Kids of Casey Kasem, Mickey Rooney, Glen Campbell unite against elder abuse

(WJBK) - Their parents were entertainment icons, now the children of Casey Kasem, Mickey Rooney and Glen Campbell are joining forces to change the law to protect seniors from elder abuse.

"I've become an advocate for elders because of this," said Kelly Rooney.

Rooney is the daughter of Hollywood legend Mickey Rooney.

"The Kasem Cares Foundation and Kathleen have been so wonderful helping me with what I've been going through," said Travis Campbell.

Campbell is the son of country western legend Glen Campbell.

And then there's Kerri Kasem, daughter of famous TV and radio DJ Casey Kasem, a Detroit native.

"The last year of my dad's life, we were actually told you are never going to see your dad again," she said.

The three children of entertainment legends have a shared story, a shared pain - all of them were kept from their dying fathers in their final days. On Monday the three stood behind the House floor and talked to a Senate Judiciary Committee and asked them to pass some kind of legislation that would simplify the process of not having to get guardianship instead, just court paperwork that you are able to use to visit their dying parent.

In Kerri's case by her step-mom Jean Kasem. 

So Kerri started a foundation called Kasem Cares and is trying to fight against elder abuse. Eleven states have fought to give visitation rights to children of elderly and now she's is hoping Michigan becomes number 12.

In Kasem's case, by their stepmom Jean Kasem. 

"It was over health, it wasn't about estate, about money," Kerri said. "It was about health so that we could help make those decisions for him because we knew he would not be properly cared for. That is exactly what happened. He died because of the way my step mother took care of him," she said.

A judge ultimately gave Kerri the authority to have doctors stop the infusion of food, water and medicine. His daughter didn't want her father to suffer anymore.

The battle didn't end there. Jean Kasem took him out of a nursing home and into a cross country journey, ultimately landing at a family friend's house in Washington. Even after he died, there were days when Kasem's grown children didn't know where the body was.

Attorney Mark Frankel of Farmington Hills weighed in.

"Sometimes it is as little as the second spouse feels slighted by the kids because of how they're treated," he said. "Sometimes it's payback for that. Sometimes, they're trying to protect their interests.  They've managed to get into their spouse's estate plan and they're worried the kids will come along and try to change that."

In his final days, Kerri was able to visit her father.

"I said I love you," Kerri said. "And he said I love you too, angel."

It's a pain she, Rooney and Campbell are hoping no one else has to face.

>>>For more information, go to http://www.kasemcares.org/