Dementia and Financial Exploitation in Florida

Florida probate and guardianship lawyers frequently encounter cases involving people with dementia.  Family members sometimes file incapacity proceedings in an attempt to help a person who is no longer able to care for themselves. These proceedings are called guardianships. Do guardianships guarantee that your your elderly parent or friend, who suffers from dementia, will not become the victim of financial exploitation? Orlando probate lawyers know that guardianships can be very beneficial IF the right person, with the best interest of the incapacitated person in mind, is the guardian. Sometimes, probate litigators encounter instances where an incapacitated person, or ward, is being taken advantage of by his or her guardian. Is there a way to avoid a Florida guardianship altogether? You may be able to avoid a guardianship, in Florida, if you have a proper estate plan in place. However, despite efforts, elderly people with dementia, unfortunately, can still find themselves at  risk of being taken advantage of by caretakers or other involved in their lives.  For example, on May 20,2018, the Miami Herald reported about a case where a caretaker took advantage of an elderly couple who suffered from dementia. This caretaker allegedly stole $179,000. To read the entire article, click here.