a very hard concept for the Latino community to accept. So far not It’s I’ve gotten anyone to recognize the need for guardianship.” Chicago service provider the only social worker in the hospital on the geriatric unit, and guardianship “I’m is a big issue for geriatrics with dementia and inability to make decisions.” Springfield service provider “I work with Catholic Charities. I do guardianship work for 41 elderly developmentally disabled and mentally ill individuals. And we only take people where there are no family or anyone else to accept guardianship. We also have a program that actually does the court process, taking people through the court process to get guardianship for their family member or for a person in need.” Springfield service provider “We have people that come into the hospital that cannot make decisions for themselves and no family available, or there is family available but we can’t discharge the patient, we do anything with them until sent a decision can’t they’re Springfield service provider about guardianship.” service five counties and deal with persons that are 85 years or older that have “I no family. And in court on a weekly basis for guardianship, either for I’m Springfield continuing the guardianship or applying for emergency service.” service provider 2. Goals of the system Participants in Chicago and Springfield discussed what they felt the goals of the guardianship system should be. Not surprisingly, safety of the client was mentioned regularly. safety guardian usually makes sure medications are bought, “Medical too…The Chicago service provider medications are given, those types of things.” would see a key goal as assuring that someone was making life decisions based “I Springfield service on competent, sound advice being provided to them.” provider the safety and long-term security of the “Guaranteeing individual.” Springfield service provider the remain in an abusive situation. When not “That senior doesn’t they’re capable of making their own decisions and, you know, been not even an there’s appointed caregiver but an informal children that are caregiver…It’s oftentimes making very, very bad decisions for this person. I mean you need a substitute Chicago service provider decision-maker just for the personal safety of it.”
It’s a very hard concept for the Latino community to accept. So far I’ve not gotten anyone to recognize the need for guardianship.” Chicago service provider “I’m the only social worker in the hospital on the geriatric unit, and guardianship is a big issue for geriatrics with dementia and inability to make decisions.” Springfield service provider “I work with Catholic Charities. I do guardianship work for 41 elderly developmentally disabled and mentally ill individuals. And we only take people where there are no family or anyone else to accept guardianship. We also have a program that actually does the court process, taking people through the court process to get guardianship for their family member or for a person in need.” Springfield service provider “We have people that come into the hospital that cannot make decisions for themselves and no family available, or there is family available but we can’t discharge the patient, we can’t do anything with them until they’re sent a decision about guardianship.” Springfield service provider “I service five counties and deal with persons that are 85 years or older that have no family. And I’m in court on a weekly basis for guardianship, either for continuing the guardianship or applying for emergency service.” Springfield service provider 2. Goals of the system Participants in Chicago and Springfield discussed what they felt the goals of the guardianship system should be. Not surprisingly, safety of the client was mentioned regularly. “Medical safety too…The guardian usually makes sure medications are bought, medications are given, those types of things.” Chicago service provider “I would see a key goal as assuring that someone was making life decisions based on competent, sound advice being provided to them.” Springfield service provider “Guaranteeing the safety and long-term security of the individual.” Springfield service provider “That the senior doesn’t remain in an abusive situation. When they’re not capable of making their own decisions and, you know, there’s been not even an appointed caregiver but an informal caregiver…It’s oftentimes children that are making very, very bad decisions for this person. I mean you need a substitute decision-maker just for the personal safety of it.” Chicago service provider
Guardianship-Reform-Project-Final-Report.docx