TS Radio with guest: Linda Kincaid

Linda Kincaid, MPH is nationally recognized as an authority on civil rights of the elderly and disabled.  She has presented training at conferences across the country.  At the Aging in America conference in March, Linda will present a 90-minute workshop on Isolation: Elder Abuse in Long-term Care.

Tonight, Linda will discuss two cases of elder abuse by Public Guardians in California.  ABC7 in San Francisco recently covered the story of Reta Cook, who fled the Santa Clara County to escape conservatorship.  Although Reta was no longer in the county, the Public Guardian continued deplete her assets for services that were not provided.  Listeners are encouraged to view the segment and post their comments to the story.

http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/story?section=news/iteam&id=9389698

Linda will introduce listeners to the Margarita Zelada conservatorship in Monterey County.  While visiting her daughter in Pacific Grove, Margarita was forcibly taken from the daughter’s home and placed in a facility where she is allowed no visitors.  

http://www.examiner.com/article/margarita-zelada-timeline-of-elder-abuse-by-monterey-county-public-guardian?cid=db_articles

Advocates pointed out that false imprisonment and forced isolation are violations of Margarita’s civil rights.  The Public Guardian retaliated by going to court to strip Margarita’s right to have contact with advocates.

The Public Guardian recently filed a motion that could permanently strip Margarita’s right to have any contact with her daughter.  The motion appears to be retaliation for continued media coverage of the civil rights violations.