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Be a Guardian Angel . . .

A Closer Look at the Volunteer Guardianship Program

Jalon Helton, Service Coordinator for the Rosa Morgan Center and Monica Slovak, Older Adult Services Program Manager represent older adult programs at the Area Office on Aging’s 34th Annual Spring Fling.

The Volunteer Guardianship Program continues to provide legal volunteer guardians for indigent, incompetent older adults, (wards) residing in longterm care within Lucas County.

A Brief Summary of our“Guardian Angels”

Since the program began in May, 2006, we have trained 40 Guardian Angels! Our Guardian Angels are strictly involved in
guardianship of the person and are not responsible for their wards’ finances. Program guardians must be 21 years old, reside in Ohio and be law abiding citizens.

Responsibilities include the following:

Ensuring that the basic needs of the wards are met

Seeking services that help the wards reach or maintain their highest potentials

Authorizing medical care, counseling or other treatment as needed

Executing releases on the ward’s behalf

Making end of life decisions for the benefit of the wards

A Guardian Angel’s Success Story

For the past 2.5 years I have been honored to be allowed the opportunity to make someone’s life better. My ward“Pete” has no family, so no visitors. After a few months of visiting him and getting to know him better, I realized that he had a wealth of knowledge to share. The on-going training that we are given teaches us to be more aware of how to assist patients with Alzheimer’s disease. I thought that if I could use his long- term
memory, it would help him compensate for losing some of his short-term memory. Therefore, I am lucky enough to have a ward who is teaching me Spanish! On most visits, he gives me a new word or phrase that I write down in my little book. Sometimes, his face lights up and I hear that wonderful sound of laughter filling his room. He is always amazed how I can mess up his pretty words.

Recently we had a trip to the hospital. As he lay in the Emergency Room, I prayed that this would not be the day he left me. I whispered all of the beautiful words he had taught me in his ear. Every time his numbers would go up, and the alarms would stop sounding. Six days later he was discharged and back speaking to me again. I’m sure that he gives me more than I give him, but as he says, “Life is good if you have a full belly and a happy heart.”

Volunteer Guardian Kevin Gorman signs Oath of
Guardianship with Magistrate Trevor Fernandes

Program Updates

We have 27 active cases at this time, with four more in waiting!

Welcome aboard our newest volunteers:
James Berger
Barbara Feeley
Walter Goetz
Jennifer Slates!

Thank you Lucas County Department of Job and Family Services for renewing the program’s funds for 2012!

For More Information, pPlease visit the program’s website at www.lssnwo.org/VGP or contact Monica Slovak, Older Adult Services Program Manager at 419-243-9178 or by email at mslovak@lssnwo.org.

 

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Interested in Becoming a Guardian Angel?

Please complete an inquiry form by clicking on the inquiry link form to the right. You may also contact Monica Slovak, Program Coordinator, at 419-243-9178 or e-mail: mslovak@lssnwo.org

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