With the graying of society, more and more adult citizens are becoming increasingly vulnerable. But, that vulnerability is not due to the rapidly changing world around them. It is due to the changes within themselves.
To answer that social challenge Senior Services of Alexandria established the Guardianship of Last Resort Program in 2000. It serves Alexandria residents, those who through cognitive or other impairment cannot manage their own affairs and have no appropriate family member or friend to rely upon.
"I don't know of any other organization in the state that has done what we have done in our relatively short time of existence," said Jaquelin Simons, director, Senior Services Guardianship Program.
The program grew out of a request from the city's Department of Human Services, according to Simons. "I had been in banking for 20 years and decided I wanted to change careers and get into social work," she related. "I just happen to be talking with Susan Dawson (Senior Services executive director) and she asked me if I would be interested in heading up a new Guardianship Program."
Since its beginning, the program has served 21 clients in a variety of categories, Simons noted. Working with her is a nine member Guardianship Advisory Committee plus two consultants.
The multidisciplinary committee provides expertise and guidance. It is comprised of representatives from the Office of Aging and Adult Services, City Attorney's office, Community Service Board, medical community, Alexandria Bar, Senior Services' Board of Directors, and the community at large.
"The committee reviews each case situation but the names of the clients are strictly confidential. Not even they know the names, only the circumstances," Simons explained.
Marie McKenney Tavernini, Esq., a member of the committee and legal advisor to the program, said, "This program is providing some very much needed assistance to the most vulnerable citizens of Alexandria in a way that would be unavailable to them otherwise."
HER ASSESSMENT was seconded by attorney George McAndrews, another member of the advisory group. "It fills a very definite need in the city for people who have no one else. But, it's Simons who really makes the program work. She has made it succeed as it is today through her dedication and knowledge," he said.
Ron L. Lyons, director, Alexandria Office of Aging and Adult Services, a charter member of the Advisory Committee, admitted, "We've always had trouble getting people to serve as guardians. Now, it's going very well. This program is a godsend."
Primarily, the program serves indigent and low income seniors. "We only take seniors who are 60 years of age and above," Simons noted.
Coupled with the Guardianship Program is Conservatorship. A Conservator is responsible for all financial matters pertaining to the client but not other life decisions.
A guardian is responsible for the person's personal affairs, including making decisions regarding support, care, health, safety, habilitation, education, medical treatment, and living arrangements. Both guardians and conservators are appointed by the court, Simons clarified.
A THIRD SERVICE provided by Senior Services through its Guardianship Program is known as "Representative Payee." This is far less restrictive. "An agent is named by a government agency, usually the Social Security Administration, to administer and manage that agency's benefits on behalf of the beneficial owner," according to Senior Services.
"We currently have seven guardianships clients, three conservator clients, and five representative payee clients," Simons said. "We also have three pending guardianship/conservator clients and one pending payee client."
Through its Guardianship Program, Senior Services also assists family members and friends who serve as guardian/conservator with court forms and procedures. One of the ways this is accomplished is through community forums.
On April 30, from 4 to 6 p.m., Senior Services is conducting its third free Guardianship Forum at the Charles E. Beatley Jr. Central Library, 5005 Duke St. The program will address two critical topics: Medicaid eligibility and legal questions around guardianship; and Evaluation of capacity and psychosocial issues including memory loss, behavior changes, and decision making.
Presenters will be Rhonda L. Williams, LCSW, therapist and coordinator, Geriatric Mental Health Team, Alexandria Community Services Board, and Edward E. Zetlin, Esq., managing attorney, Arlington Office, Legal Services of Northern Virginia. To RSVP or for further information call 703-836-4414.
ONE OF THE BIGGEST challenges facing the program is funding, Simons verified. "I have a budget within Senior Services and the City of Alexandria provides most of that money.
"Our first fiscal year, July 2000 to June 2001, the budget was $50,000. The city supplied $25,000 and the rest came from grants, foundations, corporations, and individuals. Our present budget is $63,000."
Supplementing the city's financial support are the Virginia Law Foundation, Alexandria Rotary International, First Baptist of Alexandria Foundation, and SunTrust Bank. On the work side, Simons is aided by a cadre of volunteers who serve as "friendly visitors."
Simons noted, "The State of Virginia has a public Guardianship/Conservator Program, but no money to fund it. That's why we also operate as an advocate for Guardianship in collaboration with other groups.
"In 2002 the General Assembly took away all the money for the State's program. We got $105,000 restored through strong advocacy in Richmond."
Advocacy in the State capital is not the only place Simons and Dawson practice that art. "There was a question whether the judges would appoint an organization as a guardian. Susan and I went to talk to the judges and they got on board. They even broke precedent by allowing the agency to serve as conservators," Simon acknowledged.
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