In its “Summary of Public Policy Positions,” the League of Women
Voters states the importance of providing essential support services for
all. At the March Lunch With the League presentation, we learned about
an extraordinary program right here in Montgomery County that clearly
supports this goal. It is known as the Montgomery Adult Guardianship
Services program and is an innovative volunteer limited guardian
initiative designed to address the critical health care, social service
and legal representation needs of the growing population of ill and
at-risk incapacitated adults in the county.
The program recruits,
trains and supervises volunteers to serve as limited guardians appointed
by the Montgomery County Superior Court. MAGS volunteers undergo
criminal history and social service background checks and personal
interviews, provide references and complete an initial 30-hour training
program. They are sworn-in by the court as officers and, as MAGS
volunteers, serve as the guardian of the person.
MAGS is the first
organized effort addressing the guardianship needs of this group of
at-risk adults in the county. It is designed to safeguard the health
care, social service and legal representation needs of this segment of
our community by using trained volunteers to serve as court appointed
limited guardians.
The role of the volunteer limited guardian is to investigate and
assess the incapacitated person’s life situation, including locating
relatives when possible, facilitate health care, social service and
legal representation decision-making, plan for appropriate post-release
placement and services and provides the court with recommendations for
long-term planning for the individual.
These patients are people
who frequently have been socially isolated much of their lives. They
might include many frail elders in nursing homes and hospitals who often
have multiple chronic conditions and are unable to make immediate
decisions when problems becomes exacerbated or acute. They might also
include those who never had capacity, including persons with mental
retardation or developmental disabilities.
As a volunteer
guardian/advocate, one is able to contribute significantly to their
client’s needs under his or her court appointment as a limited guardian.
Among other things, they are able to investigate and gather all
requisite information regarding the health, welfare and financial
circumstances of the incapacitated person. They can authorize the
provision of health, social welfare and residential placement services
as needed by the incapacitated person as well as advocate for the rights
of the incapacitated person as a patient and facilitate legal
representation when appropriate.
In
order to qualify for help, one must be older than age of 18 and
determined by a physician to be incapacitated and incapable of
representing his/her own best interests or managing his/her own personal
affairs. They can have no willing, able or suitable relative to serve
as a guardian and are in need of the appointment of a limited guardian
by the Montgomery County Superior Court.
The results of the
volunteer’s work can literally be life-saving. The program’s
significance is attested to by the fact that it is financially
supported, in part, by the Indiana State Supreme Court. The training of
volunteers is serious, as it should be. At the same time, the rewards of
volunteer participation more than make up for the training schedule.
It’s a rare opportunity to make a truly significant contribution to the
lives of others who are truly alone and in need of help.
In order
to get more information, contact Sharon White, program coordinator,
Montgomery Adult Guardianship Services, 201 E. Jefferson St., Suite 202,
Crawfordsville 47933. Phone 765-586-1396. You can also discover all
Wabash Center has to offer by going to
www.wabashcenter.com.
Full Article & Source:
Befriending the needy in our community
