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< Back to Services for Mature Adults
 Volunteer Guardians
help manage the personal affairs of
vulnerable older adults who can no longer
make safe, appropriate decisions for
themselves. Older adults who are eligible
for this program have been determined unable
to take care of themselves by the probate
courts.
Money Management is a part of this
program.
Why and where Volunteer Guardians are needed
Some elderly
cannot manage on their own and do not have friends or family members
who are willing or suitable to serve as their guardians. Volunteer
Guardians are matched with Dallas, Collin, Rockwall, Kaufman or
Hunt county adults over the age of 50 who have been determined to
be incapacitated by the probate courts. By protecting the well-being
and ensuring the health and safety of these older adults, volunteers
help prevent abuse, neglect and exploitation of an extremely vulnerable
segment of our population.
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Could
this be your neighbor?
| Her husband
died over 10 years ago. They never had any children, and every
day she missed her best friend and companion of almost 45 years.
Each morning the neighbors would see her standing at the bus
stop close to her house, waiting to board the bus to take her
to downtown Dallas to her favorite donut shop that she had frequented
the many years she worked at an insurance company. She would
come home with her box of donuts and Dr Peppers and spend her
days alone in her home. Ms. C had a wonderful sense of humor
and enjoyed life to the fullest. She had wonderful memories
of her life before the Alzheimer’s disease began to rob
her of this comfort. Neighbors
would check on her from time to time. Friends who had moved
from Dallas would send letters and Christmas cards. One very
hot August day, neighbors realized no one had seen Ms. C recently.
The mail had begun to pile up in the mailbox. The police were
called and Adult Protective Services saw that she was taken
to the hospital. Once she was able to leave the hospital,
she moved to a protected environment where her needs could
be met. The advanced Alzheimer’s disease and profound
hearing loss prevented her from returning home.
Because
Ms. C was not able to provide the basic needs of food, shelter
and medical care for herself, it was determined that guardianship
was the only option to ensure Ms. C’s safety and well-being.
APS referred Ms. C to our guardianship program. Since Ms.
C was unable to return to her home, as Guardian of the Person,
we worked with the Guardian of the Estate to clean her house,
sell it and make sure Ms. C had the things she needed to be
comfortable. Our volunteer and staff visit regularly to ensure
Ms. C’s health and well-being. Ms. C is in a safe place
where people care about her and she enjoys good nutrition,
medical care and a much higher quality of life.
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From
the outside of the house, it looks like any house on
the block. No indication of the chaos inside is visible.
We later learned that the neighborhood association was
maintaining the lawn and outside of the house. They
had no idea that the resident was in such a predicament. |
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PLEASE
HELP
By volunteering. Assist staff
in monitoring the health and well-being of these vulnerable
adults after they have been placed in a safe environment.
Click
here.
By donating. Help us meet
the growing need. Click
here. |
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Who can be a Volunteer Guardian
Individuals 21 years or older who have the
time and interest can become a Volunteer
Guardian. No special skills are required
outside of a genuine concern and compassion
to enhance the quality of life for an older
adult. Personal references, interviews and
criminal background checks are required, and
volunteers must meet Probate Code
requirements and be able to be bonded.
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Training
that we provide for Volunteer Guardians
Guardianship
staff provide 7 hours of initial training and quarterly training
to Volunteer Guardians. Pro bono attorneys are matched with volunteers
to help answer legal questions that may arise. In addition, our
staff and community professionals provide ongoing support.
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Volunteer Guardian responsibilities
Volunteers carry out their duties as authorized by the Texas Probate Code and court orders, by making regular visits to clients and providing assistance in a number of areas, including
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helping guard the safety and general well-being of clients
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arranging for needed social and health care services
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making medical decisions as needed
-
ensuring that the client resides in appropriate housing.
Staff is available around the clock to
assist with these responsibilities.
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Become a Volunteer Guardian
Click
here for an application that can be downloaded. Please
return the completed application to Guardianship and Money Management
Director, The Senior Source, 3910 Harry Hines Boulevard, Dallas, Texas 75219.
If you have questions or comments, please Contact the Guardianship
staff at 214.823.5700 or email.
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Number of people served in 2006
In 2006, 7
frail elderly individuals were served by 27 Volunteer Guardians,
who contributed more than 1,050 hours of service.
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Major funders of this program ($5000+)
- Dallas County
- The Meadows Foundation
- Spirit of Generations Awards Luncheon
- Texas Department of Aging and Disability
Services
- United Way of Metropolitan Dallas, Inc.
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For more information
Please contact the Guardianship
and Money Management Director at 214.823.5700 or
email.
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