Healthcare professionals play an important role in the adult guardianship process. When a patient is experiencing decision-making limitations (diminished capacity), there is a range of options that may be able to help address that patient’s needs. Guardianship is one option, but by law, it is a last resort.
This handbook offers healthcare settings a tool for exploring alternatives to guardianship in a patient-centered way. If guardianship is needed, the tool will help you prepare for the guardianship case. The handbook also includes guidance for clinicians who are asked to complete a capacity assessment in a guardianship case. The assessments help courts decide whether to appoint a guardian and can help someone avoid or get out of an unnecessary or overly broad guardianship.
This resource was supported by the Administration for Community Living (ACL), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of a financial assistance award totaling $1,070,971 with 100 percent funding by ACL/HHS. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by ACL/HHS, or the U.S. Government.