87-year-old Monica Linnér had had a trustee for several years, but her son Marc ended up in conflict with the municipality and the trustee, according to him, about what help she should have.
A year ago, the trustee applied for protected population records against her will. She did not want to answer questions about why.
– Not a Christmas card has arrived. My mother’s friends were worried, they thought she was dead. The doctors at the emergency room couldn’t even see her medical records, says Marc Linnér.
The turnaround – after the report “Where is Therese”
But after the Mission review “Where is Therese” something happens.
The trustee, who represents both Therese and Monica, is on sick leave. The new administrator from the same company, Optio, suddenly requests that the Swedish Tax Agency remove the protected population records for Monica, without anything having changed in her life.
– I didn’t understand anything. It is terrible to use the system in such a way, says Marc.
See “Where is Therese – the continuation” on SVT Play
The trustee sold Arne Gavelin’s properties
86-year-old Arne Gavelin in Örnsköldsvik had the same trustee as Monica and Therese. When he was about to withdraw money, the account was suddenly blocked.
He had been placed under trusteeship.
Arne describes that the administrator sold his excavators, even though there was no lack of money.
The County Administrative Board directed serious criticism at the Board of Trustees in Umeå/Örnsköldsvik for allowing this to happen. Arne Gavelin sued the state with the help of the Center for Justice and will receive damages as it was wrong that he was put under trusteeship at all.
– It is among the most intrusive things the state can do, to deprive someone of the right to decide over their life, says Fredrik Bergman Evans, head of the Center for Justice.
A problem, he believes, is that the responsibility for trusteeship is divided: the superintendent who investigates the need, the courts who decide and then the trustee, who receives the assignment.
– There are many chefs in this soup. Shared responsibility is no responsibility, they say.
The Optio administrator receives new assignments
The manager is employed by the company Optio, which is hired by around 50 municipalities. They refer to confidentiality but write in an email that no authority has criticized the administrator.
The same trustee continues to be employed by several supervisors. As recently as November, she became a trustee for a man in Örnsköldsvik.
Anyone who finds it difficult to manage their finances, needs help with contacts with authorities or with getting the right care and attention can get a good man or administrator.
A good man or trustee must also in some cases “take care of the person”, which means taking responsibility for the principal’s needs for social contacts, leisure activities, daily employment. The administrator must visit the principal and ensure that he has as high a quality of life as possible.
Good man
Getting a good man is normally a voluntary action. This means that the person who needs help himself agrees that the district court appoints a good man. Whoever has a good husband still has the right to decide over his money, manage property and enter into contracts.
Manager
If you are unable to take care of yourself or your assets, the district court can appoint an administrator. This can be done without the person who needs help agreeing to it. Relatives also do not have to agree with the decision. Anyone who receives a manager loses the right to enter into contracts or manage their money themselves.
Chief Guardian
Every municipality must have a superintendent who supervises how good men and trustees carry out their duties. Relatives can view documents from the superintendent and request that the representative be replaced.
Source: Sweden’s courts