Cheboygan County in need of public guardians to help residents
The Cheboygan County Probate Court office is currently seeking people willing to help others perform daily tasks who cannot do so themselves as a public guardian.
The court will be offering a training for anyone who is interested in becoming a guardian from 1-3:30 p.m. on Friday, June 17, at the Cheboygan County Building.
"Vicki Hankins, who is one of our public guardians and does an amazing job, is going to be traveling here to put on this training or clinic," said Cheboygan County Probate Court Judge Daryl Vizina.
Vizina said this training is designed to provide more information to people who currently serve as a guardian or anyone who may be considering becoming a guardian.
"We have a real serious need for guardians," said Vizina.
Cheboygan County has a very limited number of people who are still currently serving in the role of guardians. These guardians have served in this capacity for many years and are performing duties for more than one ward.
In the last couple of years, there have been guardians with the court who have stepped down, relocated, or become unable to perform the duties associated with the position.
"I don't think this is an issue just for Cheboygan County," said Vizina. "It's really a statewide issue, but we're hoping that maybe someone's interested."
As a public guardian, a person assists someone in their daily affairs who cannot perform them on their own. This includes getting the ward safe housing, making sure their bills are paid on time, scheduling doctor appointments and making sure the appointments are attended.
If the ward is living independently, the guardian could also be responsible for things such as arranging to have groceries delivered, the house cleaned, scheduling lawn maintenance and helping to manage finances.
There are two different types of guardianships through the Cheboygan County Probate Court. One is for developmentally disabled individuals who are unable to provide for themselves. This includes individuals who may be autistic, or have another condition where they are not able to do things for themselves.
The second type of guardianship is for incapacitated individuals, people who have a physical or mental disability that prevents them from taking care of themselves. This includes people with Alzheimer's, dementia, or who have had a stroke and never fully recovered.
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"We desperately need public guardians because there are a lot of individuals that do not have family or anyone that will step up to take care of them," said Cheboygan County Probate Court Administrator Kim Chimner. "The whole state has this issue."
Chimner said the current guardians with the county are starting to get older and have taken on as many cases, or wards, as they can, but they are maxed out.
Guardians are able to take on as many wards as they feel comfortable helping, depending on their abilities, whether it is one person, or multiple cases. This can also be a part time position, although some people have turned it into their full time, every day careers.
People who become a guardian need to pass a background check. The person also has to be willing to help another individual with all their daily affairs, and report to the court if there are any issues.
The guardians also need to file an annual report with the court, detailing how often they met with the ward, the actions they performed, how the ward is doing and whether or not they think the guardianship should continue. As a guardian, a person is required to physically meet with their ward at least once every three months.
Vizina said other than these requirements, it is mostly making sure the ward's bills are being paid, the ward has proper medical insurance and any issues with coverage are being addressed. The guardians are also responsible for signing their ward up for services such as Medicaid and Social Security, and any programs through the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services.
These guardianship positions are paid positions, with the guardians being paid $83 per month, per ward. This is paid either through the ward's personal finances, or through the Cheboygan County Probate Court.
More information on this program can be found on the probate court's website, www.cheboygancounty.net/courts-law-enforcement/probate-family-court/conservators-guardians-mental-health-commitments. You can also call the probate court office at (231) 627-8823 to learn more.
Contact Reporter Kortny Hahn at khahn1@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter at @khahnCDT.
This article originally appeared on Cheboygan Daily Tribune: Cheboygan County in need of public guardians to help residents
