Wright senior protections legislation signed into law by Governor

A study of ways to create better safeguards for Hoosier seniors seeking guardianship will take place this summer, thanks to legislation authored by Representative Melanie Wright (D-Yorktown) that has been signed into law by Governor Eric Holcomb.

House Enrolled Act 1600 will create a study committee to research the assignment of guardians and protection of assets for seniors across the state. The interim study committee will be tasked with determining regulated qualifications for family guardians as well as regulations regarding the protection of seniors’ assets.

“Numerous constituents have reached out to me on the need to strengthen the protections for Hoosier seniors when it comes to guardians making decisions regarding their livelihood,” Wright said. “We really need to take a closer look at how guardians are assigned to care for our seniors and what their limitations are when it comes to making financial decisions on behalf of a senior.

“Officials have said that financial exploitation of seniors has been on the rise in Indiana, doubling the number of cases reported over the past ten years and it usually comes from a family member,” Wright added.

Wright was inspired to author the legislation after hearing the testimony of Pam Douglas, one of her constituents, whose mother experienced elderly abuse and financial exploitation by her family guardian.

Douglas said during her testimony before the Senate Family and Children Services Committee, “Elderly people deserve better than what my mother got and what a lot of elderly people get these days. Melanie Wright was the only legislator who listened to me, believed in me, and acted to ensure that other seniors will not face the injustice my mother did at the end of her life.”

“We enforce regulations for all professionals, but this case graphically demonstrated the need for better guardianship regulations and greater power for judges to enforce those rules,” Wright added. “Hoosier seniors deserve better.”

The legislation received overwhelming bipartisan support as it passed out of both the Indiana House and Senate.

Representatives Vanessa Summers (D-Indianapolis), David Frizzell (R-Indianapolis), and John Young (R-Franklin) co-authored the legislation. Sponsors of the legislation are Senators Timothy Lanane (D-Anderson), Ronald Grooms (R-Jeffersonville), Jon Ford (R-Terre Haute), and Lonnie Randolph (D-East Chicago).