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AGS
Guardians of Person undertake the legal responsibility of making
major life decisions and agree to advocate on behalf of their wards.
Daily we are involved in their lives. We provide high quality care
and operate according to guardianship principles. AGS has a program
for people who are indigent and a program for people who can pay
for the services.
Tasks
We Do For Our Wards
Quality
Indicators
Guardian
Principles
Program
for Indigent Ward
Program
for Wards Who Can Pay Privately
AGS
STAFF GUARDIAN TASKS
OBTAIN
AND COORDINATE COMMUNITY SERVICES
Obtain primary care physician
Obtain mental health treatment: psychiatrist, case management
Obtain direct care providers: nursing, home health care, housekeeping
PROVIDE
CONSENT FOR MEDICAL INTERVENTIONS
Routine treatment by primary care physician/medical specialist
Psychiatric treatment
Surgery: inpatient/outpatient
Hospital admission
Nursing home admission
Authorize do not resuscitate orders
Authorize hospice treatment
Authorize the withholding or withdrawing of treatments, leading
to end of life
Obtain an ethics consultation when appropriate
SECURE
BENEFITS
Contact all income sources: Social Security, VA, private pension,
etc.
Apply for entitlements: Social Security, Medicate, Medicaid, etc.
Locate, secure and inventory ward's assets
Obtain a representative payee for ward's income
Obtain a guardian of estate, if ward has over $10,000.00 in assets
SECURE
HOUSING
Determine a ward's housing needs
Obtain appropriate housing
Arrange
for relocation, if necessary
If current independent housing is not appropriate, close down the
dwelling (house/apartment)
MAKE
A FUNERAL PLAN
Determine the ward's religious beliefs and background
Discuss end of life planning with ward
Establish a pre-need funeral with available resources (life insurance,
savings)
VISIT
MONTHLY AND AS NEEDED
COMMUNICATE
AND COLLABORATE WITH FAMILY, FRIENDS, CAREGIVERS AND SERVICE PROVIDERS
ATTEND
PROBATE COURT HEARINGS
COMPLETE
AND SUBMIT BIENNIAL REPORT TO COURT
- AGS
staff has 14 guardians of which 10 are Registered Guardians and
3 are also Licensed Social Workers.
- AGS
staff attends various ongoing professional development seminars
and ethics roundtables.
- AGS
has the sole contract to provide Guardian of Person services to
indigent wards, as determined by the Cuyahoga County Probate Court.
- AGS
has an Ethics Committee that meets quarterly. Our ethicist is
also available for emergency consultations.
- AGS
operates under the Standards of Practice of the National Guardianship
Association (NGA) www.guardianship.org
- AGS
is a member of the National Guardianship Association and the Ohio
Guardianship Association.
- AGS
has an 18-year history, serving as Guardian of Person for over
1,000 wards.
The following are the main principles under which AGS guardians
function.
- AGS
guardians share the qualities of compassion, commitment, honesty,
and integrity.
- AGS
guardians treat their wards as individuals with needs and rights,
with a desire to help those who cannot help themselves.
- AGS
guardians guide their wards using substituted judgment and best
interest standards so the ward may achieve and maintain the highest
level of independence.
- AGS
guardians determine what is least intrusive, most normalizing,
and ultimately, best for the ward.
Through a contract with the Cuyahoga County Probate Court www.cuyahoga.oh.us/probate,
Adult Guardianship Services is the sole provider of Guardian of
Person Only services to people in Cuyahoga County who need guardianship
services but are unable to pay for them.
Referrals must meet the following criteria:
- Adult,
age 18 and above. (AGS does not serve individuals with mental
retardation. Contact the state office at 1-800-282-9363.)
- Resident
of Cuyahoga County
- Indigent,
defined as a current Medicaid recipient or has an application
pending
- Indication
of a substantial mental impairment—evidenced by a “Statement
of Expert Evaluation” (Probate Court Form) completed by a
licensed physician or licensed clinical psychologist within a
90-day period prior to the referral to AGS
- Indication
of a compelling decision that requires legal authority to act,
such as health care, financial, or placement decisions. To be
compelling the decision must already be present. AGS does not
accept referrals concerning possible, or even probable, future
decisions.
- No
other adult appears available and/or appropriate to become guardian.
NOTE:
Not every incompetent person can or will receive services through
AGS. The Probate Court encourages AGS to seek less restrictive alternatives
to guardianship whenever possible. Guardianship should be the alternative
of last resort and AGS should be the guardian of last resort.
To
refer someone to AGS for guardianship services, click on the intake
form link below, fill out the entire form and hit the submit button
to transmit electronically.
Intake
Form
In addition to its indigent program, Adult Guardianship Services
also provides Guardian of Person Only services to people in Cuyahoga
County who need guardianship services and are able to pay for them.
Fees:
Private pay clients are billed monthly on an hourly basis.
Referrals must meet the following criteria:
- Adult,
age 18 and above. (AGS does not serve individuals with mental
retardation. Contact the state office at 1-800-282-9363.)
- Resident
of Cuyahoga County
- Indication
of a substantial mental impairment—evidenced by a “Statement
of Expert Evaluation” (Probate Court Form)completed by a
licensed physician or licensed clinical psychologist within a
90-day period prior to the referral to AGS
- No
other adult appears available and/or appropriate to become guardian.
NOTE:
Not every incompetent person can or will receive services through
AGS. The Probate Court encourages AGS to seek less restrictive alternatives
to guardianship whenever possible. Guardianship should be the alternative
of last resort and AGS should be the guardian of last resort.
To
refer someone to AGS for guardianship services, click on the intake
form link below, fill out the entire form and hit the submit button
to transmit electronically.
Intake
Form
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