A once vibrant, extremely communicative, and friendly individual, Elsie dedicated most of her life to community causes, including literacy, animal protection, and fighting hunger in her local community. Elise also takes pride in her Jewish heritage. She has faced many challenges over the years, but nothing compares to the challenge she is currently experiencing.

Due to declining physical and cognitive issues, Elsie’s children proactively reached out for assistance from the Montgomery County Office of Aging. Instead of providing supportive services or working with Elsie’s children to determine the best method of care, they swiftly removed Elsie from her home and assigned a stranger as a “Guardian.” Elsie’s children were incredibly involved with their mother – taking her to medical appointments, socializing with family and friends, and volunteering together on numerous community outreach events. Elsie now sits in a bed in a dark, dank, dreary “nursing home,” with no ability to engage in mentally stimulating socialization. Elsie is visually impaired, and she is not being given any special assistance to help in that area.

Immediately following the forced removal from her home, the court-appointed "guardian" imposed limited visits requiring supervision. This action has tremendously impacted Elsie’s mental health, and the children have been treated like common criminals. Under the “care” of the assigned “guardian,” Elsie’s physical and mental health deteriorated rapidly. Her children are fighting a battle to have the “Guardianship” given to them so that they can be assured that her physical, mental, social, and spiritual needs continue to be met. Elsie’s survival depends on having her supportive children as her guardian. For Elsie, FAMILY is everything. Her daughters have found many actions undertaken by the county-appointed “guardian” and others to be legally questionable. Their goal is to help Elsie while affecting positive change within the system. Many of the decisions involving Elsie’s care have been made for the sake of expediency without regard to her values.

Elsie is 84 years old. She has devoted much of her life to helping others; does she not deserve to live out the remainder of her life with peace and dignity? Elsie’s children will need to raise thousands of dollars to fight this INJUSTICE. For the sake of Elsie and others who follow her, please donate to defray the legal expenses for the family. Thank you in advance.-