President of V.I.P. Care Management Highlights the Critical Role of Professional Guardianship in Elderly Care

With the rising aging population in the United States, the necessity for professional guardianship has become more evident and pressing. According to statistics, 17.3% of the population ages 65 and older, with 21.6% in Florida itself. Sonja Kobrin, M.P.S., President of V.I.P. Care Management, Inc., is poised to meet this growing demand as she provides professional guardianship services in Florida. She further emphasizes the importance of having qualified professional guardians to safeguard the elderly who have no other trusted advocates in their life.

The elderly population is facing a significant challenge. As Sonja states, “Currently, thousands of guardianships are filed annually, yet there are few certified professional guardians available to be appointed to handle these cases. Florida has a number of non-profit public guardianship programs for the indigent but most have a long waiting list.” This shortage leads to unsafe situations for elderly individuals who lack advanced planning and support. Without proper guardianship, vulnerable seniors face many risks. Additionally, people are under false impressions about professional guardians.

Guardianship often carries a negative connotation, conjuring images of stripped civil liberties and overreach. However, ideally, guardianship is a carefully monitored legal process designed to protect individuals who can no longer make informed decisions due to mental or physical incapacity. “Guardianship is not about taking away rights haphazardly,” Kobrin stresses. “It’s about providing necessary protection while allowing for as much independence as feasible. Every major decision made by the guardian is subject to court approval, ensuring transparency and accountability.”

A professional guardian is tasked with a range of responsibilities, from managing finances to making medical decisions, ensuring that the individual’s rights and well-being are protected. This role is particularly crucial in preventing financial abuse, self-injury, and neglect. Sonja cites examples of elderly individuals with dementia wandering into dangerous situations or refusing essential medical treatment. “These are not just cases of unwise decisions,” she notes. “These individuals have lost the capacity to make informed decisions, making professional guardianship an essential safeguard.”

Professional guardians undergo rigorous training and certification processes, ensuring they are well-equipped to handle the complexities of guardianship. They are closely monitored by the courts, with stringent reporting and accounting requirements to prevent any misuse of power. “A guardian’s actions are always overseen by the court,” Sonja emphasizes. “This level of oversight ensures that the guardian acts in the best interest of the individual, providing an essential safety net. The directive from our courts is that guardianship should be the solution of last resort, implemented with the least restrictive means possible. The guardian and the court are required to routinely evaluate the person under guardianship for the possibility of having their rights restored. The restoration of rights should occur at the soonest possible opportunity, if ever possible.”

While professional guardianship is essential, individuals of sound mind can take proactive steps to manage their affairs and potentially avoid ever requiring a guardianship, as per Sonja. “Individually these steps do not prevent guardianship but a combination of them can help,” she states.

One key measure is assigning a Durable Power of Attorney, allowing a trusted person to make financial decisions on their behalf. Additionally, designating a Health Care Surrogate ensures someone is appointed to make medical decisions if they are unable to do so. Utilizing professional or family bill pay services for money management can also help maintain financial stability. Establishing joint bank accounts with trusted family members ensures smooth financial management while assigning a Social Security Representative Payee can help manage social security benefits effectively.

For veterans, designating a Veteran’s Administration Fiduciary is an important step to managing Veterans Affairs (VA) benefits. Creating certain types of trusts can provide a secure way to manage assets. Engaging in care management services and community care services offers ongoing support, so that needs can be met without the necessity of guardianship. Lastly, opting for voluntary guardianship while still cognitively capable allows individuals to retain control over their decisions and affairs. By taking these steps, individuals can create a robust plan for their future, minimizing the potential need for guardianship.

For Sonja Kobrin, obtaining her certification as a licensed professional guardian in Florida is a significant milestone in her career. It has allowed her to expand her practice and offer vital services to a growing number of elderly individuals in need. “Many have not planned for their future, and as a result, they find themselves in dangerous situations. My goal is to bridge that gap and provide the necessary protection and care,” she says.

Her dedication to professional guardianship reflects a broader commitment to improving the quality of senior care. By demystifying guardianship and highlighting its critical role, she hopes to encourage seniors and their families to take active steps to plan for incapacity in such a way that they can avoid guardianship. Meanwhile, Sonja hopes to see more qualified professionals enter the field of professional guardianship to address the increasing demand.

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