michigan professional guardian services

Q: Who do you help as a professional guardian/conservator?

A: I work with individuals who have been deemed incapacitated by the court, a process that can be difficult and lengthy. Most of my wards are elderly and many have suffered financial exploitation by a family member, leaving them with little money or other assets.

Q: What do you do for them?

A: Because many of these individuals come to me with limited financial resources, I have to be creative about figuring out where they’re going to live and how they are going to pay for it. My goal is to get them into a safe environment where they are well taken care of and can enjoy the time they have left. I also make most medical decisions for the individual unless their family is still involved in this way. Sometimes the family is stripped of their financial rights and control, but wants to maintain a personal relationship with the individual – and I can help enable that.

Q: What do you most enjoy about being a guardian?

A: What’s most rewarding about this work is getting someone out of bad situation to a place where they’re protected from financial or physical harm.

Q: What are some of the greatest challenges of your job?

A: You often have to be creative about where you find money to support someone, and if their situation is particularly bad, that can be quite challenging. You also worry about whether you’re making the right choices – the right move, the right medical decision – you want to make the best decisions for them. It’s also hard to be questioned by family members who don’t think you have their relative’s best interests in mind or don’t understand why you’re making the decisions you need to.

Q: In the case of seniors with supportive families, how could using a professional guardian be helpful?

A: When siblings are at odds about what’s best for their aging parent, it can be helpful to bring in a guardian as a neutral third party. It can also help overwhelmed or physically distant family members take some responsibility off of their plate, giving them the opportunity to focus on quality time with their loved one.

Q: Are there any misconceptions about being a conservator that you’d like to clear up?

A: Families and friends often think we’re “stealing” from our ward when we sell their homes and other assets, but we’re doing so to be able to pay for their care. It’s our job to liquidate and preserve their assets, but we still have to get a signed court order before selling any property. Court-appointed conservators do not have free rein to sell off whatever they see fit.

Q: Is there anything else you’d want people to know?

A: Being a guardian is a 24/7 job. If someone gets sick at 2:30am you need to be ready and available to make important decisions. It can be difficult to be “on” all the time, but it’s a job I’m happy I chose.