What does being a Guardian entail?

Dee24

Hi Boardsies,

I dont really post that often, more of a Boards lurker.

However, I have recently been asked to do something and would like some more information/advice from the very knowledgeable Boardsies.

My aunt has Alzheimers, I am her Goddaughter, and she has no sons or daughters of her own. Her only next of kin are her sister, and my dad, her brother. Her husband has been dead for a long time.

My cousins live right next door to her, and another of her nephews (also my cousin) lives with her.

However, they are not taking care of her as she should be, and my Dad is increasingly frustrated and angry at how she is being neglected.

My family has tried to arrange a rota between us and our cousins, that we would all look after her and stay with her when my cousin who lives with her is away (Lets call him X, and my cousins who live besider her Y). However, they have repeatedly neglected to tell us when X is away, and she has been found wandering down the town 3 or 4 times at this stage, soaked to the skin when raining, and was brought home by some of the locals, who found that Y were in their own house, but just didnt bother keeping a strict enough eye on her to stop her getting out.

Every time we go up to see her, her house is freezing and we have to turn on the heating for her. And she is left to herself in her kitchen with no TV or anything to keep her mind occupied (X never bothered to get her TV set up for Saorview, whereas he has a lovely flat screen tV in his bedroom).

At this stage, Dad is at the end of his tether, and is going to apply to make her a ward of the court, with the view to putting her into a home for Alzheimers patients, as advised by both my aunts doctor and the social worker.

My parents are also concerned that she is being taken advantage of, she would have alot of savings, and they feel that these may have been accessed by my cousins unfairly.

My mam and dad have just asked me to be her Guardian.

They have to meet with their solicitor properly to go through everything, but personally I would like to be able to help in any way I can, as she has been so good to all of us over the years.

So what exactly does being a guardian entail? I would appreciate as much information and advise as possible.

Many thanks in advance!

Ham Sambo

HiDee24.

I canrelate somehow to your story, first of all your Dad (or somebody acting on hisbehalf) should seek advice from the HSE as to what options are open to yourfamily, there are a number of avenues open to you relating to professional carefor your aunt, I am sure you will agree at her age she deserves a betterlifestyle that what’s given to her by your ‘cousin’, I also believe that yourmale cousin should not be involved in here care solely because he is male, forinstance, who looks after her personal care, bathing toileting etc, I am sureif you phone your local public health nurse (HSE) they will advise you on whatis best practice.

Asfor your concerns regarding your aunts bank account I would strongly advise youto contact her solicitor and tell him what you suspect, he will again adviseyou on best practice regarding this whole matter, best of luck.

LegacyUser

From what you have told us your aunt needs to be made a ward of court as she is unable to look after her own affairs.
For further information on this I would look up the following - Alzheimer Society of Ireland website http://www.alzheimer.ie.
If you go into I am a carer section there is a section on planning for the future which has some legal advice.
You can also find out the services that are available in aunts local area.
They also have a national helpline number of 1 800 341 341.
One of my friends has a parent with Alzheimer and they got a lot of help from the Alzheimer Society as they were able to tell them what help they could have, the services available ect.