Massachusetts Man Arrested for Misappropriating Guardianship Funds in Hillsdale, NY

Press Release

The New York State Police Livingston Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) has arrested Christopher J. Read, 46, of North Adams, Massachusetts, in connection with a larceny investigation involving the misuse of guardianship funds.

Following an extensive investigation, authorities determined that Read, who had been appointed as a legal guardian for an individual residing in Hillsdale, NY, failed to utilize the entrusted funds for the care and well-being of the victim. Instead, Reed diverted these resources for personal gain, misappropriating a total of $38,302.05.

As a result of the investigation, Read was charged with:

• Grand Larceny in the Third Degree (Class D felony)
• Endangering the Welfare of an Incompetent or Physically Disabled Person in the First Degree (Class E felony)

Read was released on one's own recognizance and scheduled to appear in the Town of Claverack Court on June 25,2025. 

Contact Troop K Public Information Officer: Trooper Krystal P. Paolicelli

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Massachusetts Man Arrested for Misappropriating Guardianship Funds in Hillsdale, NY

Elderly Woman Missing for 8 Days Found Alive More Than 1,200 Miles Away

By Jenna Sundel

A 76-year-old woman from Denton, Texas, who was reported missing from an assisted living facility and became the subject of a statewide Silver Alert, was found alive at a hotel in Houghton Lake, Michigan—more than 1,200 miles from her home, police said on Tuesday.

Karen May Taube was found with her sister, Eva Haron, and is reported to be safe.

The Context

The Denton Police Department issued a Silver Alert for Taube on May 12 after detectives were notified that she had been taken by Haron without consent from Willow Bend Assisted Living & Memory Care in Denton. Taube is under court-appointed legal guardianship that excludes Haron from contacting her, the Denton Police Department said in a press release.

What To Know

Taube and Haron were found at a hotel in Houghton Lake, Michigan, on Tuesday morning. Taube was positively identified after the Roscommon County Sheriff's Office located her with Haron.

A felony warrant was obtained for Haron's arrest in connection with Taube's removal, Fox 4 News reported. However, police did not release Haron's photo or provide further details about their relationship at the time of the alert.

Taube was transported to a hospital for medical evaluation "as a precautionary measure," police said. She was expected to return to Denton under her court-appointed guardian's direction.

Haron was reportedly one of the initial applicants seeking guardianship but was not granted authority, as detailed in Denton County court records reviewed by Newsweek. The guardianship legally prevents Haron from removing or having contact with Taube without permission.

What People Are Saying

Denton Police Department, in a statement to Newsweek: "Due to unique circumstances and the ongoing investigation, no arrest was made at this time. As we have stated from the beginning, our primary concern was to locate Karen Taube and return her safely to her legal guardian. We will work with the Denton County District Attorney's office to determine if charges against Eva Haron will be filed at a later time."

Roscommon County Sheriff's Office, on Facebook: "Very pleased that our deputies were able to help bring this to a resolution today after receiving information from police in Texas and from the FBI."

What Happens Next

Denton police and the Denton County District Attorney's Office are continuing to review Taube's unauthorized removal. Authorities indicated that the review will determine whether to pursue criminal charges against Haron related to interference with the rights of a guardian.

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Elderly Woman Missing for 8 Days Found Alive More Than 1,200 Miles Away

Revealed: UnitedHealth secretly paid nursing homes to reduce hospital transfers

by George Joseph

A Guardian investigation finds insurer quietly paid facilities that helped it gain Medicare enrollees and reduce hospitalizations. Whistleblowers allege harm to residents

• US nursing home employees: do you have information about UnitedHealth’s nursing home practices?

UnitedHealth Group, the nation’s largest healthcare conglomerate, has secretly paid nursing homes thousands in bonuses to help slash hospital transfers for ailing residents – part of a series of cost-cutting tactics that has saved the company millions, but at times risked residents’ health, a Guardian investigation has found.

Those secret bonuses have been paid out as part of a UnitedHealth program that stations the company’s own medical teams in nursing homes and pushes them to cut care expenses for residents covered by the insurance giant.

In several cases identified by the Guardian, nursing home residents who needed immediate hospital care under the program failed to receive it, after interventions from UnitedHealth staffers. At least one lived with permanent brain damage following his delayed transfer, according to a confidential nursing home incident log, recordings and photo evidence.

“No one is truly investigating when a patient suffers harm. Absolutely no one,” said one current UnitedHealth nurse practitioner who recently filed a congressional complaint about the nursing home program. “These incidents are hidden, downplayed and minimized. The sense is: ‘Well, they’re medically frail, and no one lives for ever.’”

The Guardian’s investigation is based on thousands of confidential corporate and patient records obtained through sources, public records requests and court files, interviews with more than 20 current and former UnitedHealth and nursing home employees, and two whistleblower declarations submitted to Congress this month through the non-profit legal group Whistleblower Aid.

The documents and sources provide a never-before-seen window into the company’s successful effort to insert itself into the day-to-day operations of nearly 2,000 nursing homes in small towns and urban commercial strips across the nation – an approach which has helped UnitedHealth secure a vast stream of federal dollars from Medicare Advantage plans that cover more than 55,000 long-term nursing home residents.

UnitedHealth said the suggestion that its employees have prevented hospital transfers “is verifiably false”. It said its bonus payments to nursing homes help prevent unnecessary hospitalizations that are costly and dangerous to patients and that its partnerships with nursing homes improve health outcomes.

Under Medicare Advantage, insurers collect lump sums from the federal government to cover seniors’ care. But the less insurers spend on care, the more they have for potential profit – an opportunity that UnitedHealth higher-ups have systematically sought to exploit when it comes to long-term nursing home residents.

To reduce residents’ hospital visits, UnitedHealth has offered nursing homes an array of financial sweeteners that sounded more like they came from stockbrokers than medical professionals.

Over the past seven years, the company has shelled out “Premium Dividend” and “Shared Savings” payments that boosted nursing homes’ bottom lines. Through its “Quality and Shared Risk” program, UnitedHealth offered an even bigger cut to nursing homes that drove down medical spending, but threatened to claw back money from those that didn’t, according to former employees and internal corporate documents.

One term that UnitedHealth executives obsessed over was “admits per thousand” – APK for short. It was a measure of the rate that nursing homes sent their residents to the hospital. Under the “Premium Dividend” program, a low APK qualified a nursing home for the various bonus payments the insurer offered. A high APK meant that a nursing home received nothing.

“APK drove everything,” said one former national UnitedHealth executive who worked on the initiative with nursing homes in more than two dozen states and spoke about the confidential contracts on the condition of anonymity. “You gain profitability by denying care, and when profitability suffers for the shareholders, that’s when people get crazy and do things that are not appropriate.”

Supporters of Luigi Mangione outside Manhattan criminal court as he appeared for his hearing on state murder and terrorism charges on 21 February. Photograph: Mostafa Bassim/Anadolu/Getty Images

The revelations come at a time of crisis for UnitedHealth, which became the subject of public outrage after December’s fatal shooting of Brian Thompson, a top executive at the company, and the arrest of a suspect named Luigi Mangione.

The killing reignited concerns over the healthcare giant’s Medicare windfalls and denials of care to patients. But a full accounting of UnitedHealth’s cost-cutting push inside nursing homes has not previously surfaced amid government and media investigations into the company’s conduct.

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Cost-cutting tactics

The secret bonuses were just one of many maneuvers UnitedHealth devised to track and cut expenses in its nursing home initiative.

Internal emails show, for example, that UnitedHealth supervisors gave their teams “budgets” showing how many hospital admissions they had “left” to use up on nursing home patients.

The company also monitored nursing homes that had smaller numbers of patients with “do not resuscitate” – or DNR – and “do not intubate” orders in their files. Without such orders, patients are in line for certain life-saving treatments that might lead to costly hospital stays.

Two current and three former UnitedHealth nurse practitioners told the Guardian that UnitedHealth managers pressed nurse practitioners to persuade Medicare Advantage members to change their “code status” to DNR even when patients had clearly expressed a desire that all available treatments be used to keep them alive.

“They’re pretending to make it look like it’s in the best interest of the member,” another current UnitedHealth nurse practitioner said. “But it’s really not.”

In response to questions, UnitedHealth said its nursing home initiative improves care for older residents by providing “on-site nurse practitioners, tailored care plans for chronic conditions, and enhanced communication between staff, families and providers”.

The company denied that it had prevented hospital transfers or inappropriately pushed patients to change their code status to DNR.

Full Article & Source:
Revealed: UnitedHealth secretly paid nursing homes to reduce hospital transfers

Woman faces sentencing for scamming elderly man out of $200k, causing home foreclosure

by Jana DeCamilla

Woman faces sentencing for scamming elderly man out of $200k, causing home foreclosure

ALBANY, N.Y. (WRGB) — An Albany woman is set to be sentenced today after being convicted of scamming an 86-year-old man out of more than $200,000.

Investigators revealed that Amber Diacetis, along with her accomplice Devin Zielinski, manipulated their way into becoming the elderly man's caregiver, thereby gaining access to his finances.

The stolen funds, intended for the man's mortgage and other bills, ultimately led to the foreclosure of his home. For four years, the pair did not pay the victim's mortgage, property taxes, and other bills. His home went into foreclosure, the vehicle was repossessed, and the electricity was turned off.

The pair were arrested in May 2024, charged with second-degree grand larceny.

Really what we have here are two defendants who allegedly insinuated themselves into the lives of a vulnerable 86-year-old New York State pensioner and allegedly robbed him blind," said New York State Comptroller Counsel Nelson Sheingold at the time of the arrest. "When you take advantage of the vulnerable when you take advantage of senior citizens, you take advantage of their isolation, you exploit that for your personal enrichment it simply reprehensible and crosses any moral barrier there is.

Both Diacetis and Zielinski face up to 15 years in prison for grand larceny. Zielinski's sentencing is scheduled for next month.

They allegedly robbed him of his dignity leading him to live in absolute squalor as they used his money for their enjoyment and he lived in a house without plumbing with animal feces around the floor," said Sheingold. "Thank goodness based on the intervention that now he's being taken care of and being treated correctly, but how do you undo that kind of damage? Mere money alone doesn't do it.

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Woman faces sentencing for scamming elderly man out of $200k, causing home foreclosure

Proposed bill in Michigan targets medical guardianship

By Elaine Rojas-Castillo

A new bipartisan bill package hopes to streamline the process for Michigan families making medical guardianship decisions, also known as next of kin.

"If they only have a few days to live, you don't want — and I didn't want — to spend those last three days trying to fight in court," said State Rep. Jamie Thompson, R-Brownstown Township. "Things can happen. There's plenty of emergencies that can happen, whether it be car accidents or strokes or things with patients that can turn really quickly when they become confused and can't make their own decisions."

Thompson knows how difficult making end-of-life decisions can be. A few years ago, her father faced a terminal diagnosis and only had days to live.

Wanting to bring him home from Kentucky, Thompson says she had everything in place.

"But as soon as we got him to Michigan, everything changed," said Thompson.

Under current Michigan law, when a person becomes incapacitated without a medical power of attorney in place, families have to go through the court system before they can make any time-sensitive medical decisions.

While next of kin traditionally means a closest living blood relative, Michigan requires a longer legal process to make that determination, which Thompson says can make an already difficult situation even tougher.

"Michigan law requires you to go to a court and get guardianship with your loved one in order to make those decisions for them, and that's something I don't feel the court should have involvement in," said Thompson.

Thompson teamed up with Democratic Rep. Angela Witwer, a fellow healthcare provider, to create the bill package.

"Death happens, not when you're prepared for it most of the time, and so this is a way to help people and help those in the most vulnerable state be taken care of," said Witwer, D-Delta Township.

Both representatives say they wanted to get involved because Michigan is one of the few states in the country without this in its laws.

"If the parties both look at what is important to the people of Michigan, then we'll always be right in how we move things forward," said Witwer.

"To me, it's whatever medications you take, your list of allergies, your diagnosis is everything that's part of your medical record, your final wishes should be a part of that as well," said Thompson.

The bills have been referred to the House Judiciary Committee for consideration and are expected to be introduced in the chamber later this summer.

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Proposed bill in Michigan targets medical guardianship

Former Cloquet police officer found guilty of taking advantage of elderly person

by Matt McConico

SAINT PAUL & CLOQUET, Minn. – Former Cloquet Police Officer Laci Marie Silgjord was found guilty of one count of felony attempted theft by swindle.

Silgjord exploited a now-deceased 78-year-old vulnerable adult.

She gained access to victim’s bank accounts and attempted to inherit the estate worth more than $150.000, despite Ms. Armey having surviving family.

Silgjord was financially exploiting Joan Arney, at the time a 78-year-old with dementia, Silgjord met through her employment as a then-Cloquet police officer.

The state said four months after meeting the victim, Silgjord represented herself to a bank as her fiduciary, despite having no legal authority for this role, and gained access to the victim’s bank accounts.

Silgjord will be sentenced at a date to be determined.

The Carlton County Attorney referred the case to the Attorney General’s Office and the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit investigated the case. It was tried jointly by Medicaid Fraud and Criminal Division.

Timeline of the accusations against Silgjord from the Attorney General’s Office:

As outlined in the  criminal complaint and as proven at trial, Silgjord first met the victim in May 2020 when Silgjord responded to the victim’s residence for a call regarding a stolen purse. By January 2021, Silgjord had attempted to obtain the victim’s entire remaining estate despite the victim having surviving family and no written estate plan awarding anything to Silgjord. This was despite a Cloquet Police Department policy that in order to “avoid actual or perceived conflicts of interest members of this department shall refrain from developing or maintaining personal or financial relationships with victims, witnesses or other individuals during the course of, or as a direct result of, any official contact.” 

Then-Officer Silgjord first encountered the victim on May 5, 2020, when she responded to a call about a stolen purse.  On June 2, 2020, Silgjord performed a welfare check at the victim’s house upon the request of the victim’s half-brother. Silgjord and other officers conducted a second welfare check on August 25, 2020, when they found the victim in very poor condition, including that she had suffered a stroke and had deficits in memory and attention. The victim was immediately transported to the hospital.  

On September 4, 2020, the hospital petitioned for guardianship for the victim due to “severe memory and orientation deficits which make her unable to make higher level decisions about her medical care.” At a court hearing on the guardianship, Silgjord stated that a social worker at the hospital asked Silgjord to be the victim’s guardian. The Court appointed Silgjord as guardian on September 11, 2020, which allowed her to perform duties related to personal care and custody. Silgjord was never appointed as a conservator to make financial decisions for the victim or manage the victim’s money, however. 

Throughout September 2020, Silgjord recorded multiple bedside conversations with the victim.  During one conversation, the victim said she did not know where she was, did not know her maiden name, did not know her father’s name, and did not remember how old her son was when he died.  Silgjord also showed the victim a photograph of herself when she was younger; the victim did not recognize herself. During this conversation, Silgjord told the victim that she was her “new grandma” and that she loved the victim.  The victim responded that she loved Silgjord and that she wanted to take care of her. 

In late September 2020, Silgjord presented guardianship paperwork to the victim’s bank. She documented on a form titled “Fiduciary Accounts Application & Agreement” that she was the victim’s fiduciary and that she had the authority to access the victim’s accounts.   

Medical records in October 2020 documented the victim’s continued regression, and at times noted she was hallucinating. On October 28, 2020, the victim passed away with no surviving children and no will. Silgjord did not notify the victim’s estranged husband and next of kin about the victim’s death.   

Shortly after the victim’s death, Silgjord met the victim’s estranged husband at a restaurant. The Court’s order appointing Silgjord as guardian indicated that her guardianship expired upon the victim’s death — yet Silgjord claimed to the victim’s estranged husband that she was “in charge” of ensuring the victim’s wishes were carried out. Silgjord also refused to give the estranged husband the keys to the victim’s house. When the estranged husband asked Silgjord about submitting paperwork to access the victim’s bank accounts, Silgjord responded that he could “probably not” do this “because I am on the account.”   

On November 24, 2020, the victim’s estranged husband went to the victim’s house, where he encountered Silgjord. Silgjord falsely claimed she had a guardianship and conservatorship over the victim, refused to provide him the keys, and said that she would not do so “until the courts make me sign it over.” 

On December 18, 2020, Silgjord filed a petition seeking to be appointed personal representative of the victim’s estate. Silgjord claimed the estate was indebted to her for guardianship expenses. Some of compensation sought by Silgjord included time she supposedly spent on the guardianship while Silgjord was on duty as a police officer. 

On January 28, 2021, Silgjord filed a claim against the victim’s estate for $71,601.58, which she estimated to be the estate’s total value. In describing her claim, Silgjord wrote “Prior to Joan’s death she told me she loved me & wanted to take care of me & my family. I was Joan’s friend & court appointed guardian.”   

On March 9, 2021, Silgjord filed a second claim seeking an additional $86,611.70 from the estate, which represented the total of the inheritance the victim was set to receive from her stepmother’s estate. In describing this claim, Silgjord wrote, “I was Joan’s court appointed guardian & took care of her prior to her death. There is no formal will but Joan told me & my husband she loved us and wanted to take care of us. I have this recorded on my cell phone.”   

The Court denied Silgjord’s claims against the victim’s estate. Silgjord’s employment as a Cloquet police officer ended in June 2022. 

Full Article & Source:
Former Cloquet police officer found guilty of taking advantage of elderly person

Man arrested in Lamont for alleged home invasion involving elderly man, theft spree

by BakersfieldNow Staff

LAMONT, Calif. (KBAK/KBFX) — A 32-year-old man, Michael Ortiz, was arrested Tuesday morning in Lamont following a series of alleged crimes, including a home invasion involving an assault of an elderly man and a theft spree.

Deputies responded to a call at approximately 8:51 a.m. on the 9100 block of South Fairfax Road, where an elderly man reported being assaulted. The suspect allegedly broke into the victim's home, wrapped a blanket around the victim's head, broke one cellphone, and stole another phone along with tools before fleeing the scene. The suspect was described as a man in his 20s, wearing a dark brown hooded jacket and dark pants.

Later, at around 10:47 a.m., deputies were called to a theft near South Sterling Road, where a bicycle was stolen from outside a home. The victim attempted to follow the suspect, who rode away on the bike, but lost him near South Fairfax Road and Hermosa Road after the suspect entered an almond orchard. The description of the suspect matched that of the earlier incident.

Deputies discovered the victim's bike abandoned in the orchard and, upon searching the area, found Ortiz hiding in a tree. Ortiz was allegedly in possession of stolen items from both incidents, as well as additional items linked to a burglary on the 7500 block of South Fairfax Road.

Ortiz was booked into the Kern County Jail on multiple charges, including attempted murder, elder abuse, two counts of burglary, two counts of vandalism, false imprisonment, robbery, damage to a wireless device, grand theft, battery, and petty theft.

Authorities urge anyone with information to contact the Kern County Sheriff’s Office at (661) 861-3110 or the Secret Witness Hotline at (661) 322-4040.

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Man arrested in Lamont for alleged home invasion involving elderly man, theft spree

Man arrested on attempted robbery, elder abuse charges

by: Natalie Sierra 

(FOX40.COM) — A 44-year-old man was arrested on Sunday after punching another man and demanding money from them on Friday, according to the Stockton Police Department.

Police said a 73-year-old victim was asleep on his bed around 7 a.m. on Saturday when the suspect entered his room.

The suspect proceeded to punch the victim repeatedly and then demanded money from him.

Police said the victim was left with non-life-threatening injuries.

The suspect was later arrested on charges of attempted robbery and elder abuse.

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Man arrested on attempted robbery, elder abuse charges

Guardian to serve prison time in embezzlement case

A West Michigan guardian who stole from the people who depended on her will serve time in prison.

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Guardian to serve prison time in embezzlement case

Daughter escapes 7 years of confinement by her mother and stepfather

A New Jersey couple have been arrested and charged with confining and abusing two children for several years in their home, according to prosecutors.

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Daughter escapes 7 years of confinement by her mother and stepfather

How Remote Guardianships and Virtual Conservatorships are Evolving

by Jeffrey M Allen and Ashley Hallene

Summary

• Courts now conduct guardianship and conservatorship hearings via digital platforms and electronic filings, increasing access for vulnerable adults and long-distance family members.
• Digital platforms streamline conservatorship duties with real-time monitoring and easier reporting, but also raise concerns over access, privacy, and tech literacy.
• Lawyers must guide clients through evolving digital processes, prioritize security, and push for inclusive systems that protect rights as elder law enters a tech-driven future.

The courtroom no longer needs a gavel, a bench, or even four walls. A stable internet connection and a Zoom link now suffice. What began as a temporary solution during the pandemic has quietly become standard practice in many areas of law, including elder law. Lawyers, judges, and families now handle guardianships and conservatorships not from courthouses, but from living rooms, home offices, and even hospital beds.

COVID-19 didn’t create digital justice, but it accelerated its adoption. Remote hearings, electronic filings, and virtual check-ins, once rare, are now routine. This shift has the greatest impact on cases involving vulnerable adults. As the population ages and a greater number of older adults face mobility or cognitive challenges, the need for accessible legal options keeps growing.

Enter remote guardianships and virtual conservatorships: legal proceedings and fiduciary duties managed, in whole or in part, online. These innovations offer greater efficiency and inclusivity, but they also raise serious questions. As the legal system modernizes, it must also evolve its standards for fairness, oversight, and care.

How Courts are Using Technology for Guardianship Hearings

When in-person proceedings shut down, judges and clerks turned to technology to keep guardianship matters moving. Today, many courts hold hearings over Zoom, accept petitions through electronic filing systems, and allow remote testimony from protected persons, medical experts, and family members. What began as crisis management has grown into standard practice.

These changes offer real benefits. Vulnerable adults no longer face the strain of traveling to a courthouse. Family members who live across the country, or across the world, can participate meaningfully. In rural counties, where legal services are scarce, virtual hearings provide access once thought impossible.

Several states have taken the lead. California and Florida launched remote hearing protocols that now serve as models. New York’s Unified Court System rolled out a digital portal that streamlined filings and offered training for elder law attorneys. The National Center for State Courts continues to support pilot programs to improve virtual capacity across jurisdictions.

Still, serious questions remain. Can a judge truly assess the mental state of an elderly person through a screen? Can remote processes ensure due process when a ward may not understand the technology, or may not even be able to log in? Technology increases reach, but it must not reduce rights.

Managing Conservatorships Through Online Platforms

As court hearings moved online, so did the work that followed them. Courts and conservators now rely on digital platforms to manage day-to-day responsibilities. Online accounting systems track spending and flag irregularities. Web-based portals allow conservators to file annual reports, update financial records, and submit receipts with a few clicks. Some jurisdictions even use secure video check-ins to replace routine in-person visits.

These tools bring clear advantages. Judges and court staff can monitor cases in real time, catching problems before they grow. Conservators save time and avoid paperwork, while wards and their families gain access to clearer information. Digital records, unlike paper files, leave audit trails. Everyone involved sees more, sooner.

But these systems demand more than a password. Conservators must know how to use them. Wards need internet access and basic technical skills. Many have neither. Poor broadband, old devices, or confusion about login steps can cause delays or missed deadlines. And with sensitive financial and personal data now online, every system carries the risk of a breach. The law must not assume digital fluency. As courts lean into convenience, they must guard against exclusion.

The Pros of Virtual Conservatorships

With the tools in place, the benefits become clear. Virtual conservatorships broaden the path to justice, especially for those long kept at the margins. Clients in rural areas no longer drive for hours to reach a courthouse. Older adults with mobility issues can attend hearings from home. Lawyers and fiduciaries can act faster and more efficiently, without the drag of travel or postage.

Digital records reduce clutter and error. Automated reminders prompt timely filings. Audit trails give judges a clear view of how a conservator manages funds, building trust in the process. Technology not only speeds things up; it also improves oversight.

And the future holds more. AI could flag unusual financial patterns before a human notices them. Automation might handle routine tasks like generating reports or logging receipts. These tools, if used with care, could free lawyers and conservators to focus on judgment, care, and advocacy, which remain the parts of the job no machine can replace.

The Cons and Challenges

But convenience comes with a cost. When courts rely too heavily on screens, they risk losing what only in-person contact can reveal. A judge may miss subtle signs of neglect or confusion that would be obvious in a courtroom. Wards, already vulnerable, may feel isolated when their legal world exists only in windows and links.

Technology also draws new lines of inequality. Many older adults struggle with video calls, file uploads, or passwords. Those with limited income may lack the devices or internet access needed to participate at all. These gaps can leave wards voiceless and conservators unsupported.

Then comes the issue of privacy. Financial reports, medical updates, and personal conversations now move through digital pipelines. Without strong safeguards, these systems invite hackers and mishandlers. One breach could expose a ward’s life to the public or open the door to fraud.

Worst of all, virtual processes can mask abuse. A conservator who isolates a ward or mismanages funds may find it easier to hide behind a webcam. When everything happens at a distance, oversight must work harder.

The Best Practices for Lawyers in a Digital Elder Law Landscape

To meet these challenges, lawyers must lead. They must know the tools, the rules, and the risks. Court systems vary, and procedures shift fast. A lawyer who practices elder law must stay current with platform updates, local protocols, and statewide mandates.

Clients will need help. Many will face digital tools for the first time. Lawyers should guide them through portals, explain remote procedures, and advocate for alternatives when technology creates a barrier. Accessibility is essential.

Security matters, too. Lawyers must treat every report, login, and email with care. They should use encrypted communication, strong passwords, and secure cloud storage. When handling sensitive financial and personal data, they must protect their client’s information and their trust. Ethics demand more than good intention. Lawyers must pursue ongoing education in legal technology.

Looking Ahead: The Future of Elder Law in a Digital World

Remote processes, first adopted out of necessity, now offer lasting solutions. Courts will keep the tools that prove effective. Many will refine and expand them. Virtual hearings, online filings, and remote check-ins will remain part of everyday elder law practice.

New tools will follow. Biometric verification may replace passwords. Virtual home visits could offer better views into a ward’s living conditions than any office meeting. AI may soon assist with monitoring accounts, flagging suspicious activity, or preparing reports. These advances promise speed, accuracy, and reach, but only if used with care.

Lawyers must shape this future. They must test systems for fairness, demand safeguards, and push for access across all income levels. Technology should never replace compassion or justice. With care and leadership, lawyers can build a digital elder law system that serves not just the case, but the person behind it.

The genie is out of the bottle, and the digital shift in elder law is here to stay. Remote guardianships and virtual conservatorships offer speed, access, and transparency. They also carry risk. A screen can connect, but it can also conceal.

The challenge now is balance. Lawyers must lead with both vision and caution. They must embrace innovation, yet always keep the client in focus. They must push for systems that serve all people, not only those comfortable with technology. Elder law, at its heart, protects those who cannot protect themselves. In a digital world, that mission remains the same. The tools, however, call for new skills, sound judgment, and above all, deep care.

Full Article & Source:
How Remote Guardianships and Virtual Conservatorships are Evolving

Workers at Lewiston nursing home avoid strike with 3-year contract

Story by Lucas Buckley

Lewiston, N.Y. (WBEN) - Workers at Ascension Living Our Lady of Peace nursing home in Lewiston reached a tentative agreement on a 3-year contract with the St. Louis-based company late Tuesday night according to 1199SEIU, the union representing local nursing home workers.

More than 100 people work at the location. They were ready to strike on May 20th if a deal wasn't reached.

“It’s been way too long without any increases. We needed it, we deserved it, and we got it," said said Brendella Pryor, a 35-year employee at Our Lady of Peace.

Shameka Burnette-Matthews from 1199SEIU spoke with WBEN Tuesday prior to the deal being reached about the union's demands. "In our Western New York nursing homes we're noticing a trend unfortunately. Short-staffing, lack of quality benefits, the wages are too low. So it's hard for recruitment and to improve retention when the ownership is refusing to increase the benefits for the workers."

Workers at these fourteen nursing homes will begin striking next week if a deal is not reached:

-Absolut Care of Gasport

-Buffalo Center for Rehabilitation & Nursing

-Comprehensive Rehab and Nursing Center at Williamsville

-Elderwood at Lockport

-Elderwood at Williamsville

-Ellicott Center

-Garden Gate Manor

-Gowanda Nursing Home

-Newfane Rehabilitation & Health Center

-North Gate Manor

-Safire Rehabilitation of Northtowns

-Schofield Residence

-The Grand at Delaware Park

-Williamsville Suburban Care Center

Workers at these facilities will walk the picket lines for 7 days, completing their work action on May 27th. 1199SEIU says negotiations are being held every day.

Full Article & Source:
Workers at Lewiston nursing home avoid strike with 3-year contract

Dozens of Iowa care facilities cited for abuse-related violations

By Clark Kauffman

DES MOINES, Iowa (IOWA CAPITAL DISPATCH) - In recent months, dozens of Iowa nursing homes have been cited for resident abuse, including sexual misconduct, theft, verbal abuse and financial exploitation.

Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals and Licensing records indicate that so far this year, at least 33 nursing homes have been cited for resident abuse or failing to properly screen job applicants for histories of criminal activity or abuse. In most of those cases, the homes were subjected to a state fine of $500.

Among the violators:

Grundy Care Center, Grundy: In January, the home was cited for failing to protect residents from mental and physical abuse. Inspectors reported that a nurse aide at the home had accepted money from a male resident, and had kissed, touched, and sent nude photos of herself via text to the man. The inappropriate interactions continued until the nurse aide resigned, inspectors determined. The resident told inspectors the aide had wanted him to move in with her so she could take care of him.

The administrator of the home later learned the relationship was sexual, with conduct occurring during and after the aide’s scheduled working hours. The nurse aide reportedly admitted that after she met the resident, the two exchanged phone numbers and she followed him on social media and would message him via text and Facebook Messenger. She allegedly said it evolved into a relationship and that “neither did something the other didn’t want.” She reportedly acknowledged the inappropriate physical touching happened during her working hours, but added, “It was just kissing, that’s all.”

The matter was referred to the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services by the police. According to state inspectors, DHHS “rejected the report and closed the case.”

Greater Southside Health and Rehabilitation, Des Moines: In January, a male resident’s son alerted the home to misappropriation of property. The resident’s son had installed a camera in his father’s room, which captured footage of a certified nurse aide entering the room at 2 a.m. while the resident slept and accessing a locked drawer containing the resident’s money. Later, it appeared $55 was missing from the drawer. The administrator confirmed for state inspectors that he watched the video and it was evident the worker unlocked the dresser with a key, picked up something and put it in her pocket.

Harmony Waterloo, formerly Promedica Skilled Nursing & Rehab, Waterloo: Earlier this month, this home was cited for failing to protect residents from abuse in the form of financial exploitation. Residents of the home reported they routinely gave the staff money, credit cards or debit cards to purchase pop for them from vending machines. After one resident was discharged, she received a phone call from her bank regarding a debit card payment for a $417 cellphone bill, which depleted her account. It was later determined the phone in question belonged to a nurse aide who worked at the facility. A check of that aide’s criminal history revealed a past charge of third-degree theft that had resulted in a deferred judgment.

Lakeside Lutheran Home, Emmetsburg: In February, this facility was cited for failing to protect residents from abuse. Workers alleged that a registered nurse had tried to check a male resident’s blood sugar and after the man attempted to bite the nurse, she told him, “If you bite me, I will knock all the teeth out of your mouth,” and then raised her hand as if to strike him. An aide reported that she verbally intervened and said, “Hey,” and nurse lowered her hand.

Silver Oak Nursing & Rehab Center, Marion: In March, the home was cited for failing to report the exploitation of a resident and the potential misappropriation of the resident’s medication. According to inspectors, one registered nurse at the home was responsible for administering the resident’s medication commonly used for erectile dysfunction, and 21 to 33 tablets were unaccounted for. The resident indicated he had tipped the nurse $5 or $10 for her birthday and that on occasion, he had kissed the nurse and believed he was in love with her.

Staff members had reported seeing the two hugging and kissing. A medication aide reported seeing the two together and seeing the nurse stick her tongue “down his throat,” and also indicated the nurse may have given the resident money for a phone. A county deputy later told an inspector that a backpack owned by the nurse contained a prescription-drug label for an erectile dysfunction drug that indicated it was prescribed to the resident in question. Inspectors concluded the home made no effort to separate the nurse from the resident while the medication issue and exploitation issue were investigated.

Southeast Iowa Regional Medical Center’s Klein Center, West Burlington: In April, this facility was cited for failing to report allegations of abuse. A nurse aide at the home had reported to administrators that another worker at the home had confronted a resident who had expressed concern for a fellow resident’s welfare, telling him not to worry about others and to “sit your f—ing a– down.”

The accused worker was also reported by another worker to have called a resident a “b—-” on many occasions. In one alleged incident, a resident was being showered by the accused worker and complained the water was too hot, to which the worker replied, “Shut the f— up.”

Tripoli Nursing & Rehab Center, Tripoli: In April, the home was cited for three staff members being verbally abusive or physically rough with residents. One resident told inspectors, “I don’t like the way (other residents) are being talked to. (The workers) have no compassion. They talk to them very demanding… It is not ethical. We are family here.” Another resident said one of the workers was upset with a colleague and so “she just kind of threw me in bed or pushed me in bed.” The resident said the staffer was rough with him but that he didn’t consider it abuse.

Rehabilitation Centers of Independence, West Campus, Independence: In April, this facility was cited for failing to report abuse. A former resident of the facility had reported that that he had transferred $22 to one of the home’s nurse aides via PayPal at the end of February, and had only been paid back $10.

Full Article & Source:
Dozens of Iowa care facilities cited for abuse-related violations

Shapiro Administration Helps to Open PA’s First-of-its-kind Older Adult Advocacy Center for Elder Abuse Victims in Lackawanna County

May 16, 2025

The new Center will offer emergency housing, emotional and safety planning support, and assistance with financial aid and health care services.

Anyone can report suspected abuse or neglect of an older adult 24/7 by calling the Department’s Protective Services Helpline at 800-490-8505.

Scranton, PA – Pennsylvania Department of Aging (PDA) Secretary Jason Kavulich today joined local leaders to open the first-of-its-kind center in the Commonwealth specifically designed to serve older adults who are victims of abuse or neglect in Lackawanna and surrounding counties.

Telespond Senior Services is home to the regionally accessible Older Adult Advocacy Center. The center is the first in Pennsylvania to offer a person-centered approach to abuse investigations, care and treatment plans, and education for older adults while providing emergency respite and short-term transitional living space.

"This innovative model is reflective of Governor Josh Shapiro’s vision for the Commonwealth, which prioritizes safe communities where everyone can live with freedom and dignity. The Older Adult Advocacy Center is designed to serve older adults in the safest, least restrictive way. No one should ever be a victim of abuse, especially our aging population,” said Secretary Kavulich. “The center is a welcoming place for older adults who need a trusting space for supports and services and to feel safe and comfortable. As former director of the Lackawanna Area Agency on Aging, I’m proud to have played a role in this project and thankful to all of the community partners and leaders who have helped to make it a reality. This facility will change thousands of lives and will serve as a state and national model.” 

In March, PDA announced the rollout of its new Comprehensive Agency Performance Evaluation, or CAPE – an innovative tool designed to boost transparency and accountability of Pennsylvania’s Area Agency on Aging (AAA) network that provides a host of supports for older adults, including protective services. PDA is posting performance results for AAAs monitored under CAPE on its website. Governor Shapiro’s 2025-26 budget proposal invests in older Pennsylvanians by including $2 million so the Department can increase accountability and oversight of the AAAs and a $20 million investment for those AAAs so they can continue to provide key services to older adults.

The Older Adult Advocacy Center’s coordinated service approach will include:

• Emergency housing: Immediate 24/7 short term transitional living for older adults in crisis, including abuse victims, with a four-room, five-bed placement in partnership with the Lackawanna County AAA protective services unit. 
  
  
• Support for older adults experiencing abuse: Specialized services like legal advocacy, emotional support, and safety planning delivered through collaborations with partners such as the Elder Justice Multi-disciplinary Team, Scranton Counseling Center, and The Wright Center for Community Health.
  
  
• Advocacy: Empowering older adults by giving them a voice in house and legal decisions. Collaboration with organizations such as Lackawanna Pro Bono to ensure support and guidance.
  
  
• Resource Navigation: Assistance with healthcare, financial aid, and social services to help older adults regain stability.

“This space represents more than bricks and mortar. It represents hope, dignity and community. Because of the vision and support of so many, the Older Adult Advocacy Center is not just a safe space, it’s a stepping stone for an older adult on their pathway to elder justice,” said Helen Schmid, president and CEO, Telespond Senior Services.

The northeast regional AAAs partnered with PDA, the Pennsylvania Association of Area Agencies on Aging, Telespond Senior Services, The Wright Center for Community Health, the Lackawanna County District Attorney’s Office, and Weill Cornell School of Medicine to ensure an older adult advocacy center is viable, sustainable, and can be replicated in other communities across the Commonwealth. 

“As someone who has worked in the field of elder abuse for over 30 years, Pennsylvania’s new older adult advocacy center is both groundbreaking and unusually innovative. It enables older adults to retain dignity and independence by staying in the community while their complex situations are addressed, avoiding costly and potentially debilitating hospitalization or nursing home placement. I congratulate everyone who worked to make this vision a reality, and I hope many states follow this example,” said Dr. Mark Lachs, professor of medicine, Weill Cornell School of Medicine. 

If anyone suspects an older adult is the victim of abuse, neglect, or exploitation, they should call the Department of Aging’s Protective Services Helpline 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 800-490-8505. All calls are confidential. 

Source:
Shapiro Administration Helps to Open PA’s First-of-its-kind Older Adult Advocacy Center for Elder Abuse Victims in Lackawanna County