Guardian Adult Protective Service

I have had the opportunity to evaluate this organization on both a professional and personal basis over a period of several years. Each interaction revealed a team of uninterested and uncommitted guardians who lacked any real interest in their charges unless it was the business side. By that meaning that they get their fees. This is a largely unregulated industry that lacks supervision by outside agencies. Since typically persons requiring this type of service do not have close families or others to assist with guardianship, this groups activities goes largely unchecked to the outside world. Clients are not visited on a regular basis (or ever as we observed) nor afforded opportunity for basic needs to be met such as adequate clothing or medical specialty items. It is sad the staff at a care facility had to purchase clothing for one of their clients out of their pockets when the fund they had available to them totaled close to hundred thousand dollars. Wearing size 14 clothes in poor condition when your actual size is 24 just doesn’ t seem right. Not to mention the too tight worn shoes that caused painful diabetic ulcers when they refused to allow medical services to intervene. They claim to offer services to the mentally ill but if the individual situation changes and requires intense monitoring be prepared for them to quickly discharge them from services but not before they take their fee which can total thousands of dollars. Ethically a guardian service should have to arrange a alternate service before they flee but again professionalism and ethical standards is not part of their mission.
I had further opportunity to work with Catholic Social Services which provided this same service but with compassion and accountability. Volunteers were expected to visit on regular schedule and ensured that their clients had a comfortable wardrobe/​environment and often did the shopping themselves if no family was available. Clients enjoyed friendly exchanges and nursing staff was held to close accountability for their medical needs. The volunteers were excellent and set the standards what a guardianship program should resemble. Many traveled from Bismarck to outreaching areas to achieve this. Having a guardian should feel comfortable and available as any trustee of our health/​welfare would be expected to do. Kudos to these fine folks who give so much and ask so little.
My advice to anyone considering this organization’s help. Document well interactions (or more accurately «lack of») and go to outside social media sites to report suspected neglect of clients to alert others to potential problems. Demand accountability and regular visits and if they hesitate look to outside sources for help. In today’s world being defined as «non –profit ’ is often just a front for a get rich scheme, well Bismarck, you just may have one!