Is Guardianship Right for Your Elderly Family Member?
By Carlos Gamino.
If you’re like many people, you know that guardianship exists to protect people’s best interests – and it may be necessary in caring for your own elderly family member. But what is guardianship of the elderly, and could it be the right choice in your situation? This guide explains elder guardianship so you can make an informed decision.
What is Elder Guardianship?
Elder guardianship is one way to protect at-risk elders from making harmful decisions. Through guardianship, a court may give you the authority to make decisions, give consent, and advocate for your loved one’s best interests. With guardianship, you may be able to protect your loved one from abuse, neglect and financial exploitation, as well as manage their finances and make decisions about where they should live, what types of medical treatments they should receive and how they should exercise their legal rights.
Related: What is permanent guardianship?
Guardianship may be the right choice if the person is incapable of making sound decisions on their own, whether it’s due to an illness or injury, developmental disabilities or something else. If you need to protect your incapacitated loved one from a serious risk of personal or financial harm, you may want to talk to a Wisconsin elder guardianship attorney about your situation.
Elder guardianship can be temporary or permanent, and the areas of your loved one’s life that you become responsible for will depend on the legal issues in your case. For example, you may be able to take control of your loved one’s finances to protect them from financial abuse, or you may be able to make medical decisions for that person; every case is different, and when you speak to an attorney about your situation, they’ll give you the advice you need.
Related: Who looks out for a child’s best interests?
How Do You Get Guardianship of an Elderly Family Member?
The only way to get legal guardianship of an elderly family member in Wisconsin is to go through the court system. For most people, the best course of action is to work with an attorney. If you’re considering pursuing guardianship of your elderly loved one, call us at 414-383-6700 now – we may be able to help you.