Guardianship
The purpose of guardianship is to ensure that continuing care is provided for a person, 18 years or older, who is unable to make decisions for him or herself. A disability alone is not sufficient reason for guardianship. The critical factor is that the person must be unable to make or communicate responsible decisions for him/herself. Guardianship can be tailored to meet the particular needs of the individual. On the other hand, guardianship can impose severe restrictions on a person’s right to make decisions on matters most of us take for granted, such as legal affairs, medical treatment, and service-related issues.