Our vulnerable clientele
Guardianship Corp is appointed to a case when an individual has no funds/assets and there is no one in the Community to accept the Court’s appointment and look out for the incapacitated individuals welfare.
Our current clients range in age from 45 through 90 and primarily fall into 3 categories, that have impacted on their cognitive abilities to such an extent that the Court was required to intervene to ensure their well being.
1. Alzheimers Disease and/or dementia
2. Developmental Disabilities
3. Traumatic Brain Injury: Resulting from car/motorcycle accidents, brain tumor, anoxic event, violent assault.
Examples of our alzheimers/dementia cases
1806R – Guardian of Person & Property
Ruth is a 56 year old woman with severe Alzheimers Disease admitted to a closed dementia unit in a Nursing Center in Smithtown in 2018. Prior to this, she was cared for by her husband in the community. When he passed away she required admission to the nursing center for her safety and care due to wandering. Her step-daughter fraudulently opened accounts in her name and stole insurance and other funds. Guardianship Corp worked with District Attorney for Elder Abuse and the nursing home to go after the step-daughter, recoup stolen funds and obtain Medicaid for her in the long term. She has been assigned a volunteer monitor who is visiting her regularly to monitor her well being.
1913S - Guardian of Person & Property
Steve is a 61 year old man found wandering around Huntington and taken to Huntington Hospital. He presents with severe cognitive deficits that impair his decision making and judgement. Once hospitalized he refused to leave the hospital and would not or could not assist in making any plans for discharge and his safety. He could not answer any questions about his background or finances nor explain where he was living before he entered the hospital. After a hospital based Guardianship hearing, GC was appointed to his case. He has been since transferred to a local nursing home, applied for Medicaid, and has adjusted well to his new environment. GC visits regularly to ensure his welfare.
1914D - Guardian of Person & Property
Daisy is a 56 year old woman who was brought into South Oaks Hospital after her family felt she was acting bizarre and feared for her safety. She was diagnosed with fronto-temporal dementia and was deemed not safe if left unsupervised. GC was appointed to the case. She was placed in a facility in Nassau County as she needs a closed unit and none was available in Suffolk at the time. GC completed the Medicaid application for her, applied for disability, since she is too young for Social Security, and continue to look for a facility in Suffolk, closer to her family, so that they can visit frequently.
1909S – Guardian of Person
Shirley was an 82 year old resident of a local Nursing & Rehab Center with a diagnosis of dementia and anxiety. She originally resided with her husband in the Facility, but he had since passed away leaving her alone with no one to look after her needs. The couple had no children and there is only one nephew who has no involvement with her. She was visited regularly by a volunteer monitor until her death late 2019. GC help coordinate funeral plans for her.
Examples of our developmentally disabled clients
1801A – Guardian of Person & Property
Arthur was a 67 year old male admitted to a Nursing Center on 7/19/18. He was a client of OPW/DD and had previously resided for 13 years in a community residence operated by LIDDSO. Arthur had no family and is unable to communicate or care for himself. Tube fed and in need of total care for activities of daily living, he could no longer be maintained in the Community. We were appointed to his case and began visiting him regularly. When visited,he was usually found in the dining room across from his room drawing or changing his clothing for the 10th time that day. Sadly, he passed away in May 2020 from COVID19. GC coordinated burial plans to ensure a dignified end of life process.
1906Z – Guardian of Person & Property
Zoe is a 50 year old developmentally disabled client for whom Guardianship Corp was appointed successor Guardian, after her mother, who was Guardian, passed away. Zoe lives in a State operated facility in Centerreach and attends a medical model day program in Middle Island. In specific, the Court appointed GC to help evaluate and facilitate a kidney transplant as client is on dialysis and often does not tolerate the process well. A Guardianship Corp Monitor has been assigned will attend all transplant and care plan meetings on behalf of client.
1911D - Guardian of Person & Property
David is a 49 year old developmentally disabled client for whom Guardianship Corp was appointed successor Guardian. He lives in a group home run by F.R.E.E. with 3 other adult males in Mastic and attends day program during the week. He is pleasant, loves music and likes to show you his hat collection or beanie babies that he cares for. David has been assigned a volunteer monitor who visits him regularly.
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examples of our TBI clients
1805L – Guardian of Person & Property
Lloyd is a 63 year old burly man who sustained a traumatic brain injury in 1988. GC was appointed successor guardian as his original guardian was his sister who passed away a few years ago. His brother in law applied to take over as guardian but fell ill himself soon after being appointed. Lloyd receives services through the TBI waiver program that allows him to live in a subsidized apartment with home care and case management services. He is pleasant and social when visited, particularly when talking about his favorite subject of boxing and Muhammad Ali. His short term memory is very poor and he depends on writing things down in a notebook to try and keep track of things. A Guardianship Corp Monitor has been assigned and visits him twice a month. Guardianship Corp works intricately with his TBI Case Manager and Home Care Agency to review and revise his care plan on a regular basis after Lloyd fell and sustained a head injury. Our Monitor also identified that Bubba was paying for diapers out of pocket and we were able to arrange for Medicaid to pick this up going forward. We were able to obtain a donated IPAD for him to enhance his quality of life.
1802M – Guardian of Person & Property
Manual is a 46 year old, Ecuadorian man who was brought into Southside ER after a car accident. He sustained a fractured skull and after being stabilized at Southside, was transferred to a Skilled Nursing Facility in Nassau County. Guardianship Corp has worked with attorneys on filing for PRUCOL and ultimately for Medicaid. Guardianship Corp worked with the Ecuadorian Embassy to obtain a passport needed for identification purposes for this client and assisted in a Fair Hearing to facilitate his benefits and payment to the Nursing Facility. Manual is able to ambulate and follow directions but is cognitively impaired as a result of the traumatic brain injury and resultant seizures. Guardianship Corp is working with clients’ family and the staff at A. Holly Patterson to develop and implement a potential discharge plan for him in the long term. A Guardianship Corp Monitor has been assigned and is visiting him regularly.
1916SM– Guardian of Person & Property
Scott is a 60 year old man diagnosed with a malignant neoplasm in his brain. He was never married, has no children, never held consistent employment and is estranged from his family. He was placed at a Nursing Center, who petitioned for guardianship on his behalf to enable application for his benefits and to authorize/manage his health care needs. Guardianship Corp Monitor has advocated diligently for aggressive follow up and treatment of his cancer and attends consults with him to ensure communication and progress. He is currently completing another round of Chemo and it is hoped that once completed he can return to the Community
1901L – Guardian of Person & Property
Luis is a 36 year old Guatemalan man found unconscious in Riverhead. He was transported to Peconic Bay Medical Center where they found 2 brain bleeds and transported him to Southside Hospital for intensive care. Once stabilized, he was transferred to a Nursing Facility for long term care. He is unconscious, bed bound and on a respirator receiving 24 hour a day skilled care. Guardianship Corp has been working with attorneys on filing for PRUCOL and Medicaid. Guardianship Corp is working with the Guatamalan Embassy to obtain a passport needed for identification purposes for this client to facilitate his benefits and payment.
1907C – Guardian of Person
Carolyn is a 65 year old client for whom GC has been appointed successor guardian of person. She is a totally dependent, bed bound woman who is on continuous oxygen 24/7. She has been a resident at a Nursing Facility dating back to April 2016 after being hospitalized following an acute respiratory failure with hypoxia. As a result, she has a tracheotomy, gastrostomy as well as many other impacting medical conditions and diagnoses. When visited, client is in bed, non responsive to verbal inquiries, with both hands and legs in contracted positions. Guardianship Corp has assigned a volunteer monitor (a retired nurse) to visit regularly, providing a clinical approach to ensuring this clients well being.