For years now, the Traverse City Record-Eagle has been publishing a series of stories on the way Michigan protects vulnerable adults.
It found that the system meant to protect vulnerable adults can often do the opposite. And it looks at how attempts to fix the system have failed in the last 30 years.
Record-Eagle senior reporter Mardi Link is leading the way on this series and has another installment coming out on Sunday.
Hear the full conversation in the stream above.
Tyler Thompson, IPR News: So in Sunday story, you're going to introduce Lee Storch. Who is she?
Mardi Link, Traverse City Record-Eagle: So Lee Storch is somebody that I've been communicating with off and on, I would say for more than a year. I profiled one of her former clients. And this story really is just a day in the life of someone who mostly takes on cases of indigent clients, meaning that they don't have a trust fund. They don't have unlimited money for long term care and Lee steps in to provide them with some assistance.
IPR: How does her story compare to other reporting the Record Eagle has done on guardianship?
Link: Most of the other reporting we've done has been from the perspective of the ward. Now that's kind of a loaded word. Many people don't like that word. Lee calls her people clients. I prefer that word; also gives the person a little more agency. But most of our reporting has been from the perspective of someone who needs a guardian, who has a guardian or who's been appointed a guardian. In this case, it's really from Lee's perspective and what it's like to be a guardian.
If you are aware of any kind of elder abuse and want to report it the number is 855-444-3911 a 24-hour statewide hotline.
