no interest in pursuing litigation in the extremely unlikely event that the new medical examination finds that [Wendy] somehow now has the mental capacity to direct the A&E matter."

Fans Slam The Former TV Host's Legal Guardian

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 In her letter to the court, Williams' guardian stressed that doctors at Weill Cornell Medical Center made the entertainer's initial dementia diagnosis. She implied there was no foul play at work, noting Justice Sokoloff legally ruled that Williams was "incapacitated."

However, Morrissey's arguments sent off alarm bells as multiple fans called her out on X. These Williams supporters did not believe the legal guardian had the media personality's best interests at heart, with someone declaring, "This whole ordeal is a scam! These CRIMINALS should be in prison! #FreeWendy!"

Another echoed similar sentiments, stressing the need for a neutral third party. "It should be by an unbiased doctor. Not a doctor of the guardian's choice," the X user wrote. A third argued that Williams needed the lawyers that saved Britney Spears from her conservatorship, adding:

"It's absolutely sick that Wendy was blocked from seeing her own father on his birthday. He's in his 90s and logically won't be around for much longer."

Rapper Meek Mill Sheds Light On Williams' Isolation Claims

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One of the reasons Williams' guardian decided to allow a medical reevaluation might stem from the growing "#FreeWendy" pleas or the former radio broadcaster's insistent dementia denial.

The Blast shared that Robert Rihmeek Williams, professionally known as Meek Mill, joined the voices against her conservatorship.

The renowned rapper, who lived in the same building with Williams in 2023, recently shared a picture that seemingly depicted her isolation claims. In the image, Williams appeared isolated in the building's lobby while sitting alone on a bench. Mill described her demeanor as being in a "daze."

The "All Eyes on You" hitmaker was moved to share his experience about Williams' conservatorship following a viral teaser clip for the upcoming documentary, "Saving Wendy."

In the video, Williams lamented the possibility of missing her father's 94th birthday because of her legal guardian.

A New York Lawmaker Hopes To Change The Broadcast Veteran's Guardianship Law

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While fans and Williams' supporters supported her freedom through social media, a New York lawmaker moved to ease her guardianship restrictions legally. The Senator, identified as Anthony Palumbo, reportedly attempted to reintroduce a law that allowed family visits.

The legislation, "Karilyn's Law," would allow families to visit loved ones under conservatorship by filing a motion. The legal guardian would be given 10 days to demonstrate to the court why the person wishing to visit should be denied.

If the guardian could not present evidence of the visitor's inappropriate behavior, the individual would be authorized to proceed with the visit.

The Senator stressed that this law would provide family members with a legitimate way to visit their loved ones under conservatorship without restrictions, as alleged in Williams' case.

Wendy Williams Details Shocking Conservatorship Experience

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During a phone interview in January, Williams shared bombshell details about her conservatorship experience. She expressed frustration about being isolated and unable to move or make decisions without her guardian's acknowledgment, saying:

"I am not cognitively impaired, you know what I'm saying? But I feel like I'm in prison. I'm in this place where the people are in their 90s and, their 80s, and 70s… There's something wrong with these people here on this floor."

Additionally, Williams described her experience as "emotional abuse." She alleged that she was isolated and barely had people to interact with during the day unless "nursemaids" brought her unfamiliar pills to take. She also bashed Morrissey for holding her in a luxury prison.

Will Wendy Williams' medical reevaluation be her key to freedom?

Full Article & Source:
Wendy Williams Dementia Denial Pushes Legal Guardian To Order A New Medical Evaluation

See Also:
Judge allows Wendy Williams to fly to Miami to celebrate her father’s 94th birthday amid guardianship battle

Why Wendy Williams Reportedly Fired Attorney Amid #FreeWendy Battle

Britney Spears Steps in to Help Wendy Williams Get Out of 'Abusive' Conservatorship

Wendy Williams

Three Years After Britney, Wendy Williams Shows Celebrity Conservatorships May Still Be Toxic to Women

Senator Palumbo and Families Push for Guardianship Reform Urge Passage of Karilyn’s Law in 2025

Nursing home doctor charged in case alleging lack of oversight of patient care

Source:
Nursing home doctor charged in case alleging lack of oversight of patient care

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Police swarm Colonial Heights nursing home, arrest employees after patient death

Colonial Heights nursing home cited by VDH for deficiencies, then found compliant days before abuse complaint

One of 4 Colonial Heights nursing home employees jailed for abuse gets bond: Court records

Night nurse granted bond in elder-abuse death case; prosecutor said condition 'ignored'

KLRT AG Griffin Announces Conviction of North Little Rock Woman for Elder Abuse 01 15 25

Attorney General Tim Griffin today issued the following statement announcing the conviction of Ja’Layia McClendon, 28, of North Little Rock after she pleaded guilty in Pulaski County Circuit Court to the charge of Abuse of an Endangered or Impaired Adult, a Class D Felony:

“Protecting seniors from abuse will continue to be a priority for my office. I congratulate my Medicaid Fraud Control Unit for their diligence in securing this conviction, especially Special Agent Heath Nelson and Assistant Attorney General Gabrielle Davis-Jones. I also thank Sixth Judicial District Prosecutor Will Jones for the assistance of his office in this case.”

McClendon worked as a caregiver at Woodland Heights Senior Living, a Little Rock long-term care facility. She surrendered herself to law enforcement on October 31, 2024. McClendon struck an 82-year-old female resident who was diagnosed with dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, leaving bruises on the resident’s face and forearm.

McClendon was sentenced to five years of probation and a $1,000 fine.   

Source:
KLRT AG Griffin Announces Conviction of North Little Rock Woman for Elder Abuse 01 15 25

Woman arrested in Augusta elderly neglect case

A woman has been arrested after an elderly neglect case in Richmond County. 

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Woman arrested in Augusta elderly neglect case

Marion County woman arrested on financial exploitation charges

Source:
Marion County woman arrested on financial exploitation charges

Area Woman Accused of Draining Elderly Mother’s Bank Accounts Faces Hearing Today

A woman has been charged with financially exploiting her elderly mother in Punxsutawney, and stealing over $150,000 through her role as power of attorney, state police said.

by Jen Russell

JEFFERSON CO., Pa. (EYT) — An area woman accused of stealing over $150,000.00 from her elderly mother through her role as power of attorney is scheduled to appear in court on Tuesday morning.

According to court documents, a preliminary hearing for 56-year-old Kelly Jo Wright, of Ridgway, is scheduled for Tuesday, February 4, at 11:00 a.m., in front of Magisterial District Judge Jacqueline J. Mizerock.

Wright faces the following charges:

• Financial Exploitation of an Older Adult or Care-Dependent Person, Felony 2
• Theft by Deception-False Impression, Felony 2
• Theft by Deception-Prevent Acquisition of Information, Felony 2
• Theft by Deception-Failure to Correct, Felony 2

She is currently lodged in Jefferson County Jail.

Details of the case:

According to Punxsutawney-based State Police, the investigation began when Wright’s sister reported suspected theft in September 2023.

Medical records show the victim has been treated for dementia since 2020, with her condition listed as “moderate,” making her vulnerable to exploitation, police noted.

State Police Trooper Michael C. Malloy’s investigation revealed that Wright became power of attorney for her mother in March 2022, according to a criminal complaint, and Wright allegedly proceeded to drain her accounts through ATM withdrawals, gambling expenditures, and payments of personal debts over an 18-month time period, beginning around March 2022 to approximately September 19, 2023.

It was learned in the investigation that Wright allegedly spent thousands at casinos and gambling establishments, including businesses in Punxsutawney and Reynoldsville, where she was reportedly gambling up to three to five times per week. Additionally, investigators obtained Wright’s gambling records from Seneca Casino in Salamanca, New York, showing net losses of over $17,000.00 in 2022 and over $7,000.00 in 2023, according to the complaint.

The victim’s monthly income included Social Security benefits, her ex-husband’s pension payments, and IRA deposits, the complaint states.

According to the complaint, Trooper Malloy learned that Wright surrendered her mother’s $123,000.00 IRA against financial advisors’ recommendations, then withdrew over $106,000.00 in cash within 23 days, the complaint continues.

The Jefferson County Area Agency on Aging had previously investigated in April 2022 after receiving a referral about possible exploitation. During their month-and-a-half investigation, protective services workers made home visits and exchanged correspondence with the victim. Wright claimed she was using the IRA money to build a home addition for her mother — renovations that police believe never occurred, the complaint notes.

According to the complaint, the investigation revealed that Wright was operating a rescue horse farm, caring for more than 30 horses, donkeys, dogs, and cats. It was noted there are substantial costs that are associated with maintaining such an operation.

According to the complaint, Wright stated her only source of income was her monthly Social Security benefit in the amount of approximately $1,600.00.

It was also noted in the complaint that the case is further complicated by a separate theft charge against Wright involving a male victim, where she allegedly received transfers totaling nearly $200,000.00 in April 2023, the complaint states.

Full Article & Source:
Area Woman Accused of Draining Elderly Mother’s Bank Accounts Faces Hearing Today

Telephone scams target elderly in Sangamon County, sheriff warns

by WICS

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WICS) — The Sangamon County Sheriff's Office has issued a warning about recent telephone scams targeting elderly residents for financial exploitation.

According to the sheriff's office, these scams involve callers posing as law enforcement officers or fraud protection employees and requesting payments through gift cards, cash transactions, or bank account transfers.

"No one at the Sheriff's Office, or any law enforcement agency, would ever request or demand money over the telephone under any circumstances," the sheriff's office said.

The public is urged to exercise caution when answering calls from unknown numbers and to never disclose personal or financial information over the phone without verifying the caller's identity.

"If you feel that a caller is targeting you for the purpose of scamming or exploiting you out of money, or if you fell victim to an online or telephone scam, contact the Sheriff's Office or the appropriate local law enforcement agency," the sheriff's office advised.

Full Article & Source:
Telephone scams target elderly in Sangamon County, sheriff warns

Illinois submits bills to become 12th state to allow assisted suicide

by Simone Orendain 

Within the first week of the new session of Illinois' General Assembly lawmakers on Jan. 13 and 14 filed bills to set their state on a path to becoming the 12th jurisdiction in the United States to have a physician-assisted suicide law.

Ten states, including the District of Columbia, have legalized physician-assisted suicide. Along with Illinois, 17 other states have lawmakers proposing similar legislation.

The two identical bills submitted in the Illinois Senate and House called "End-of-Life Options for Terminally Ill Patients Act" call for two doctors to ascertain that a patient has six months or less to live, and to evaluate the patient's mental faculties and ability to self-administer the lethal drugs.

The proposed law, however, stops short of authorizing physician-assisted euthanasia, where the physician administers the medication prescribed to kill the patient.

In physician-assisted suicide, a physician prescribes lethal medication but the patient administers it.

However, the legislation states that the patient's death under the act cannot be described as either suicide or murder. In fact, it states the actions described in the proposed act "do not, for any purposes, constitute suicide, assisted suicide, euthanasia, mercy killing, homicide, murder, manslaughter, elder abuse or neglect, or any other civil or criminal violation under the law."

It also specifies the cause of death for the death certificate would be the original diagnosis of the patient -- not that they took prescribed lethal drugs to kill themselves.

Catholic bioethicist John Haas said the ancient Hippocratic oath in its original form, which doctors traditionally have taken, involves a physician swearing not to give any poison -- or counsel for it -- to the sick.

"It's broader than just a Christian teaching," said Haas, the immediate past president of the Philadelphia-based National Catholic Bioethics Center, or NCBC. "It's a humane teaching that we don't kill those who are suffering. We help them. We work on curing them and healing them. And if that doesn't work, we comfort them when they're in their last days."

The Catholic Conference of Illinois is opposing the assisted suicide legislation, advocating the state instead advance moral alternatives when it comes to end-of-life care.

"The answer is palliative care," said Robert Gilligan, the conference's executive director. He referred to health care focused solely on giving comfort and managing symptoms such as pain that cause suffering for someone with a serious or terminal illness.

"Fund more of that. Expand more of that. This is the way out of this," he said.

Gilligan also said another pressing concern is "suicide contagion."

"In other words, once a state says it's okay to end your life, more people will do that," he said.

The conference is trying to help lawmakers understand this risk.

But Sen. Linda Holmes, D-Aurora, the bill's lead sponsor in the state Senate, said she was hopeful about the bill's passage.

"I talked to my Senate members and we know ... it polls at over 70% of the population (who) think it should be an option," Holmes said.

According to a 2024 Gallup poll, 66% of Americans favor physician-assisted suicide "when a person has a disease that cannot be cured and is living in severe pain." Another 71% supported physician-assisted euthanasia "if the patient and his or her family request it."

Holmes, 65, who said she is Catholic but not practicing, shared that her father's death, when she was a teenager, was part of why she became passionate about the bill after being approached by Compassion and Choices. The group lobbies to legalize physician-assisted suicide as "medical aid in dying."

"My father died of lung cancer when he was 49. And I mean, it's a horrendous way to watch somebody die. I mean, it's horrible. It's painful. There's a lot of suffering," she said.

But Gilligan, along with other Catholic bioethicists, pointed out that when states or countries enact assisted suicide laws, they almost always expand them and relax the initial criteria to cover a greater number of people.

Father Tadeusz Pacholczyk, a senior ethicist at NCBC, said Oregon, Vermont, Washington state and Hawaii have all liberalized their laws beyond their initial restrictions. Lawmakers have pushed similar efforts in California and New Jersey.

Father Pacholczyk said that the Catholic Church can help people think through and see that the arguments for such laws are fundamentally flawed. But he also said the church has teaching that helps people bear through deep difficulties.

He noted that for Catholics, "hope is the inseparable companion of suffering."

"Jesus endured the Cross, which was fruitful, precious and redemptive. But no one can support just the cross alone," he said. "Suffering, accompanied by the warming reality of hope, offers us strength in the recognition that our earthly pains will indeed pass, and yield to eternal joys."

He said, "This remarkable combination of hope and suffering unchains the human spirit. Such hope is central to the life of every follower of Christ."

Full Article & Source:
Illinois submits bills to become 12th state to allow assisted suicide

Florida bill would allow nursing home residents to install cameras in rooms

CAPE CORAL, Fla. —

Arista Ramsey keeps her late mother, Beverly, as close to her heart as she can.

"She was my bestie. I got her cremated," Ramsey said, holding a heart-shaped necklace that contains her mother's ashes. "(She’s) always with me."

Despite all the good times they shared, Ramsey is still haunted by what happened to her mother at The Woodlands assisted living facility in Cape Coral.

"I regretted putting her here," Ramsey said. "The place was great when I first got here, but it just went downhill so fast."

A Facility in Decline

Ramsey, who volunteered to cut hair at the facility, captured some of the problems with her camera, including dark water stains on the ceiling in one of the hallways.

"It was horrible," Ramsey said. "The place was falling apart around us."

And not just that.

Ramsey said her mother, who suffered from dementia, was sexually assaulted by another resident. She eventually pulled her mother out of the facility.

Then, in November 2023, it was shut down by the state.

An emergency order against the facility reported that residents at The Woodlands were living with bed bugs, leaking pipes and, in some areas, no access to hot water.

The state also reported a resident wandering out of the facility, a resident falling through a glass window and a case of sexual assault.

Seniors had to be relocated to other facilities.

"I felt like, that the lives of the people that were left were saved," Ramsey said of the closure.

A Push for Change

Now, a new bill titled SB 64: Electronic Monitoring Devices in Long-term Care Facilities was introduced in the Florida legislature that aims to better protect seniors. It would allow them to install cameras in their rooms at nursing homes and assisted living facilities.

The proposed legislation is being pushed by Sen. Ileana Garcia. It would give a resident — or the representative of one — the right to record video, audio or both without resistance from the facility.

The resident and their family would have to pay for the camera, and rooms with another resident would require consent, among other conditions.

The bill still has a long way to go before becoming law.

"If a family member or a caregiver is managing care for a loved one and they're not geographically co-located, I imagine that could give someone a lot of peace of mind," Sarah Gualco told NBC2.

Gualco is with the Area Agency on Aging for Southwest Florida, which has a program that trains people on how to spot and prevent elder abuse.

While cameras could help address that problem, Gualco said it’s also important to look at why facilities cannot provide the kind of care that's expected.

"I think that there are a number of things that probably go into that," she said. "Some might be individual staff members themselves, as well as an overall lack of qualified care providers that I think we kind of feel within the whole network."

After all her mother went through, Ramsey is open to any changes that could help better protect vulnerable seniors.

"I think it's a great idea. I really do," she said of the legislation. "We do need to know what's going on. Because there's a lot of abuse in these places."

Uncertain Future for The Woodlands

State records show The Woodlands is still owned by the same company and they're working to re-open as 'Sunset Grove Assisted Living.' For now, their license is still suspended, and they are still closed.

A spokesperson for the state agency that oversees assisted living facilities said The Woodlands has to meet legal requirements and pay all fines in order to re-open.

What You Can Do

If you're concerned about the care you or a loved one is getting at a facility, you can call the Florida Abuse Hotline at 1-800-96-ABUSE or visit the Florida AHCA Complaint Reporting Page.

Full Article & Source:
Florida bill would allow nursing home residents to install cameras in rooms

Senior Services: The shame of scams

By Julie Randolph

According to Michigan’s Attorney General, more than 73,000 older adults in Michigan are victims of elder abuse.

From 2022 to 2023 the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network revealed financial institutions reported roughly $27 billion in suspicious activity related to elder financial exploitation. Examples of these suspicious situations include:

• An older adult unable to make ends meet after a family member experiencing financial trouble convinced them to take out a mortgage on their home with proceeds going to that family member. The older adult then finds themselves seeking assistance to obtain basic needs like heat and food because the resulting mortgage payment far exceeds their retirement income.
• People professing to be caregivers asking for unused automobiles, with promises to make payments, and then never returning to provide either the care or car payments.
• Situations where a seemingly credible stranger requested private information in an authoritative tone. Only after the older adult has provided account and identification numbers do they realize what has occurred.
• An older adult gave access codes to move their social security direct deposit to another account, believing it was their bank making necessary data changes.
• Family members reach out to us for advice about how to stop their parent from participating in money laundering schemes. The newfound purpose, friendship, productivity, and pride in work can make an older adult vulnerable to working for criminals.

The primary antidote to losing your hard-earned money to these criminals is simple: talk to others about your experience before taking any action requested by the callers. Scams are almost always introduced with an insistence on secrecy and urgency. Recognize the hallmarks of secrecy and urgency and remember that anything or anyone who restricts you from discussion with others has something to hide. 

Many older adults come to Senior Services for assistance because their family and friends made them feel shame for being the victim of the crafty coercion of criminals. If someone you know experiences financial exploitation, we encourage you to respond with grace. Speak openly, with kindness and understanding about the incident. Understanding and sharing may help others avoid the same fate.

Remember, if it is too good to be true, it is. If it provokes fear and feels wrong, it is. If it is the real thing, it can wait for open discussion with others before proceeding with information or actions. As always, Care Coordination staff is here to listen and assist, whether or not you are a current client.

Full Article & Source:
Senior Services: The shame of scams

Guardianships for disabled adult children: The planning should start now

When a disabled child turns 18, the legal disability of minority is removed and, with that, the parents’ power to make his or her decisions vanishes.

By Virginia Hammerle

(Part three of a three-part series on Texas guardianships.)

It had been 18 years in the making.

From the day she was born, it was evident that your daughter had a disability. You’ve been her advocate since then, figuring out special education, public benefits and medications. You’ve gone with her on every medical appointment. You know her limitations and the workarounds.

As a parent, you have put her needs first. There have been no problems until now.

What changed? Simple: She turned 18.

Before her 18th birthday, she was under a legal disability because she was a minor. You made decisions for her because you were her parent.

When she turned 18, the legal disability of minority was removed and, with that, your power to make her decisions vanished. Her real disabilities did not change that, because the law presumes that every adult has the capacity to manage his or her affairs.

Although your daughter has the same needs, you no longer have the same rights or powers.

The answer? Guardianship.

As a guardian of her person, you will once again have the power to access your daughter’s records and make decisions on her behalf. This is informally known as an “aging-out” guardianship, so called because the proposed ward has aged out of the disabilities of minority. It is common when a disabled child turns 18.

The legal process begins when you file an application for “guardianship of the person” with a court that has jurisdiction over guardianships. In Dallas, Collin, Denton and Tarrant counties, that would be a designated probate court.

The court appoints an attorney ad litem (“AAL”) to represent your daughter, and a court investigator to determine if the guardianship is necessary.

If you want to serve as her guardian, then you must submit to a background check and complete other required documents.

You file with the court a Certificate of Medical Examination that sets forth the type and extent of your daughter’s developmental disability. Examples of disabilities include intellectual disability, autism, static encephalopathy, cerebral palsy and Down syndrome. If your daughter has an intellectual disability, then the person completing a Certificate of Medical Examination will give an assessment of her level of intellectual functioning and adaptive behavior.

After determining the type and extent of disability, there is a threshold question that must be answered: Is there a less restrictive alternative to guardianship available? If your daughter has enough capacity to understand and execute a power of attorney or to make medical decisions if you have the authority to explain the medical procedures to her, then she may not need a guardianship.

The court investigator and AAL will also consider if there are supports and services available in the community to assist your daughter.

The court then holds a hearing where it considers testimony and other evidence. If it finds the guardianship is necessary and you are not disqualified from serving as your daughter’s guardian, then the court will enter an order granting you powers, removing your daughter’s rights and setting a bond. You will take an oath and deposit the bond with the court’s clerk.

Every year thereafter you will file a report with the court about your daughter.

Aside from the guardianship, some parents will also set up a Special Needs Trust to hold funds that can be spent for your daughter. This type of trust is structured so that it will not disqualify your daughter from receiving government benefits.

If you have a special needs child, your planning should start now.

Attorney Virginia Hammerle will present a seminar on “Guardianships” from 2 to 3 p.m. on May 23 (F) at the Skillman Southwestern Branch Library, 5707 Skillman St., Dallas. Registration is required. To register, call 214-670-6078.

Full Article & Source:
Guardianships for disabled adult children: The planning should start now

Online scam costs elderly South Windsor victim nearly $50k

Story by Rob Polansky

SOUTH WINDSOR, CT (WFSB) - An elderly man in South Windsor fell victim to an online scam, police said.

It led to the arrest of 42-year-old Qiao Zheng of Brooklyn, NY on Thursday.

Police said they started to investigate a fraud complaint that was made by the 90-year-old victim on Monday.

The victim reported that he gave $49,900 in cash to a courier after he received an email from someone who claimed to work for PayPal.

The email indicated that a transaction purchase for Bitcoin had flagged the victim’s PayPal account.

After the victim contacted a “support number” in the email, a suspect accessed the victim’s computer through a fraudulent link. He requested that money be transferred into a separate account.

When that didn’t work, police said the victim withdrew the money at various bank branches for the courier to pick up at the victim’s home.

Upon being notified of the incident, South Windsor police were present in the area of the victim’s home after the suspect contacted the victim for another $20,000 and indicated a courier would arrive to pick it up in the early afternoon hours on Thursday.

A man identified as Qiao arrived and was arrested, police said.

Police charged Qiao with conspiracy to commit second-degree. He was held on a $100,000 surety bond and scheduled to appear in Manchester Superior Court on Friday morning.

Full Article & Source:
Online scam costs elderly South Windsor victim nearly $50k

Judge allows Wendy Williams to fly to Miami to celebrate her father’s 94th birthday amid guardianship battle

By Alexandra Bellusci

Wendy Williams is headed to the Magic City for a special occasion.

The former talk show host, 60, is currently under a court-order guardianship, confined to a New York assisted living facility that she describes as a “prison.”

But the brazen small-screen star will be able to flu to Miami for 48 hours to attend her father Thomas’ 94th birthday.

On Friday, sources told TMZ that a judge authorized private security to accompany Williams from the Big Apple to celebrate with her dad and family.

Meanwhile, the judge is also prohibiting Williams from having further contact with the media, per the outlet.

That decision comes just weeks after Williams and her niece, Alex Finnie, called into “The Breakfast Club” and shut down claims that she is cognitively impaired.

Williams also claimed she had just $15 in her possession and that her beloved cats has been taken from her.

During the interview, Williams became emotional talking about her father’s upcoming 94th birthday, admitting she wasn’t sure if she would be allowed to fly to Miami to celebrate with him.

The radio alum made it clear she wanted freedom from the controversial guardianship.

Williams — who was diagnosed with aphasia and frontotemporal dementia in May 2023 — compared her current living situation to that of a “prison.”

A few days prior, Williams’ loved ones launched a GoFundMe to raise $50,000 to help free her from her guardianship.

“For far too long, Wendy has faced the challenges of being unjustly placed under guardianship and labeled as incapacitated, despite her strong will and determination to live her life independently,” the description reads.”

“Her current situation is not only unfair but also deeply isolating. The guardian assigned to her has severed her connections with friends and family, leaving her without the support network she so desperately needs. This isolation in New York has made it increasingly difficult for her to maintain her strength and resilience.”

Williams has also reportedly fired her court-appointed attorney, Linda Redlisky, Wednesday.

Sources told TMZ that Redlisky was let go after the lawyer allegedly failed to file paperwork for a trial about whether Williams’ guardianship was necessary when the author asked her to do so.

Full Article & Source:
Judge allows Wendy Williams to fly to Miami to celebrate her father’s 94th birthday amid guardianship battle

See Also:
Why Wendy Williams Reportedly Fired Attorney Amid #FreeWendy Battle

Britney Spears Steps in to Help Wendy Williams Get Out of 'Abusive' Conservatorship

Wendy Williams

Three Years After Britney, Wendy Williams Shows Celebrity Conservatorships May Still Be Toxic to Women

Senator Palumbo and Families Push for Guardianship Reform Urge Passage of Karilyn’s Law in 2025

Fake nurse administered medication to patients at Maryland nursing home, officials say

Story by Natalie Demaree

A Maryland woman has been sentenced after officials said she posed as a registered nurse and handed out medication to patients at a nursing home.

Nicole Van-Horn, 38, faked documentation as a registered nurse to get a job at Denton Nursing and Rehab, the Maryland Attorney General’s Office said in a Jan. 30 news release.

On Jan. 22, she pleaded guilty to one count of Medicaid fraud after she was accused of causing Maryland Medicaid to pay over $3,500 for fake nursing services, prosecutors said.

Now, Van-Horn will serve five years of probation with the first three years under supervision by the Division of Parole and Probation, officials said.

“When someone poses as a medical provider and practices without a license, they threaten the health and safety of those entrusted to their care — a threat made even more serious when their patients are elderly or disabled, some of the most vulnerable Marylanders in our State,” Attorney General Anthony G. Brown said in the release.

Van-Horn fraudulently used identification from a registered nurse in Pennsylvania who has a similar name, then worked nine shifts in August 2023 at the nursing home and rehabilitation center, officials said.

She also pretended to have degrees from the University of Pennsylvania and Pennsylvania State University, but records of her attending those schools do not exist, according to prosecutors.

During her time working at the nursing home, Van-Horn “administered medications, cared for patients, and supervised registered nurses, geriatric nursing assistants, and certified medical assistants,” officials said.

Van-Horn is not allowed to work as a nurse unless properly licensed during her probation, and she is not allowed to care for older or vulnerable adults, officials said. She is also excluded from working with any federal- or state-funded health care agency.

Denton is about a 45-mile drive southeast from Annapolis.

Full Article & Source:
Fake nurse administered medication to patients at Maryland nursing home, officials say

Elderly fire victim goes positively viral

A nearly 90-year-old Altadena woman who lost her home to the Eaton Fire is going viral for pragmatism and positivity in the face of so much adversity. 

John Fenoglio reports Jan. 16, 2025. 

Source:
Elderly fire victim goes positively viral

Put Something Back Pro Bono Project trains lawyers to tackle probate and guardianship cases

Dade Legal Aid’s Put Something Back Pro Bono Project recently held its annual probate pro bono recruitment seminar, “You Be the Judge for Newbies and Pros,” in partnership with the Miami-Dade Bar Probate and Guardianship Committee and Young Lawyers Section.

The seminar offered insight and training for staff and pro bono attorneys, engaging participants to analyze real probate and guardianship case scenarios and collaborate with the experts, while stepping into the role of judge. The seminar was free for all attorneys who agreed to accept a probate or guardianship case from Put Something Back Pro Bono Project in Miami.

Eleventh Judicial Circuit Chief Judge Nushin Sayfie and Administrative Judge Yvonne Colodny of the Probate Division underscored the importance of pro bono services and commended lawyers for handling pro bono cases.

“Navigating the complications of an aging loved one is very challenging and in today’s world a lawyer has become a luxury that not all people can afford,” Chief Judge Sayfie said. “More than ever, we need lawyers to provide pro bono services so that our courts can continue to deliver justice to all. The judges and magistrates of the 11th Judicial Circuit Probate Division are so grateful to Put Something Back and to the lawyers of Miami-Dade County for their ongoing commitment to pro bono.”

The event was moderated by Dale Noll of Akerman, chair of the Miami Dade Bar Probate and Guardianship Committee. Noll and Mark Brown, managing attorney for Dade Legal Aid/Put Something Back, introduced the panel of speakers that included Luis E. Barreto, Danielle Birman, Lotoya K. Brown, Rose Edelman, Kristen Feuer, Elizabeth M. Hughes, Michael Julian, and Stacy Rubel.

Featured presentations included Trust and Estate Litigation, Fiduciary Litigation, Demand Letters, Court-Appointed Lawyers in Determinations of Incapacity, Interested Persons, Foster Youth Guardianships, Ethics and Professionalism, The Anatomy of a Pro Bono Case, and No-fault Removals.

To accept a pro bono case or for more information, contact Lotoya Brown at Lbrown@dadelegalaid.org or visit www.dadelegalaid.org.

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Put Something Back Pro Bono Project trains lawyers to tackle probate and guardianship cases

Jay Leno gets a kick out of wife’s $847 sneakers: ‘Find your moments where you can have a laugh’

By Nardine Saad

Jay Leno isn’t keen on a pair of bedazzled $847 sneakers he bought. But if they make his wife happy, they make him happy.

The former “Tonight Show” host detailed a recent shopping trip with wife Mavis, who is battling advanced dementia, and said that he tries “to find humor in this situation.”

The “situation” refers to to the philanthropist’s declining cognitive state, which prompted Leno to file for a conservatorship early last year to oversee his wife’s affairs. In providing the latest update on Mavis’ condition, the stand-up comedy legend employed his signature wit.

The “Midas Man” actor said in a recent interview with People that to cheer up his wife one day, he took her shopping at Nordstrom.

Mavis, 78, picked out a pair of bright blue sneakers that were $24. Then Leno encouraged her to pick out another pair. This time she decided on a red-and-white pair that “made her happy.”

“[The cashier says] ‘That’s $24. And the other pair, that’s $847,’” he said. “I go, ‘No, I only had two pairs of sneakers. I thought these were $24.’ [The cashier] goes, ‘Yeah, these are $24. But the other ones were [designer sneakers]. It looked like the guy took a pair of the same sneakers and used a bedazzler on them, and they were $800. I look at my wife and said, ‘You like these?’ I go, ‘Honey, you look great.’”

Despite the eye-popping price tag on the latter pair, Leno said he was glad he could afford the footwear despite the sticker shock. And it gave him a good laugh.

“Just typical ... ,” he said. “When you’re dealing with this kind of thing, you find your moments where you can have a laugh and have fun, and my wife really likes them and felt good about it.”

Jay and Mavis Leno have been married for more than 40 years. In January 2024, the “Jay Leno’s Garage” host sought conservatorship of her estate so he could structure a living trust and other estate plans to make sure that Mavis has “managed assets sufficient to provide for her care” should he die before her. Leno’s petition also said Mavis had been “progressively losing capacity and orientation to space and time for several years.” 

According to documents filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court last spring, Mavis Leno’s court-appointed attorney said that during his investigation into Jay Leno’s effort to be a permanent conservator, he learned that Mavis has “major neurocognitive disorders,” cognitive impairment and “sometimes does not know her husband, Jay, nor her date of birth.” It is unclear when Mavis was diagnosed, but the documents said that she was being treated for advanced dementia and a mood disorder. 

In late April, Mavis Leno joined her husband at the premiere of the Netflix film “Unfrosted” and said that she feels great: “We have a great time. Forty-four years [married], so we’re doing good.”

A few weeks later, Jay Leno, a two-time Emmy Award winner, said marrying Mavis was his greatest achievement and “the smartest thing I’ve ever done.”

“I am part of her legacy and that’s what I’m proudest of,” Leno said at the Feminist Majority Foundation’s 16th Global Women’s Rights Awards Gala, where he presented the inaugural Mavis Leno Award for Global Women’s Rights. The award is dedicated to the philanthropist for her Nobel Prize-nominated work as chair of the nonprofit’s Campaign for Afghan Women and Girls.

Times staff writer Meg James and fellow Malia Mendez contributed to this report.

Full Article & Source:
Jay Leno gets a kick out of wife’s $847 sneakers: ‘Find your moments where you can have a laugh’

See Also:
Jay Leno granted conservatorship of wife Mavis Leno’s estate

After Jay Leno made heartbreaking decision for his wife of 44 years, so did a judge

Jay Leno Files for Conservatorship Over Wife Mavis Amid Alzheimer's Battle

75-year-old man with dementia who went missing in Hesperia found

Story by Brian Day

A 75-year-old Hesperia man suffering from dementia who went missing over the weekend has been found safe, officials said Thursday.

Ira Shepard disappeared about 11:30 a.m. Sunday after walking away from his family's home in the 8600 block of C Avenue in Hesperia, San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department officials said.

"Shepard's family revealed he may suffer from Alzheimer's and dementia, and he has a history of leaving his residence in the past," according to a missing person alert issued by the department.

The missing man was unfamiliar with the area, as he "still believes he lives in Los Angeles," according to the alert.

Sheriff's officials announced Thursday morning that Shepard had been found. No further details were available.

Full Article & Source:
75-year-old man with dementia who went missing in Hesperia found

MTV Host Suffers Stroke, Conservatorship Sought: Update on Matt Pinfield

The former MTV personality’s daughter says she fears her father’s griflriend will take advantage of him.

By Brenda Medley

Former MTV host Matt Pinfield’s daughter Jessica is pleading with a judge for a temporary conservatorship for her dad. The media personality and former music executive reportedly suffered a massive stroke on January 6, 2025, with Jessica stating he’s been incapacitated since. As for why she’s requesting a conservatorship, Jessica claims she’s afraid his girlfriend will drain his bank account, per TMZ. She says the conservatorship will help her make important health and financial decisions on behalf of her dad, with the help of her sister, Maya. The daughters also want temporary conservators to oversee his bank account and apartment.

Pinefield was one of MTV’s biggest names in the 90s, hosting shows like 120 Minutes and making appearances on TRL. He eventually landed his own TV show before becoming vice president of A&R and Artist Development for Columbia Records. Recently, he began working in radio again.

According to Smart Asset, a conservatorship “is a way for someone to assume legal guardianship over an adult. Families often use conservatorships to help deal with the mounting medical, financial and mental health needs of a parent. The status of a conservatorship is dependent on the capacity of the individual to make decisions on their own.”

In recent years, conservatorships have become a topic of interest and contention. The biggest conservatorship battle of discussion was initiated by the #FreeBritney movement after the pop star was held under a strict conservatorship for 13 years. Now, attention has turned to former queen of hot topics, Wendy Williams, who was placed under a conservatorship in 2021 with minimal access to her loved ones. 

During a recent press run, Williams insisted she’s not mentally incapacitated and is being held against her will. “I am not cognitively impaired but I feel like I am in prison,” Williams said. “I’m in this place with people who are in their 90s and their 80s and their 70s. …. These people, there’s something wrong with these people here on this floor. I am clearly not,” she told the hosts of The Breakfast Club.

Full Article & Source:
MTV Host Suffers Stroke, Conservatorship Sought: Update on Matt Pinfield

West Bloomfield Woman Second to Be Charged with Embezzling from Vulnerable Adult

LANSING – Yesterday, Shelley Letzer, 67, of West Bloomfield, was arraigned before Magistrate Marie Soma in the 52-3 District Court in Rochester Hills on four felony charges for allegedly financially exploiting a vulnerable adult, announced Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel. Letzer’s co-defendant, Kirk Lanam, 52, of Hartland, was arraigned on charges stemming from the same alleged scheme last week.  

It is alleged that Lanam and Letzer fraudulently obtained from the 87-year-old victim legal power of attorney in March of 2024, knowing the man to be a vulnerable or incapacitated adult with a court-appointed guardian, and that Lanam embezzled significant funds from the victim. It is further alleged that Letzer embezzled thousands of dollars from the victim by, among other means, writing checks to herself from his funds. 

“Abusing the authority granted by a power of attorney to exploit vulnerable adults is an egregious violation of trust,” Nessel said. “My Department will continue to investigate and prosecute those who would embezzle funds from people entrusted with their care.” 

Letzer is charged with three counts of Embezzlement from a Vulnerable Adult $1,000 or More but Less Than $20,000, a 5-year felony, and one count of Fraudulently Obtaining a Signature, a 10-year felony. 

Letzer will next appear in the 52-3 District Court on February 10, 2025.

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West Bloomfield Woman Second to Be Charged with Embezzling from Vulnerable Adult

Why Wendy Williams Reportedly Fired Attorney Amid #FreeWendy Battle

By Jane LaCroix

Wendy Williams is shaking up her legal team as she continues her fight for freedom from her guardianship.

The former talk show host, 60, has reportedly fired her court-appointed attorney, Linda Redlisky, amid her ongoing battle to have her guardianship trial heard by a jury, as reported by TMZ on Wednesday, January 29. Sources close to the situation told the outlet that Williams decided to part ways with Redlisky after the attorney failed to file necessary paperwork to move forward with the trial.

This dramatic legal shift comes just weeks after Williams' family stated they were searching for a more reputable attorney to represent her in the complex case. Previously, Williams claimed she had never even met her court-appointed guardianship attorney, Robert Kaplan, who had argued that she needed lifelong care due to her diagnosis of frontotemporal dementia and aphasia.

The media personality, who currently resides in a New York City assisted-living facility, likened her living situation to a luxury "prison." "I'm in this place where the people are in their 90s and their 80s and their 70s. There's something wrong with these people here on this floor," she shared during a call to The Breakfast Club on Thursday, January 16. She also called the treatment "emotional abuse" and that the "system is broken."

Amid Williams' ongoing legal and financial struggles, a GoFundMe campaign was launched to support her in her fight for independence. Part of the broader "#FreeWendy" movement, the funds raised are intended to help the former Wendy Williams Show star secure the legal representation needed to challenge her guardianship and regain control over her assets and has raised over $30,000 so far. This comes after William's claimed on The Breakfast Club that she has little money to her name at the moment due to her guardian, Sabrina Morrisey, having control over her finances. "I have $15. I have $15. What does that do? ... My money is in prison," Williams said.

Full Article & Source:
Why Wendy Williams Reportedly Fired Attorney Amid #FreeWendy Battle

See Also:
Britney Spears Steps in to Help Wendy Williams Get Out of 'Abusive' Conservatorship

Wendy Williams Guardianship Controversy Spurs N.Y. Lawmaker to Push Visitation Law

Wendy Williams