To the Editor:
An article about guardianship programs in the March 21 Indianapolis Star fails to represent cases factually or fairly. It would make a good case study for a college journalism class.
With little knowledge of a case that affected our local guardianship program Johnson and Shelby County VASIA, the article inaccurately described the situation and the actions taken to protect an adult suffering from neglect and inadequate care, discovered by health care workers. As adult guardianship cases are matters of public record, the reporter should have reviewed the material.
As a member of the advisory board of VASIA, which stands for Volunteer Advocates for Seniors and Incapacitated Adults, I choose not to expose personal matters to general public scrutiny. The staff and volunteers of VASIA share this attitude as we seek to guard the dignity and worth of our court-appointed protected persons.
The factual and contextual truth of the protected person’s wife as depicted in the story should be taken with many grains of salt. When a suitable guardian was located within the family, it was not the protected person’s wife. Guardianship programs often place their protected persons in facilities because their persons require that level of care and supervise that care.
Those neglecting or abusing adults are often family members. In our two counties, the burden of proof is on those who believe an adult needs guardianship, such as Adult Protective Services or a physician.
No person is assigned a guardian until a county judge determines they need someone to oversee their financial and medical decisions. The judge rules whether a family member can assume that role. If a family member cannot be a trusted guardian, either permanently or immediately, the judge may assign the role to someone else. These are the most difficult cases, often where neglect and abuse is evident, regardless of intent.
I am proud of our two-county guardianship program, which is overseen by a county judge. Volunteers are vetted, trained and sworn in, accountable to both the VASIA staff and county judges. Their visits and actions are recorded and reviewed. They are supported by staff who know Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security regulations, and by lawyers and accountants, as needed. Volunteer stipends are minimal, covering some of their transportation expenses.
We do not load up cases on volunteers. Protected people could not receive the care they deserve with more than a few assigned to one volunteer. We seek quality volunteers; those seeking an income need not apply. Most abuses occur in programs that are not volunteer-based or properly supervised.
The reporter has pointed out flaws with too broad a brush, without painting within the lines, and while confusing nursing home and Medicaid regulations with guardianship programs. Guardianship programs care for the most vulnerable members of the community. They are the community’s expression of compassion and affirm the value of every human being. Because they are run by imperfect human beings, and legislated by imperfect human beings, they are subject to failings, but normally they are much smaller than the situations in which vulnerable adults have been living.
If you would like to be part of an ethical, compassionate organization that values the welfare and happiness of vulnerable adults, I encourage you to consider volunteering for Johnson and Shelby County VASIA.
Peter F. Jessen
Franklin
