If you are concerned about your parent’s mental capacity, and their ability to make decisions, then a guardianship might be the best option. Under a guardianship you will be appointed as a legal guardian over your parent and will be authorized to make decisions on his/her behalf. In this guardianship relationship, the individual whom you take responsibility for as a guardian, is referred to as a “ward.”
The beginning of a guardianship means the start of a new journey for you as the guardian. As a guardian you now have a fiduciary duty to your parent/ward. You must also act in your ward’s best interests, be fully committed to the guardianship, and act in good faith always. Be aware that there are varying degrees of guardianships available at your disposal. Full guardianship authorizes the guardian to make any, and all, decisions on behalf of the ward, whether they be financial or medical. Limited guardianship defines the scope of guardian’s. authority, for instance, to making financial decisions only.
Parental guardianships can also be temporary
, permanent, and even shared by more than one person.