The recent auditor’s report on the Department of Elder Affairs (DOEA) paints a concerning picture of an agency that is failing to uphold basic standards meant to protect Florida’s most vulnerable population. From inadequate monitoring of guardianship services to mishandling critical complaints, the department’s actions have proven to be anything but professional.

In the report, several alarming findings were uncovered about the Office of Public and Professional Guardians (OPPG), which is tasked with overseeing the care of elderly wards. Among the most shocking was the failure to implement effective monitoring tools for guardians, despite the legal obligation to ensure the safety and well being of elderly Floridians. A staggering number of complaints involving financial exploitation, neglect, and emotional abuse were documented, yet the department’s response was sluggish and insufficient, with no clear strategy for timely intervention. For example, the OPPG failed to enforce penalties for delayed reports and did not always verify the qualifications of guardians entrusted with vulnerable lives.  See the full report here.

Despite these clear failings, the Department of Elder Affairs is now hoping that Florida Senate Bill (SB 398) will pass and they will receive a hefty $1.5 million for an Alzheimer’s awareness campaign.  While Alzheimer’s disease and dementia-related disorders are indeed pressing issues affecting countless Floridians, this bill raises a serious question: How can we trust an agency that cannot manage its current responsibilities to take on this new program?

Here’s where things get even more troubling. Michelle Branham, the Secretary of the Department of Elder Affairs, has a significant conflict of interest with this request for $1.5 million taxpayer dollars. Before taking the helm at DOEA, Branham worked for the Alzheimer’s Association, where she was in charge of marketing to raise funds for the organization. Given her previous role and the fact that the bill she’s championing directly benefits the Alzheimer’s Association, there are serious concerns about her focus. It seems as though she may still be prioritizing her ties to the Alzheimer’s Association over the critical internal reforms needed within the DOEA. This apparent ongoing allegiance to the Association only deepens the suspicion that the Department’s internal dysfunctions are being neglected in favor of external fundraising efforts.  In the world of executive leadership – we see her spending time in the area she feels comfortable with such as marketing and public relations.  BUT that isn’t her job.  Her job is to lead the DOEA and she is failing miserably – per the auditor’s report.

The Alzheimer’s program, which includes statewide outreach and public education on Alzheimer’s risks and early detection, certainly has the potential to help many. However, it is irresponsible to funnel more money into marketing campaigns when the departments own operations are riddled with inefficiencies. Before the DOEA is entrusted with millions for public awareness, they must first demonstrate an ability to properly monitor and protect those under their care. Until the department gets its internal affairs in order — addressing the systemic issues of guardianship, complaint handling, and transparency — allocating further funds for their marketing efforts would be an affront to the very individuals they are supposed to serve.

The state must ensure that the money already provided to the Department of Elder Affairs is being used effectively to address critical issues, including the protection of the elderly, before spending millions on public relations programs.