CONTACT: Pamela D. Wilson 303-810-1816

Email:   Inquiry_For_Pamela@pameladwilson.com

Golden, Colorado – March 16, 2021

Netflix Movie "I Care a Lot " Offers a Lot of Disinformation

Golden CO- Caregiving expert Pamela D. Wilson, who served as a professional court-appointed guardian for more than ten years, shares insights into the fictional account of the life of a professional guardian offered in the Netflix movie "I Care a Lot."  Caregivers and consumers express concern about the legal system and the guardian in the film taking control of the lives of elderly individuals deemed incompetent for personal and financial gain.

According to Wilson a professional guardian, the film has many factual omissions:

• The emergency hearing gives the guardian control of the woman's life (the ward) with no substantiation for the "emergency"—required for the hearing.
• Scheduling a permanent hearing—a standard procedure following an emergency hearing.
• Denial of an attorney for the "ward" who has the right to legal representation.
• Omitted mention of an independent mental competency evaluation to confirm the basis for the guardianship appointment.
• "Least restrictive alternatives"—justification for moving a ward from a home to a care community.
• Stipulations in the guardian order that can require court permission to move a ward from a home to a care community, approval for the sale of a property, etc.

Additionally, the movie erroneously makes collusion between the judge, guardian, doctor, administrator of the assisted living community, and care community staff appear as standard operating procedures within the guardianship industry.

Caregivers and the elderly are a vulnerable population. Typically, little planning or discussion about aging, health, or caregiving occurs until a health emergency happens. In the past year, COVID  has brought heightened attention and fear worldwide. Disinformation that frightens consumers can be detrimental to obtaining care or making sure that vulnerable populations receive access to care.  

Consumers may find it challenging to validate facts about the legal guardianship process without consulting professionals who have expertise in this area.  A lack of experience or difficulty understanding probate codes is as common as the confusion that exists about the difference between Medicare and Medicaid.

A similar experience exists about the absence of factual information about the differences in COVID vaccinations—Johnson & Johnson/Janssen, versus Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna—despite ongoing communication. Many people believe what they want to think when presented with information— instead of validating the information to gather the facts.

Consumers benefit from becoming more educated rather than fearful about aging, health, caregiving, and legal concerns like guardianship. While guardianship abuse exists, so does abuse in many other industries like health insurance, long-term care, and healthcare. The solution for consumers is to seek education to avoid the fear that results from disinformation in the news and fictional movies like I Care a Lot.  

Wilson's mission to reach one million caregivers worldwide is supported by her passion for working with groups and corporations to provide keynote speaking sessions, live or online presentations, webinars, and unique online education programs, including online caregiver support about aging, healthcare, caregiving, and financial and legal planning for care. Because of COVID, the struggles of working caregivers and the elderly have intensified. Support and education are solutions to build confidence and reduce fear about the effects of the pandemic and all issues related to health and caregiving.  

Contact Wilson for more information about caregiver support, resources, and education through her website by emailing Inquiry_For_Pamela@PamelaDWilson.com or calling +1 303-810-1816.