HomeMy WebLinkAbout03-02-15 � , a
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Jennifer B. Hipp, Esquire � � �� �v � :.%
1 West Main Streel � � '
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Shircmanstowq PA 17011 , � . ���
(717) 737-8761 �� - �-:i
Attomey ID No. 86556 � _, o
Assistant Cumbedand County Solicitor s ''
Por Cumbedand County Aging and Communiry Se�vices
IN KE: : IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLLAS OF'
: CUMBERLAND COUNTY, PHNNSYLVANIA
VIARCGLLA GOUSE, .
An alleged Incapacitated Person : ORPHANS' COUR'I' llNISION
: NO. 21-15-192
EMERGENCY PETITION FOR APPOINTVIENT OP PLGNARY GUARDIANS
OF THE PF,RSON AND ESTATC IN ACCORDANCE WI"PH 20 Pa.C.S.A. & 5513
Petitione� Cumbcdand County Agi�g and Community Services, by its attorney,
Cumbedand Counry Assistant Solicito�Jen�ifcr B. Hipp, submits this Petition and i� support
thereoC sfates the following:
l. Petitioner is Cumberland Counry Agi�g and Communiry Scrvices, having an office
located at 1100 Clazemont Road, Cadisle, Pe��sylvania.
2. The alleged i�capacitatcd person is Marcella Gouse, who is widowed, age 87, and
resided at 808 Upland Street, Mechanicsbu�g Lowe� Allen Township, Pennsylvania 17055 �ntil
Fcbruary 19,2015 when her home was condemned by I,ower Allen Township. She is now
homeless.
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3. Mrs. Gouse has an adult soq Floyd Gouse, who is a veteran of the Viemam War and
suffcrs pronoonced health problems related [o his military service, and, who is recovcring from a
recent knec �cplaccme�t surgery.
4. Petitioncr s undcrstanding is that Mrs. Gousc cannot reside with her son for numerous
reasons.
5. On or about December 3Q 2014, Petitionec reccivcd a ceport of need regarding Mrs.
Gouse.
6. In investigating the report of need, Petitio�er determincd that M�s. Gouse's living
conditions were deplorable, unsafe and unsanitary, resulting i� Lowec Allcn 'fownship
coodemning Mrs. Gouse s home on February 79, 2015 and rendenng Mrs. Gouse homeless.
7. On I'cbruary 19, 20L5, this Honorable Court granted Petitioner's Petitio� for
imoluntary Intervention by F,mergency Court Ordcr in Accocdance with 35 P.S. § 10225307.
8. Pursuant to this Honorable Court's Februazy 23, 2015 O�der, ftom February 23, 2015
until Maroh 2, 2015, Mrs. Gouse stayed at the Days ]nns North Located at 1825 Har�isbucg Pike,
Cadislc, Ywnsylvania.
9. Du�ing that timc, Petitio�ec's staff contactcd approximately rivenTy-five(25)
apartment facilities known to Petitioncc and lcamed that none had c�rrent availabiliry, with most
having a waiting list of many months and even years.
10. A mcmbe� of Petitioner's staff spent time wi[h Mrs. Gouse every day of the
precedi�g week and the staff observations of Mrs. Gouse are as follows:
a. M�s. Gouse is unable to follow 2-3 step directions such as using the microwavc.
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b. Mrs. Gouse forgets what is explaincd a�d demonstratcd to her, for example, stafF
has shown Mrs. Gouse several diCfe�ent timcs where to go foc bceakfast just dow�the hall from
hcr room and how to ring the front desk 1'or assistancc.
c. Mrs. Gouse exhibits short-term memory loss, for cxample, she ate lunch with staff
on Febxuary 25, 2015 around 1130 a.m.—noon a�d, Iatec, at approximately 330 p.m. statcd that
she had eaten nothing all day.
d. Mrs. Gouse lacks cxecutive fu�ctioning including the ability to manage hex
finances and her heatk� care needs.
e. Mrs. Gouse is unable to undecsta�d w6y she can`t stay in the hospital or the motel
£ Mrs. Gouse is irrational in he� refusal [o accept helg as evidenced by her refusals
of Yctitione�'s oCfers of a sleeping bag, motel coom, and assistauce in finding another place to
live prior m her homc bcing co�demned.
g. Ylrs. Gouse lacks safety awareness a�d poor insight, as evideneed by her�el'usa]
or inability to recognize the hazards and deterioration of hcr ow� home eesulting in its
coodemnation; she stil] believes she ean go baek home and with a few xepaics live in it.
11. 13ascd on Petitionets observations, Petitionec felt that the safest and most suitable
livi�g azrangements for Mrs. Gousc would be a personal care home.
12. Petitioner took Mrs. Gouse to visit the Episcopal Home, located at 206 E. Burd
Sircct, Shippensburg, Pcnnsyh�ania.
13. As a further result of Petitioner's observxtions, Pe[itionec arra�ged for a
neu�opsychological evaluation of the alleged incapacitated person that was conducted on
February 27,2015 by Dr. Christophe� Royer.
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14. As a�esult of thc ncuropsychological evaluation conducted by Dr. Roye�, Dc Royer
concluded that:
a. Mazcella Gousc has poo� memory, insight and impaired judgment;
b. M�s. Gouse is unawarc of hec circumstanccs, cognitive deficits and saCety risks;
a Mrs. Gouse is diaguosed with psychotic disorder due to anothec medica]
condition, with delusion as [he pcedominant symptom and hoarding disocder;
d. Mrs. Gouse is not capable of making decisio�s in hcr own best interest as defined
in Pcnnsylvania Statute; and
e. Mrs. Gouse requires a guardian to manxge her personal, financial and medica]
dccisions, as well as supervision akin m that available in a supportivc livi�g emironment or
assisted ]iving cnvironment. See Exhibit"A," February 27, 2015 Cupacity Evaluation completed
by Christophcr Royer, Psy.D, Clinical Ncuropsychologist, and Licensed Psychologist.
I 5. Petitionec's understanding is ihat the F.piscopal Home will not aeeept a�esident if the
�esident lacks capacity unless a legal representative, sueh as n guardian, is appointed Cor the
prospective resident.
16. The F,piseopal Home's administrator advised that it ean�ot accept Mrs. Gouse as a
residcnt unlcss a legal guardian is appointed for her.
17. Onless a legal guardian is appointed for Mrs. Uousc immediately, Mrs. Gouse will be
homeless and at risk of severe injury through exposuce to nature's elements in winter.
18. Petitioner has no interest that is adve�se ro that of Mamella Gouse.
l9. Petitioner intends to anange ro have the alleged incapacitated person placed in the
F,piscopal Homc in Shippensburg, but is unable to do so without the authority as a legally
appointed guardian.
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20. Petitioner believes that Marcella Gouse docs not already have a guardian.
21. Petitioner believes that no previous application hns bcc�made to any court to declare
Mrs. Gouse incapacitated and no court has assumedjucisdiction in a�y proceeding to dete�mine
the incapaciTy of Mrs. Gouse.
22. Pctitione� is not aware that Mrs. Gouse has ever executed a power of attorncy oc i�
any othcr way designated anyone to servc as her agent with xespcct to e�y matter pertaining to
her.
23. IC this Hono�able Court g�ents Petitioner's request m be designated as Ma�cella
Gouse's @uardian oC pe�sou nrid estate, Petitionec will initiate a full guardianship proceeding.
WHEREFORR, Petitioner Cumbeda�d Cou�ty Aging and Community Services
respecifully rcqucsts that this Honorable Court issue an Order appointing Petitioner as plcnary
emergency guazdian of thc person and estate of Marcella Gouse, the term of the eme�gency
guacdianship to be For a minimum of sevcnty-two (72) hours and to bc extended for a period of
twenry (20) days to permit the Petitioner to iniliate a ftdl gua�dianship procecding.
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Date: Maroh 2, 2015 ��� _
Jennife 6. I Iipp, F,squire
1 Wcst Main Street
Shiremanstown, PA 17011
Cumbedand Counry Assistant Solicitor
Por Cumberland County Aging a�d Commu�ity
Scrvices
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VERIFICATION
I vedfy that the stateme�ts made in the foregoing Petition are true and correct. I
understaod that false statements herein aze made subject to the penatties of 18 Pa.C.S. Section
4904 celati�g ro unswom falsification to authorities.
L1/I�t ��� �,J,hi�mc,x;
Priscilla Whitman, Cumberland CounTy Aging and
Date: Mazch 2, 2015 Communiry Services
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CERTTFICATE OP SGRVICE
I, Jennifcr B. Hipp, Esquire, hereby certify that I am this day serving the foregoing
Emergency Petition fo� Appointment of Plenary Guardian of Marcella Gouse upon the followi�g
named individual this day by depositing samc in the Onited States Mail, First Class, postage
prepaid, at Shi�emanstowq Pe�nsylvania, addmsscd as follows:
Robe�t Kline, lsqui�c
Attorney for Marcclla Gouse
714 Bridge Street
New Cumberland, PA 17070
Date: March 2, 2015 � � 1
Jennifer . Hipp, Esquim
1 West Main Street
Shiremanstown, PA 1701 l
Cumbcrtand Counry Assistant Solicimr
For Cumbedand Counry Aging a�d Community
Services
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b�=-27-'15 15�.25 FfiVf?-Gum6erland Co A & Go 7179695529 T-?53� F�002!d009 F-599
Capacity Evaluation
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Practice:Cnris[opherRoyar,Psy.O. DatranOTme:Febuary2�,2015t0:00AM-11�.00qb�
Clinkun:Cnns�opner ROY�.Pry.O. �ura4cr[80 min�Ws
Palienh.MarvJla(;quse,00B5ltV1B2] $pryjfqp�;9079t
LocyYm:Meln OIX�g
PartleiparM1v:Qien�on�y
Presenting Prohlem: �
Ms.Gouae is rekne0 Oy Ne C�m02�lerq Cqinry A�.y Ayp��y�p�,�9{p�an evelua0on of Irer qpavty Iv meka de��s m�,
own Ecrt imerast�FParentlY 1�Mme v.as recenOr mrMemned by�n2 iovmshiP-R¢cords vqirate Nai Iliere was ra r�rvu^9 ve�er
and elecbc antl my 2 rmns-qppa�ently ner�ome is�ery cob,arM�aE'pdes of itr�m sraGlceA everyxhba.'Appe�yy s�e
repated iM1e rdin mmes in aM siw uses bu kels lo odkG mimreler W Punh Ta mlal.I was ado to hew pq��a o(qe�p�p,��
is Quite SUeWn w1Th fM1�ge ana tlMer,a8 wHl 35 wfia[PppWI80 t0 0¢mvltrp'8 SpVCW21 D/oClenl3 and eltppEe�pesrns ana Inrigr
&�Ravs.The rqle suggyqp�pal sM1t Aa5 s/awn��9ng of Daie�0la.daiminB pep0�e nnve afden na pPone,ner U�tckpppy an0 ner
SWI�8V1�WYS OBC✓2C�Z�W11�3.Appb(8f10Y�IVI ypl1lWlIU CIRCI3 V12�wCR�OI GEI�811C ON OI Q9�$IR MO 8 OSY��BbiL
cantaa on FeENary 20.2015 et Ne nespusl.0•.Elamir opine0 Ua(Ms.Gouse haC rymptomv'characleisoc of�oardirg QSorde..'
t+e aim ne�e�ee mai rre.paarro�a+.ffi m«e yn�mi of�ro'�rGwis wno�ave s�¢otypa cersonaliy.He aitl nmteet mat sne iae�erl
opaary.
Current Mental StaWs:
Gene�'alAypeerarce: Thn
Me�rwry. Poo�Rarent
Oress: .Cesua�
nnantiwCo�+am�auo��. va6aoie �
Maoracmnry�. Nwmei
T7w�.glNCommt odusiore'Perseunory
Insg�[ Poor
P2rception_ Namal
J✓Egman�. Pooi
FIqvMlTaugM1C Ciroim5bn4al
AfleR Insppippria!e
InNavnwBehdvlo�'. Pe5eve2tiueconknl
Mood: DYPM�ic
SP%e��: Mavranl
On¢ntl��m: X1:OrenteOroPeno�'�mG�dNP�ace,Trme
Satery Issues:
She s nmea m navE DE¢n��nirg�n an eavemely�ivafe e��onm¢nt at rmk ro np h¢aNl arcl ssfery.
PaOmthesiMentroa2 ro
vsovrcnacpanwecc ro
Pyl�n�ird5 mebns m aa'. ro
PtlENonal iMormation: She rs rpt wnng for n¢�/�me Uegrme R�ai�+e�aaa4on�39 DBroma uns3fe.
Batkgroundln/ortnation:
�Erntifiobon_ She is en 0�-yeardd tema�e wno was mopuafive with Me svaWation.She vlas�yrC of
hranng,bin ade lo compe�en0 QuesOons wiN vdume inaease.
H�yiory of Present ProGkm: She INIs me'peap'e i�ne b my tloo�-I voulO say Mey forre v�m6elves pn rti¢,•$Ire sp�y
t�at she was tanv�g rare ol ner seM,She repa6 tlie(s�e has bken na meciouore�n 40 years.
She sbtes'I v+as pul in IYa nospilel agains[my own W I.'
?agc',c..
EXHIBIT
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8�-27-'15 ?5',29 FFUM-�umberland Oo A & CS ?179505529 T-YS^a PQ09�%N��� F-599
_
Capacity Evaluation
Vroc9ca:Cnristopner ROYe��PsyA. � Dale antl Tme:Feb�uary 2�,2015 iP00AM-1 tooqM
pnnven.Chnytppli¢r Rayer.PSY.D. Durarion:fi0 minutes
Patlail:MarcNla Gouse.DOB 5/11/182'/ SuvinCaae:9079i
Lraean:Main OM'a
PaNGpams�.C�ieN oniy
Past Peych�BV�c riisbry. Non6 rororted.
Tra�ma niytpy: No I2ume repoM1eO.Sne has lost'e rhiltlren aM ner nisban0 in Ne last G¢�bde,
�amAyPsyMiemcHismry�. He.s�rvrvirgson�PTSOtrom�'s,m�ireinVelnam.
MeCifelfqMitipnSdMislay: Nonerepwted.9nereponaR�el�ssleapawelLHarappetlteisreportvlaufdv.
CuRflil�.1e01f2Gp15'. PbnB�OpPM1dE.
Subsbrro¢V3S' S1w rspoM1s Ua�sne Caes not smoke oruse al�pnol.
Sotld Histay She sintes ma[slie wab md�n¢G up unlil 2DpB.She Mls me tliat sne dces�wt like Eoclory
beeuse ihey Ei0 inapqaprate s�rgery m her nus�na�M'rf�puse0 n'im b yypP'�'eM
e�omny o�e,
Ed�tiow/Or�upala�WHistory; Shereporgma[snenavByaersolatlumoon.5newoncatlinppumE,rM�patlbNmuglaul
nblNe
Svengv�s I Liad�itiev� UrdorWnately,s�a Oertqrm+fatetl an ezaeme unawdrenea of�x ortvmsfar�,my�mv¢
aefltlW.aM sefery rtsks.sne nas mme`ereal suengtl�s.ana she presents we�l�n�v¢rsqpm.
pp�grlMormatiar: Shev�a5enppera0vewiNNeevabafiort5�eainbulat94irqepmderNyDutslwly(pry�¢
e�minels ofice.On armsqn,sAe aDOe�d la�ean to O�e IeR and almnst(all.She waslVlry
aIM an0 arousee I�mug�ou[tl�e neweLon.E�R�He nGe¢N was�uwt aM cim�mY nRal.
TnwgM O�oceswe hMO�wC sutl.$I�e exniMm h¢pu¢nt Od�dma�tlwuBM w�rtmC intl W iny r�1
^V 600irt pvoDb PMirq Ni�gs�n�er Maler Urtk in rnGerb mak¢h Stop xoMLy,p¢pple
melGng�as ol keys ro her ho�ae.peop'e mmirg in aM taibig�er O�ings.WRrg pn y�er
aina'v�s,arM bmaWng ner sw'vg�n9 tlmrs.O.aali.nerNtlgmaitappa3rea to Oe�m0�rea.
On mgniUve exam,she was oncnicd to monO�eM yeer.Sl�e vas not aD�e to sple p�e pey of
momn,aMough s�ewds dose in Ihel rt was'�he Ws[M me man0�.'Sne w�np�ade sam t�e
Eay o�waek 3�¢wes nol onenmC m bmppn.She was ontnieG lo wmmr PresGc.nc
$impla e�d�bry a¢entien xas vanade.SM evenwaly scwe0 wMN namal Iimiia on a tast of
�Mntei arNvn¢pc.l��stingly,eM mafle Some me�kes m pg5y prodBmS dMr re�watirg
thgm�rr¢cUy.On a wDk li6t IPdmirg�FiaraWRy lo leam ana re�a9 e lisf plq yqMs ov�r
bAef dalay was sev¢r¢�y irt,pairep,On Tis mk,sn¢r¢�ke no varos us�y a frse rcqn
suategj.She remOse 2 worEe usinq a semarrtc are an0 one wartl using a recugnbon ae.
EWess�e speecn was B�mt Ouf noYable tor sane brwmsbntia�mntenl.She was ad¢ro
mmprelmM ard frlbw�¢g iny9yryions�tli�ria V vd�ms.Rramning Dy e�ogy v.as
sevnrey imoelre0.On 11�lesl sne nea tlMrarKY vAn ebsuea ra�meDR.On a test of soriv
reasoning er.a j�dgment ana crarea in Pe mo0esrerytmparcd rvga.maldng nur�umue
errors,aM irqirapng ppN p35tive or imOuleFe roipons�'b mmmon Oiammas.apr p cyes,
alc wd6 eb16 b i�Mi�(¢911 d5 Ue num0er to oll in mse of an emargency.p.�e�ap,l�erly�C Ot
iMom�a4m is cor�s�Aer¢d.etlucep hom ner estima9eC prernorbid aEilNes.
Hn aHect was wary.She repo�e0�5�moa0 islrusaaiza qirv2n Q�al she ha0 p¢p��remove�hpn
he�home.Sne inaicalaE a�zwart+�eas a�Ue powzR Net bc vnsMlr�g�o pface�er
'a'Omewli¢ig.'Sne demOnSva@4 e boa0 rzrge IN Oelusional Ninkirg an0 OeliNe,es�Y as
some paranoia lhougnfs.
PrLo�c,t
C2-27-':5 15�.�9 FF.OrFCumberland Co A � CS 71796�55�9 T-753 P@�69i�9�9 F-599
Capacity Evaluation
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Pn W¢:CnrielopMr Roya.,Pry.D. paee ane rme:February 27,20t5 10:OOAM•t i:00Mn
ClinSmn:Cnnsbpl�arRo�ar.Pry.D. Ou.eEm:BO minines
Vnb¢MarteWeGowe.DO85nuiB27 3wa�.�,�so�9t
loqtion:Main Ofice
Partidpanfa:Gient onry
Oiagnosfb:
793.81 p5y�l�e4epl5yW,.rDwTaMopnrMetliW�pnOiUw.WMaeNs�one3Mepr�qomlriarrtyynp�am
300.J Moerairtp Die-orar
/JTe wneMuma.IAs.Gaue tlms eDO�b M1are a pemenVa.1'ikely muetl e9olp0iea.Mo�gpver,she OemorvWat%prv0ominant
tlalwiort 0n0 pireroid E��q�g,wfiich py qgmscJuea impBi�one's zdlily f0 rt�vre ena qocca+.IM'prrneyo�p�retely.ry�ptq�,
sM1e Go�msVa�es GasWa9Ne impeiimer�b on lest ot r¢�M�y and mriaij�Ogm¢nt,as�.dl as memory impeim�t At Ne artent
dne.l Oo nd mrmi00�narro Re�pgpla d rrolung Gedsion6 in�er mm best irrteresl as d¢fine0 Ly Pennsylvana$�sunrto.Sne
reQu'vec a yxNl�n ro manege her personel,finandal¢nU meCiral Ceaions.Sfie n.yuire supervision al6n b ual aveaaEle in a
cupparti�e frv4g emironmmt or esssleA living amironmerM1 tt v.as a Pkazure m eva4a�e Ms.Gous¢.Thank ypi forp�s rert¢rtgl,
eN�wmi�e!imlm.,r�,o.¢imr,�rosyyiaoese.iia�asw�mze74a�r%em�,ror«u�ae�rodm�s �ra�.�,auo„wne �
�111�9�9m�qlel@MFeyrva�Y��26�5ut1v1AM. . . . ;.
vx�c]e:9