Signs it is Time to Consider a Guardianship for Your Elderly Relative

 Posted on June 20, 2023 in Estate Planning Blog

While most people would not want to be placed under a guardianship unless it were absolutely necessary, the fact is that in many cases, obtaining guardianship over an elderly loved one is truly necessary. When an older adult begins to lose the capacity to care for themselves or to manage their own healthcare and finances, initiating guardianship proceedings is often the best way to protect them. Having guardianship over your elderly family member can allow you to step in and begin making important decisions for them and managing their affairs. It is not an easy decision to make. Rather, making the choice to begin seeking guardianship can be emotionally fraught. You may feel as if you are taking their independence, when in fact, it is the natural effects of aging that have done so. 

A. Traub & Associates is committed to helping family members and loved ones of aging adults pursue guardianship as a means of protecting the elder. We understand the difficulty involved in making the decision to pursue guardianship and strive to maintain privacy and dignity for all involved. 

When is it Time to Consider Guardianship? 

The decision to pursue guardianship is highly personal. However, there are a few signs that it may be time, including: 

• Increasing cognitive impairment - It is a sad fact that many people suffer cognitive impairment as they age, generally in the form of Alzheimer’s or Dementia. When you begin to notice that your loved one’s level of impairment is getting much worse, it may be time to consider guardianship. 

• Inability to manage medical care - If your elderly relative can no longer remember to make or keep medical appointments as needed, or cannot remember to take their needed medications, it may be time to seek guardianship so that you can ensure that they are receiving the proper and necessary care. 

• Financial mismanagement - If your loved one has forgotten to pay their bills for so long that they are receiving shutoff or repossession notices, or if they have lost a large sum of money due to their diminishing mental capacity, it may be time for you to step in and begin managing their finances. 

• Home is not safe - Every aging adult deserves to be safe in the place where they live. If your loved one has had more than one accident or safety incident, such as leaving the stove on, it may be time to obtain guardianship so that you can find a safer and more appropriate living situation for them. Elders whose diminished mental capacity leads to accidents may be in danger if they continue living alone. 

Making the choice to initiate guardianship proceedings can be difficult, but it may also be necessary to protect the health and well-being of your loved one who can no longer care for themselves. 

Contact a DuPage County Guardianship Lawyer 

If you are ready to begin taking important steps to safeguard your elderly relative, A. Traub & Associates can help. Our experienced attorneys can guide you through the proceedings. To schedule your introductory consultation, contact our Lombard family law attorneys by calling 630-426-0196. 

Source:

https://www.agingcare.com/articles/how-to-get-guardianship-of-elderly-parents-140693.htm