Elder Law
The Cook County Circuit Court has a dedicated Elder Law division for handling certain cases involving older adults, including elder abuse and neglect, domestic violence, and some criminal cases. We report on the ways the court system impacts the lives of older adults.
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Cases are near an all-time high, while arrests and prosecutions have plummeted. Meanwhile, many older adults, like 91-year-old Paul Borik, are losing their life savings as social service caseworkers watch from the sidelines.
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Illinois’ system for protecting older adults from financial exploitation leaves them more vulnerable to harm and isolation. Victims often end up as wards of the Cook County Public Guardian, whose office takes control of their finances and care in probate court.
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Probate court cases illustrate Illinois’ broken adult protection system
In a letter to a social service agency, the Cook County Public Guardian criticized a lack of state intervention in several instances in which older adults with disabilities were being defrauded.
How we reported on elder financial exploitation
Injustice Watch reviewed thousands of pages of records, analyzed previously unpublished federal data, and interviewed more than 50 victims, family members, and experts for our project on elder financial exploitation.
With Congress gridlocked, advocates say it’s up to state and local lawmakers to protect the undocumented elderly
Advocates say Illinois lawmakers should build welfare programs that mirror those for citizens, like food stamps and unemployment insurance.