ADVOCACY
Elder abuse, exploitation and negligence is so wide spread it has been characterized as an epidemic. Every State is now mandated to protect the elderly and has Laws in place to address elder citizen a use, exploitation, negligence, and failure to report these circumstances. As an example, Idaho ranked 8th from the bottom of the states with the worst elder protection statutes (Wallet Hub Study). Idaho’s vulnerable person statute is IC 18-1505. Idaho’s northwest border is Washington state who, on the other hand, has a marked increased standard to protect vulnerable persons. As an example; undue influence protection should be a requirement coded directly into every state’s legal statutes.
VENGE is aims to protect the rights of the elderly and vulnerable persons whom are going through estate planning, guardianship and/ or conservatorship legal processes. For this fact the enterprise was founded to promote best geriatric care, elder law, guardianship, conservatorship and estate planning practices. This includes a five-point plan of action:
1) information gathering,
2) education,
3) collaboration,
4) implementation and
5) citizen review.
The VENGE advocate collective works to gather information and educate the community, the media and policymakers at all levels about the public safety hazards posed by estate planners, guardianship attorneys, probate-magistrate courts, judicial issues and best practices, as well as the dire need for attorney accountability with colleague, State Bar and judicial oversight committees; since the legal profession is one of the very few professions that regulates itself, or in practicum is required to regulate itself. Unfortunately for the public, the unwritten code amongst attorneys is that it is professional suicide to report unethical attorney to the State Bar. The State Bar itself, in most states is governed by “the fraternal brotherhood of attorneys” so legitimate ethics complaints from those damaged by malpractice are often dismissed.
Data aggregation sources and leads: regional newspapers, VP Taskforce, AltrueSoft Tech Platforms, Citizen to Citizen Reporting, Northwest Journal News, Grassroots Elder Advocate Organizations, State & national GAO research monitoring & grant projects. Key search terms: § 18-1505, § 39-5302, Adult Protective Services, Dept. of Health, Elder Abuse and Exploitation. Aggregated & direct interviews via Citizen research and complaints focused on corruption, professional cronyism among state licensed service providers such as Estate Planning Attorneys, Doctors, Clinicians & Psychologist Evaluation, Conservator, Court Visitor, LSW, Guardian, Guardianship, Trustee, Management Services, IRPC, Idaho State Bar, CMS, Hospital, Facility Management SEC, FINRA, Code of Federal Regulations, Tax Fraud, Wealth Management Services, Certified Financial Forensics & CPA Investigation manuals, Uniform Code and many more industry compliance guidelines . Supported by research from over site sources, Bureau of Occupational Licenses and all State Statutes relevant to Negligence, Exploitation & Abuse including Probate Court monitoring, Senate Hearing on “Toxic Conservatorships“, recent federal legislation, Acts of Congress, Elder Justice Act, Elder Guide For Law Enforcement (EAGLE), American Bar Association & American Psychologists Association Resources on & Elder Abuse & Vulnerable Person Legislation.
Courtesy of Spokane; Washington, Sandpoint & Coeur d’alene; Kootenai County, Idaho Grassroots Networks.