Big numbers big problem

In September of 2010 the General Accounting Office issued a study that warned about the continuing problem of guardians taking advantage of the elderly they are responsible for protecting. It's an old story. Grandma or grandpa becomes feeble with age, they put their trust in a relative, or a friend, or a professional who they choose to rely on for their well being for the remainder of their lives – and the decision turns out to be a bad one.

Their health, their finances, and their peace-of-mind are all vulnerable, and where the is vulnerability, there are opportunists. When the relationship goes bad, the result can be tragic.

Guardianship and conservatorship are not legal relationships most of us put much thought into as we go through the day-to-day activities of our lives. Truthfully, most people have no real understanding of the benefits or risks of either option. Yet with an increasingly gray haired population, the issue of who we will turn to in our old age is becoming more important, and of greater interest, to a broader segment of our society every year.

Speaking of years, current estimates suggest that by 2030 there will be more than seventy million American's who are sixty-five years old, or older. Although many of us may be counting on a vibrant and healthy retirement that lasts for decades, that will not be the case for all of us. That reality has legal professionals, state legislators, and individuals increasingly wary, and worried about what harm may befall the elderly who rely on others to care for them in their golden years.

How you deal with your own future, or that of your parents, or in-laws, is a deeply personal decision. As time marches on and those decisions become more pressing, it is good to know that you are not all alone. There is help available. But there is risk, too. So often, that is the double-edged sword of life.

For an interesting look at how South Carolina is struggling with this issue, you can read Doug Pardue's story from the Post and Courier, published last year.