We did it.  Last week I wrote about some of our comments regarding HB1259.  We went to Olympia and testified.

We specifically cited certain areas of the bill which we believe need greater emphasis and more work.

To summarize where we are in this:

In 2016, with great concern for our physical and financial safety as well as that of Jeff’s parents’ we sought a 3rd party guardian.  Jeff’s sister Kristi Ernsberger had a violent history with the family and had been operating secretively and suspiciously with regard to their parents’ finances and assets.

Kristyan Calhoun of Senior Avenues was recommended and after a phone interview we decided to go with her.  At no point were we aware that she had filed bankruptcy or in any other way could be as much of a risk to Jeff’s parents as his sister was.

Shortly after her appointment as temporary guardian, we noticed a pattern of bills going unpaid, commercial liability insurance lapsing for non-payment, disconnection notices for utilities, his mother being sent to collection for non-payment of bills, and even a bounced check for $5800.

We were also admonished not to discuss finances regarding Jeff’s parents (even though Jeff was joint on their accounts and at risk himself from this pattern of abuse).

Finally, we filed a grievance against Kristyan Calhoun and Senior Avenues.

That was a year and a half ago as of now (February 2019).

Because of our experience with this, we focused largely on the grievance process in the bill.

After sharing our experience, we then recommended changes to the bill:

• Grievances should be made public (as all other guardianship records are)
• More than one grievance for the same guardian MUST be addressed (the bill stated they could be dismissed.  We believe that multiple grievances show a pattern and must be addressed).
• Sanctions and decertification for guardianship abuse (currently there are virtually no consequences)
• Prompt review and hearing process for grievances

Given Calhoun’s history of abuse, I believe that a decent grievance process would have saved us and Jeff’s parents from thousands of dollars wasted, not to mention his mother’s now completely shot credit history.

We are very actively pursuing this bill and will keep you posted on it as things develop.  This is just a small piece of the puzzle, but a good start to protecting others from those like Kristyan Calhoun and Senior Avenues.

At this point we have absolutely nothing to gain.  But it’s our civic duty to help protect others, through activism and awareness.

If you have a Guardianship Abuse question or concern, please reach out and let us know!  Better yet, let your legislature know!