ND chief justice says elder care study needed

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) - North Dakota Chief Justice Gerald

VandeWalle wants the Legislature to look into ways to help older

North Dakotans avoid being abused or financially exploited.

VandeWalle spoke Wednesday to a joint session of the North

Dakota House and Senate.

The chief justice says North Dakota doesn't have enough public

guardians to look after the rights of older people who may not have

family members close by. He says some nonprofits offer guardianship

services, but they have limited budgets.

VandeWalle says within 30 years, almost one-third of the

population of many rural counties will be older than 65.

Two years ago the Legislature approved a resolution to study

legal issues arising from elder care, but the subject was not

picked for an interim study.

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

Tags: north dakota, news, legislature