What is the name of your state? Florida
My 63 yr old SIL is a resident of Pinellas County, Fl. She had not kept in very good touch with her family here in Texas for about 3 years. Our letters would come back unopened or not be answered. Her mother, father and brother, my husband, are all deceased. Recently, she has become extremely confused and suffers from dementia and several health problems, she was reported by her home health nurse and Florida started a guardianship hearing. Her relatives were not notified by the state, a neighbor called us. My daughter just moved to Miama, purchased a home there and she immediately filed a petition for guardianship. The hearing was Monday, and the judge awarded temporary custody, six months, to a "Professional Guardian" with the idea that in six months my daughter could refile to move my SIL to a nursing home in Miami. This guardian is already selling my SILs home and will be charging $85 an hour for her services.The nursing home she is in now is very minimal and provides no social activities or amenities. My SIL is a disabled veteran on VA benefits and social security disability, also she has about $140,000 in her bank account and does not need to be living like this. The state social worker said they want to proceed to gather evidence against the neighbor to prove "exploitation" and need my SIL to stay in the county. She does not know her own birthday, what state she lives in and thinks her mother and father are still alive, she would not be providing any testimony or evidence. Is there anything at all we can do to ensure my SIL is well cared for and that her accounts are not depleted by this guardian?
My 63 yr old SIL is a resident of Pinellas County, Fl. She had not kept in very good touch with her family here in Texas for about 3 years. Our letters would come back unopened or not be answered. Her mother, father and brother, my husband, are all deceased. Recently, she has become extremely confused and suffers from dementia and several health problems, she was reported by her home health nurse and Florida started a guardianship hearing. Her relatives were not notified by the state, a neighbor called us. My daughter just moved to Miama, purchased a home there and she immediately filed a petition for guardianship. The hearing was Monday, and the judge awarded temporary custody, six months, to a "Professional Guardian" with the idea that in six months my daughter could refile to move my SIL to a nursing home in Miami. This guardian is already selling my SILs home and will be charging $85 an hour for her services.The nursing home she is in now is very minimal and provides no social activities or amenities. My SIL is a disabled veteran on VA benefits and social security disability, also she has about $140,000 in her bank account and does not need to be living like this. The state social worker said they want to proceed to gather evidence against the neighbor to prove "exploitation" and need my SIL to stay in the county. She does not know her own birthday, what state she lives in and thinks her mother and father are still alive, she would not be providing any testimony or evidence. Is there anything at all we can do to ensure my SIL is well cared for and that her accounts are not depleted by this guardian?