What is Guardianship? Guardianship is a legal relationship in which an appointed guardian is authorized by the Clerk of Superior Court to be a substitute decision maker for an incompetent adult.
Who may need a Guardian? *An elderly person *Persons with intellectual developmental disabilities *Persons with severe and persistent mental illness *Persons with severe and persistent substance abuse issues *Persons with a traumatic brain injury
What Guardianship can provide: *We serve as a surrogate decision maker regarding a person's services, which may include medical, residential, psychiatric, and psychological services. *We monitor these services by maintaining contact with providers and meeting regularly with both the individual and their providers. *We visit the individuals and maintain a positive relationship with both the person and their families, or significant others. *We advocate for the person's best interest and least restrictive living environment. *We coordinate with all available community resources in order to provide the most comprehensive services available to the individual.
What Guardianship cannot provide: *We cannot force individuals to change their behaviors. *We cannot force individuals to act in their own best interests. *We cannot force medical, psychiatric, or residential services. *We cannot prevent self-destructive behaviors or relationships. *We cannot prevent a person from leaving an unlocked facility. *We cannot force an agency or hospital to provide services.
Hope for the Future currently contracts with the following counties: Buncombe, Caldwell, Catawba, Cherokee, Davidson, Gaston, Haywood, Henderson, Mecklenburg, Polk, Rowan, Rutherford, Transylvania, and Yadkin.
Hope for the Future, Inc. is state certified by the North Carolina Guardianship Association and if fully insured to provide protections to persons served.