As the US population continues to age, elder abuse continues to grow at a significant rate. A GAO (government accounting office) study showed that “guardians stole or otherwise improperly obtained more than $5.4 million in assets from 158 incapacitated victims.”
In order to combat this epidemic, the PA legislature has reviewed and rewritten the rules for guardianship proceedings which will become effective on June 1, 2019. Some of the changes include the requirement of an expert report in order to adjudicate an individual as incapacitated, a requirement for full criminal background checks on potential guardians, and completion of guardianship training.
It is hoped that these changes will provide greater protections for the rights of the elderly and incapacitated persons.
If you or a family member have questions or are in need of a guardian, please contact one of our attorneys at RGSG for more information.
