Guardianship Services

In 1984, Ursuline Senior Services established a guardianship program through a contract with the Allegheny County Department of Aging. This program serves persons who are 60+ in age, low income, are not initially institutionalized and meet the Department of Aging criteria. Today, Ursuline Senior Services is the only agency in Allegheny County to provide such services for this segment of the population.

Since the inception of the guardianship program, the Ursuline Senior Services staff has been named the legal guardian for over 500 persons. Presently, the staff includes ten (10) Guardians of Estate, eight (8) Guardians of Person and one (1) support member. The average caseload for each guardian is 30 to 40 clients. Over the years, the guardians have been exposed to unique, complex, intricate and sometimes dangerous situations, which require good judgment, refined problem-solving skills, reflective decision-making and a balanced advocacy role.

The Guardianship Program Director guides the staff to ensure that appropriate services are provided to the clients. As such, he serves as the primary program liaison with the Orphans’ Court to promote a positive working relationship with the Judges and with the court staff.

COURT SUPPORT PROGRAM

The Court Support Program Investigator handles the referrals for the court support program. These referrals come directly from the Orphans’ Court Division of the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas. The services vary according to the needs of the indigent elderly population. She investigates the referral seeking out the assets of the person, their present living arrangement and any family that may be involved.

PUBLIC GUARDIANSHIP PROGRAM

The Allegheny County Area Agency on Aging makes the referrals to the Public Guardianship Program for individuals over the age of 60 years. These are people who have no other responsible caregiver. Sometimes these referrals come through the Protective Services Program and are emergency situations.

Five people serve as Guardians of Estate for this program. They spend their days marshalling the assets of their assigned clients. On any given day, they may be cleaning out the apartment or home of a client and preparing the property for sale. They pay the bills for the clients. If needed, they will make the arrangements for burial for the clients. Each guardian has a “fiduciary duty” to protect the rights and property of their clients.

The Guardians of Person are responsible to the clients for meeting their day-to-day needs for safe placement and appropriate medical care. They visit the clients on a regular basis, sometimes doing grocery shopping, arranging and accompanying them to medical appointments and often having to seek alternate living situations for their clients. There are times when the Guardian of Person is the only “family” for a client.

One Guardian provides support services to the guardians and to their clients by reconciling bank statements, completing PACE and rent rebate applications, and helping with reporting concerns.

PRIVATE GUARDIANSHIP PROGRAM

A telephone call from an attorney, a physician, a hospital, a long term care facility or an assisted living facility initiates the process for a private guardianship. As in the Public Guardianship Program, there are both Guardians of Estate and Guardians of Person in the Private Program. The difference between the programs is the extent of the assets the client possesses. The Private Guardianship Program is a fee-for-service program.

There are two Guardians of Estate to serve the private clients. Their primary responsibility is to manage and use the client’s funds and property for the client’s benefit. They sort out bank accounts, stocks, bonds, life insurance policies, real estate, personal possessions and automobiles as well as income from Social Security, pensions and trusts.

The Guardians of Person travel far and wide to provide their clients’ support as well as seeing that their needs are met. Sometimes they are clothes shopping, sometimes they are celebrating birthdays, but most often they are visiting to reassure their clients of their concern for them.

SPECIAL NEEDS TRUST

The Master Special Needs Trust established by Ursuline Senior Services offers a unique opportunity to satisfy the needs of a disabled person. The basic necessities of the disabled person will be met and the trust is free to concentrate the funds on improvements to the quality of life of the individual. The improvements might include customized health care supplies, specialized training or companion services.

The disabled person, as well as the parent, grandparent, guardian or court may transfer assets to the trust for the person’s benefit. Only trusts which conform to 42 U.S.C.A. Section 1396p(d)(4) qualify and only a non-profit association may establish and administer these funds.

KANE REGIONAL NURSING CENTERS

Ursuline Senior Services entered into a contract with Allegheny County to serve as the Guardian for residents in the four Kane Regional Centers. One guardian visits each center during the week to support the residents and to meet their individual needs.

LAUREL CREST NURSING CENTER

Ursuline Senior Services entered into a contract with the Cambria County Commissioners to provide Guardianship Services for some of the residents of the Laurel Crest Nursing Center in Ebensburg, PA. There is one Guardian of Person for those clients who visits with them, shops for them and provides support for each of them. Their financial needs are handled by one Guardian of Estate. Together these Guardians serve 47 clients in the Laurel Crest Nursing Center.

SERVICES OUTSIDE OF ALLEGHENY COUNTY

In addition to Allegheny County, Ursuline Senior Services provides guardianship services in several surrounding counties including Blair, Butler, Cambria, Greene, Indiana, Somerset, Washington and Westmoreland. The Guardian of Person visits the clients in personal care homes and nursing centers across these counties. There is also one Guardian of Estate for these clients.

Through annual reports the Ursuline Senior Services staff responds to the Orphans’ Court detailing their activities with the clients and the services that have been provided to the clients. The Allegheny County Area Agency on Aging monitors the Public Guardianship Program to ensure compliance with the regulations.

Ursuline Senior Services is proud of the twenty years of Guardianship service to the residents of Allegheny County and the surrounding counties. The agency looks forward to expanding these services throughout the southwest Pennsylvania area.

For more information on Guardianship Services contact us at 412.683.0400 ext. 258 or guardianship@ursulineseniors.org