Guardianship is a legal process, utilized when a person can no longer make or communicate safe or sound decisions about his/her person and/or property or has become susceptible to fraud or undue influence. Because establishing a guardianship may remove
considerable rights from an individual, it should only be considered after alternatives to guardianship have proven ineffective or are unavailable.
Alternatives to guardianship may include:
- Representatives or substitute payees.
- Case/care management.
- Health care surrogacy.
- Trusts.
- Durable powers of attorney for property.
- Durable powers of attorney for health care.
- Living wills.
- Community advocacy systems.
- Joint checking accounts.
- Community agencies/services.
| |
