This eighth in a series of eight Background Briefs on the scope and impact of conservator exploitation of elderly victims focuses on supports for such victims.
Major sections of this Brief address ways of enabling victims to complain to the court of jurisdiction, reducing financial harms to such victims through bonds, and establishing court programs and practices that improve victims' access to justice. Court detection, monitoring, and action are indicated to be necessary in protecting individuals subject to conservatorship. One issue discussed in addressing how courts can improve this effort are the essential characteristics of a user-friendly and effective court process for complaining about conservator exploitation. Also outlined are the steps that can enhance the use of bonding to recoup a victim's assets from conservator exploitation. In addition, actions are described that can strengthen access to civil justice for victims of conservator exploitation. These actions include making complaint procedures easy for laypersons to understand and access; establishing internet procedures for a timely review of and actions on complaints; and tracking data, review, and evaluation of the complaint process. Federal and state laws and guidelines that can facilitate these various actions are discussed.