"There's a satisfaction in helping these people," Ripp said. "You actually become pretty good friends with them."Ripp is one of more than 100 people in Brown County who volunteer their time to represent a variety of people in legal or medical situations.
The county is home to one of the most active volunteer adult guardianship programs in the state, said Glen Tilot, a social worker and volunteer coordinator for the Brown County Human Services Department.
They don't physically care for their wards, but help them make legal, medical or housing decisions. Program participants are the developmentally disabled, the elderly or those suffering from a developmental illness, deemed "incompetent" in court.
They may have family members around, but only their legal guardians have authority to make decisions.
Full Article and Source:
Adult Guardians Help Wards Make Decisions
How can volunteers help make decisions when only legal guardians can do that?
ReplyDeleteIf the wards have "family members around", why do they need guardians?
ReplyDeleteAdult guardians don't "help" wards make decisions.
ReplyDeleteDecision making has been taken away from guardianship wards, along with all of their rights and liberties.
No doubt these people mean well, but they may not fully understand what they are in to.
Volunteers to visit and comfort are a great thing. People need to see human faces - smiling, warm human faces. Especially those confined in institutions.
ReplyDeleteI do not believe volunteers should be guardians. Being a guardian is being directly responsible for someone's health and wealth.
And like StandUp said, why isn't the family allowed to do that instead of a stranger?
Volunteer Guardians only get assigned by Judges when there is no money; otherwise the attorney in the black robe court appoints his 'crony' attorney to do the 'plundering' of the elders'
ReplyDeleteassets.
Get it now?