Guardianship Reality
Who’s Looking Out for America’s Abandoned, Abused, Neglected Children & Elderly?
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In America, more than 3.6 million referrals are made to Child Protection Investigators, involving 6.6 million children, annually. The U.S. is the worst among developed industrial nations, losing an average of 4-to-7 children every day, to parental abuse and neglect. Also, one million citizens currently reside in senior care facilities, which is expected to double by 2030. More than 65% of the cost for senior living facilities are paid by the patients and their families. Medicaid currently pays 73% for long-term care for poor individuals living in Skilled Nursing Facilities (SNF), or Assisted Living Facilities (ALF). Nationally, the elderly population grew from 35 million in 2000, to 46.2 million in 2014. Significantly, 10% of all patients represent 65% of the total U.S. health-care costs (WSJ, Jan 19, 2017). Future healthcare costs, and Assisted Living needs will be driven by 77 million Baby Boomers, who represent 70% of U.S. financial assets and over half of all discretionary spending, that are planning to retire over the next two decades. Medicaid/CHIP enrollment climbed from 56.4 to 74.5 million, from 2013 to 2016, respectively, costing about $500 billion, according to Kaiser Family Foundation (WSJ Feb.10th, 2017). Projections are that Medicaid costs, which poor families and elderly citizens depend on for healthcare services, could reach $750 billion annually by 2020. Florida is the 4th largest state with over 20 million residents, with an elderly population of almost five million residents, which is expected to nearly double to 9.7 million by 2030. (Source: Dept. of Elder Affairs). Approximately 2% of the elderly reside in Skilled Nursing Facilities (SNF) and 25% live alone. About 6% have serious mobility and self-care limitations, while nearly 500,000 are probable cases of Alzheimer’s and related diseases. The Alzheimer’s Association says, 5.4 million patients nationally have the disease, costing Medicare $160 billion last year, which may triple by 2050 as the population ages. Such statistics make the need for additional guardianship at all levels obvious.
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About the Book
WHO’S LOOKING OUT FOR AMERICA'S ABUSED & NEGLECTED CHILDREN & THE ELDERLY? The court orders Professional Guardians to make critical decisions; this pragmatic guide explains how to make those decisions. It guides the reader through the process of making bio-ethical healthcare, ethical social and welfare choices, and how to prudently manage client assets, while avoiding conflicts of interest. Responsibility for making life-and-death decisions for children and the elderly is much more difficult than making individual decisions for oneself. Nationally, 3.6 million referrals are made to Child Protection Investigators, involving 6.6 million children annually. The U.S. happens to be the worst among developed industrial nations, losing 4-to-7 children every day to parental abuse and neglect. Florida is the nation’s grayest state. Nearly 25% of the Sunshine state’s population are seniors. They should be the nation’s leader in Eldercare and Childcare laws, standards, and support systems. Are they? There are many sensationalistic stories about guardianship exploitation and fraud. Guardianship Reality provides a “balanced view” by two authors who have handled dozens of complex cases annually. The facts are that guardianship is a very honorable profession dedicated to the Best Interests of Children and the Elderly. Innuendo, accusations, and deceitful news is not limited merely to politics. Co-author, Fernando Gutierrez, has been accused of “exploitation,” weeks before this book was published. “The Truth Shall Set You Free!” “If you’re not accused of something, you’re probably not doing your job.” Authors
About the Author
Fernando Gutierrez: Has been a Registered Professional Guardian since 2008. During these years he handled hundreds of cases. Fernando has accepted dozens of indigent cases as a proxy, without compensation. Gutierrez completed specialized training in Clinical Healthcare Ethics, where he obtained many certificates of accomplishment. Fernando Gutierrez graduated from intensive healthcare educational courses and programs at several prominent institutions: National Catholic Bioethics Center in Philadelphia, University of Washington School of Medicine, University of Virginia Medical School and Washington D.C. Hospital Center, and has written many articles on Bio-Ethics. Robert Thomas Fertig: After serving in the USAF, Fertig work at the Columbia University’s Graduate Physics Lab, in NYC. Soon thereafter he became an Information Technology instructor for General Electric. Robert joined Sperry Univac, as a Competitive Analyst, and years later moved to Advanced Computer Techniques, as Vice President of the Technology Analysis Group. Subsequently, Fertig established the IT consulting firm, Enterprise Information Systems, Inc. Robert Fertig spent five years with his spouse, Miriam, as Guardian ad Litem volunteers. Currently he’s a registered Eldercare Guardian. Fertig is the recent author of: Consequences, Quicksand (a novel), and Best Interests of the Children.