If You Need to Establish Parent Guardianship, Our Caring Elder Law Attorneys Can Help
If your aging parent exhibits signs of diminished capacity and can no longer take care of themselves or make sound decisions, it might be time for the court to appoint a guardian for them to ensure they’re protected. The skilled, compassionate lawyers at Landskind & Ricaforte can help you navigate the complicated process of obtaining an adult guardian for your loved one.
Our dedicated attorneys have years of experience helping families when they need guidance and assistance in making plans that affect the future of their loved ones. If you need to establish parental guardianship, schedule a free consultation with our legal team to learn how we might be able to help prepare your family’s senior member for later life.
Signs Your Loved One May Need a Guardian
Diminished capacity is usually evident when someone’s mental and physical abilities decline. You may see this after visiting a loved one over an extended holiday and witnessing how time has changed their ability to care for themselves and handle their own affairs. Typically, there are common signs of someone’s incapacity that might indicate the need for guardianship.
Loss of Memory
Mental diseases such as Alzheimer’s and dementia can radically change a senior’s ability to think clearly, remember, and recall important information. When this ability is compromised and they develop memory loss, they may encounter numerous challenges, such as:
- Forgetting critical medical appointments
- Not comprehending where they’re driving or the reason why
- Failing to recognize the need for proper hygiene
- Misplacing necessary items
- Being unable to remember locations of places they’ve visited for years
You might also notice other symptoms, too, such as becoming disorganized or having difficulty problem-solving or communicating their thoughts.
Reduced Cognitive Judgment
As some people age, they face a decreased ability to reason with sound cognitive judgment. This diminished capacity makes them vulnerable because they can no longer make well-informed and lucid decisions about their finances, health, and personal affairs.
Certain Medical Diagnoses
Some medical conditions may necessitate parental guardianship. These conditions may include balance disorders, Parkinson’s disease, diminished eyesight, diabetic complications, and many others that directly affect your senior’s ability to live independently. After receiving a medical diagnosis that impacts their mobility, cognitive ability, and/or ability, a senior may need a guardian to help ensure safety and protection.
Inability to Take Medications Properly
As people age, they often take an increased amount of medication. Over time, it can become difficult to keep track of all the prescriptions, understand what they are and what they’re used for, and when to take them. When a senior can’t manage their own medication intake, it can lead to overdosing, underdosing, and complete nonadherence to a medication regimen. This might cause serious health complications.
Needs Help Managing Finances
As people age, many find it increasingly difficult to manage their finances. It may start with confusion over keeping a checkbook or keeping track of a monthly budget. You may also find your loved one is giving away money to strangers or has been the victim of a phone or email financial scam. They may suddenly have trouble using an ATM after forgetting their access code. A guardian's role might be to oversee certain financial matters.
Not Adhering to Personal Hygiene
If you notice that your loved one is losing interest in personal hygiene or simply is unable to bathe on their own, it could be a sign that they can no longer care for themselves. Lack of good hygiene can put seniors at risk for infections and illness, and keeping clean is important for overall health. It’s possible that a loved one is afraid to get in the shower alone because they fear falling on a slippery surface, or they may be physically unable to maneuver in a tub or shower. When you see this happening, you may want to consider guardianship for them.
Pursuing Guardianship is a Tough Decision
Life care planning, like seeking parent guardianship, is a huge decision and one that should be made with careful consideration. The attorneys at Landskind & Ricaforte know that you have your loved one’s best interests at heart and want to protect them. Our team understands all the reasons why this is a sensitive issue, and we can help.