If a senior loved one is having trouble making decisions for themselves, you may have considered becoming their guardian. Senior guardianships can be difficult to understand. Many families don’t know everything the role entails. Here are a few things caregivers should know before seeking guardianship for a senior loved one.

Understanding What It Means to Be a Senior Guardian

1. What is a senior guardian?

A senior guardian, also known as an adult guardian, is an adult appointed by the court to care for a senior who is incapacitated. Once a guardian is appointed, the senior becomes their ward. The guardian is responsible for managing the ward’s life and making decisions in their best interest.

The guardian can legally make decisions about:

• Where the ward will live
• How to handle their finances and other assets
• Health care and medical treatments
• End-of-life decisions

2. What types of responsibilities does a guardian have?

In addition to making decisions in the ward’s best interest, the guardian is also responsible for the following tasks:

• Making sure they get to their doctors’ appointments
• Helping manage their medications
• Paying their bills

3. Who needs a guardian?

A senior can benefit from a guardian if they have an illness, injury, or disability that makes it difficult or impossible to make personal decisions for themselves. A senior may benefit from a guardian if:

• They have trouble making good decisions
• They were diagnosed with Alzheimer’s or another form of dementia
• They recently had a stroke or have suffered a brain injury

4. When is guardianship granted?

A guardian is appointed if the senior does not have a power of attorney and the court decides that they are incapacitated. The person petitioning for guardianship must provide evidence from a medical professional that the senior is unable to make decisions about their personal affairs.

In the event the older adult doesn’t have someone who can act on their behalf, the court may appoint a professional guardian.

5. How do you choose a guardian?

Guardianship should be appointed to someone who plays a significant role in the senior’s life. This person should understand the senior’s needs and be sensitive to their condition.

If more than one person is petitioning for guardianship, the court will appoint the person they feel is best qualified for the role. In most cases, this person is the senior’s spouse or a family member. If neither is feasible, the court will appoint guardianship to a close friend. The final option would be a professional guardian.

6. What are the limitations of guardianships?

Guardians can only handle small amounts of money like monthly stipends, Social Security benefits, and veterans’ benefits. If the senior has a significant amount of assets, a conservator is usually required. A conservator, also appointed by the court, handles the ward’s finances.

7. What are the cons of guardianship?

Guardianships can be helpful in many instances, but there are a few downsides:

• Guardianship petitions can be expensive due to court costs and other legal fees.
• Seniors don’t always get to choose their guardian; the court may decide who is best suited for the role.
• The court is involved in family decisions.

8. How long does a guardianship last?

A guardianship typically lasts until the ward or the guardian dies. The relationship can also be terminated if the guardian resigns, or the senior is no longer incapacitated.

In some cases, the court may remove the guardian if they find it in the best interest of the ward.

Guardianship Is an Important Decision

Becoming a guardian for a senior loved one is an important decision. It restricts a senior’s rights to make certain life decisions.

At Heritage, we always recommend that seniors and their families seek assistance from a professional when it comes to legal matters. An attorney with experience in family law, probate law, or elder law will likely be familiar with adult guardianship. They can help you determine if adult guardianship is a good choice for your family.

Heritage Senior Communities

Heritage Senior Communities offers memory care programs that cater to seniors with special needs, including those who are incapacitated. Contact us today to learn more about our communities or to schedule a private tour.

If you or a senior loved one is developing an estate plan, you are likely familiar with the terms will and trust. While most people have heard about these types of estate planning, many struggle to understand their differences.

We created this quick overview to help you learn more.

Understanding the Similarities and Differences between a Will and a Trust

1. Effective date

One of the differences between a will and a trust is when it goes into effect. A will becomes effective at the time of death. A trust, on the other hand, becomes active immediately after it’s signed.

A trust can be advantageous because it considers circumstances that can occur while the person is alive. This includes mental disabilities like Alzheimer’s or other health issues that can cause incapacitation.

2. Protection from probate

A will and a trust both control the disbursement of your assets. A will must go trhough probate, a process where the court distributes the assets according to the terms of your will. A trust is not required to go through probate.

3. Handling of property

To leave property through a trust, the grantor (the person creating the trust) must transfer it into the trust. A living trust can manage and distribute any property that it was funded with. For example, if you transfer your life insurance policy and jointly owned property into the trust, it can legally govern and distribute them according to your wishes.

4. Minimize tax obligations

One advantage a trust has over a will is that it helps to minimize the total tax obligations of the estate. While it can be expensive to set a trust up initially, that cost can be more than offset by the tax savings.

More Differences between Wills and Trusts

• Naming an executor/trustee: An executor is a person who oversees any remaining financial obligations after a person’s death. A will allows you to name an executotor. A trustee manages the Trust. In most cases you will be the trustee and upon death or incapacity a successor trustee will take over.
• Ease of creating: A trust is longer and more comprehensive than a will, and it requires you to transfer your property. A will is typically less complex and only requires two witnesses in most states.
• Naming guardians for children: Both a will and trust allow you to make provisions for your minor children. In both cases, a court would need to approve the guardian. A trust allows you to instruct the trustee on how and when to distribute the assets. For example, the interest can be used to care for the children and the principle is distributed when the children reach a certain age. A will simply holds the assets until the children are adults.

Creating an Estate Plan That Meets Your Needs

Creating a will is a necessary part of any estate planning process. Whether you need to include a trust depends on your personal situation. At Heritage Senior Communities, we always recommend seniors and families seek help from a professional when creating legal documents. A lawyer with estate planning experience can help you develop a plan to ensure your assets are distributed according to your wishes.

Heritage Senior Communities

Heritage Senior Communities offers several senior living options throughout Michigan including assisted living, independent living, specialized dementia care, and respite care. Contact us for more information.

Caregiving comes with a never-ending list of responsibilities. The mental exertion required often leaves caregivers stressed out and exhausted before the day has even started. This is so common that it has a name: caregiver fatigue.

One way caregivers can alleviate fatigue is by eating healthy. A diet high in nutrition and low in processed foods can not only give caregivers more energy, but it can improve their mood while reducing symptoms of anxiety and depression. Here’s how caregivers can use food to help fight caregiver fatigue.

Foods to Avoid

When feeling low on energy, it’s normal to reach for caffeinated beverages and sugary snacks. They are convenient and provide instant relief. Unfortunately, the energy you get from them is short-lived and can leave you feeling worse than you did before.

A few foods that can lead to a crash include:

• Caffeine: Consuming caffeine, primarily later in the day, can prevent you from getting a good night’s sleep. Poor sleep can significantly worsen symptoms of fatigue. Try to limit caffeinated beverages like coffee to a single cup in the morning.
• Sugar: Sugar is notorious for resulting in a crash. Do your best to avoid sugary snacks like pastries and soda.
• Simple carbohydrates: Simple carbs like bread and pasta taste great. However, they do little to keep you satisfied when eaten alone. If you eat carbs, consider pairing them with a lean protein.
• Processed foods: Processed foods are often full of preservatives, sodium, and other ingredients that can slow you down. It’s best to avoid them altogether.

Foods That Help Fight Caregiver Fatigue

Rather than opting for quick fixes, caregivers can try eating natural foods that provide long-lasting energy. Here are a few foods that help fight fatigue:

1. Lean protein: It takes longer to digest lean protein than refined carbs. Foods that take longer to digest help sustain your energy levels, reducing the chance of a crash. Try to incorporate lean proteins like white-meat poultry and lean fish into your diet regularly.
2. Leafy green vegetables: Vegetables contain micronutrients that are essential for energy. Spinach, in particular, contains iron that helps red blood cells transport oxygen throughout the body. It also contains magnesium, which relaxes your muscles to help you fall asleep.
3. Complex carbohydrates: Complex carbs are great for giving you long-lasting energy. They contain more nutrients than simple carbs and help you stay full. When selecting carbs, consume those that are rich in fiber like brown rice and oatmeal.
4. Vitamin C: Vitamin C can help fight fatigue and infections. One lemon can provide you with up to 40% of your daily intake of Vitamin C. Lemons also contain potassium, which is crucial for brain and nerve function. Lemon water, in particular, has been shown to be a great alternative to a morning coffee. It hydrates while boosting your metabolism and preventing insulin spikes.

 

Heritage Supports a Healthy Diet

The fatigue that often comes with caregiving can make it difficult to eat a healthy diet. But getting proper nutrition isn’t just essential for your well-being, it’s equally important for your caregiving ability.

If your caregiving role is causing you to experience chronic fatigue, it may be time to consider respite care. Heritage Senior Communities offers respite care options that allow caregivers to take a much-needed break without sacrificing their loved ones’ care. Contact us today to learn more about our respite care services.