GUARDIANSHIP ACROSS THE STATES

“Navigating the Challenges of Guardianships”October 22, 2015Billings, Montana

Overview• Guardianship Basics

• Common Issues Across States

• Reform Trends

• Political Landscape and State Action

• Questions?

Guardianship BasicsProcess/

Procedure

Necessity

Oversight

Unmet Needs

Common Issues Across States• Caregiving• Shortage of Guardians• Elder Abuse/Financial Exploitation

• Accountability and Court Monitoring

• Individual Rights• Public Guardianship• Jurisdiction

Reform Trends• Folks are talking!• Person Centered Approach• Alternatives to guardianship• Standards for Professional Guardians• Education and Outreach• Monitoring reforms to prevent abuse/exploitation• More collaboration/taskforces/multidisciplinary teams

Political Landscape• Typically a Bi-Partisan Issue

• Issue isn’t “hot”…UNLESS there’s a crisis or tragedy

• Broad issue and could be a very long process

• No One-Size-Fits-All Solution

• Lack of Data

• Policy wonks aren’t necessarily the same as on the ground/frontline workers and vice versa

State Action

Additional Resources• AARP

• AARP Montana• Caregiver Resources • Fraud Watch Network• Public Policy Institute

• ABA Commission on Law and Aging

• Consumer Financial Protection Bureau• Managing Someone

Else’s Money Guides

• National Guardianship Association• 2013 Standards of

Practice• National Guardianship Network

• WINGS Resources• Replication Guide• “What is WINGS Video”• WINGS Replication

Guide

Contacts for More Information

Tim Summers, State DirectorAARP MontanaAARP Wyoming

tsummers@aarp.org

Claudia CliffordAssociate State Director for Advocacy

AARP Montanacclifford@aarp.org

Diana Noel, MPASenior Legislative Representative

AARP National Officednoel@aarp.org