NOTE:

In the past, decisions about guardianship were based on global criteria that labeled people as “insane,” as an “incompetent,” as an “idiot” or as an “aged person.” Obviously, these “all or nothing” labels are no longer considered useful or fair because they only stigmatized the person & removed any dignity or choice the person may have still had. Now global criteria have been replaced by a combination of medical, functional, & decision-making criteria, the presence or absence of risky behaviors, & the history, context, & content of the person’s life. While there is still some debate about the quality & validity of these tools, they do provide more focus and data to family members, friends, & caseworker about the status & potential of the person with limited capacity.
See link to Knowledge Check (Scenario-Ken) re 3 assessment questions
See link to Knowledge Check (Scenario-Drake re dec-mkng)
Is this where they go?

Guardianship and its Alternatives

How to Assess your Own Situation Better and Determine which Solution(s) are Most Appropriate

Your goal, as a concerned family member, friend, or caseworker, is to think through and research alternatives to guardianship and then select the least restrictive way(s) to provide the person with the care, supervision, and support he or she needs to maintain as much choice, control, and dignity as possible. The answers to the following questions may help you evaluate the appropriateness of the different alternatives as you work through this online interactive guide:

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