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, Medicare, 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 12 guardians of which 11 are Registered Guardians and 2 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 21-year history, serving as Guardian of Person for over 1,500 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.
• Adults with a severe mental disability, under age 60, must also be approved by the ADAMHS.
  

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.

You must also fax a signed Statement of Expert Evaluation to us at 216-696-1153. You can get this form by going to the Cuyahoga County Probate Court website at probate.cuyahogacounty.us. Click on "Court Fiduciary Forms" then click "Guardianships" then click on "Statement of Expert Evaluation". Or, you may click on this direct link. The original must also be mailed to us at Adult Guardianship Services, 1468 W. 25th Street, Suite 300, Cleveland, Ohio 44113

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. Proceeds from this service go to serve more individuals who are indigent.

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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