Category Archives: Guardianship
Florida’s Laws Protecting Elderly People from Dishonest Professional Guardians Are Not Strong Enough
Imagine watching helplessly while a virtual stranger spent your money and authorized medical treatments to be administered to you or withheld from you. Imagine that, if you objected to this treatment, your objections would carry no weight, nor would the objections of your closest family members, because the stranger was legally responsible for you. … Read More »
Don’t Become a Victim of Florida’s Flawed Elder Guardianship System
It is hard to talk frankly with your family about the possibility of you becoming too ill to care for yourself and make decisions. It is even worse, though, if you don’t talk about it. Too many elderly people in reasonably good health have had their decision-making power taken away from them when the… Read More »
A Cautionary Tale About Professional Guardians and Do Not Resuscitate Orders
Doctors and hospital staff are required to make every effort to save the life of patients brought to them for treatment, no matter how hopeless the person’s situation may seem. Any person who survived a near-death experience after receiving CPR and lived to tell about it will tell you that it was worth all… Read More »
What to Expect in the Guardianship Process
Age affects people differently, and can lead to significant physical and/or mental issues as the body and mind register the toll of living a long and full life. When it appears to family members and friends that an individual’s capacity to handle his/her affairs is compromised, they may look to the guardianship process for… Read More »
Addressing the Needs of Someone with Dementia
As a person grows older, there comes the inevitable worry of what to do if Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia take away one’s ability to make sound decisions and carry out daily tasks. Unfortunately, no one knows when or if this tragic situation will manifest, and it may arise before an individual has… Read More »
Medical Decisions and the Incapacitated Patient
The need for advanced planning by seniors concerning end-of-life medical intervention and decision-making authority as part of a comprehensive estate plan can never be overemphasized. No one wants to face a situation where there is no clear authority on who is to make decisions on medical care and the extent of medical care an… Read More »
Avoiding the Pitfalls of the Appointment of a Professional Guardian
No one knows when an accident, illness or age-related decline may impair one’s ability to manage daily life. Seniors are especially cognizant of the need to prepare for this possibility. A Guardianship is the standard legal procedure to transfer authority over a person’s personal or financial affairs when the individual no longer has the… Read More »
The Importance of Planning for Guardianship
Making important life decisions on issues such as where to live and how to spend one’s money is a measure of autonomy that adults generally take for granted. The ability to exercise such control reflects the commonly-accepted belief that adults have the experience and knowledge necessary to make these decisions in a reasonable manner…. Read More »