Guardianship Services

Serving Seniors, Inc. is a non profit organization whose mission is to improve the quality of life and care of older adults who reside within our community as well as residents who reside in our area long term living facilities.

The Guardianship Services Program of Serving Seniors, Inc. was initiated in December 1993 in an effort to respond to the needs of individuals who have been found by the Court to be incapacitated and in need of a surrogate decision maker. Serving Seniors, Inc. acts as Guardian of Person and/or Guardian of Estate when there is no other individual or institution willing, able, or suitable to act as Guardian.

Serving Seniors, Inc. accepts the responsibility for proving Guardianship of Person and/or Guardian of Estate services as ordered by the Court and in accordance with the 1992 Pennsylvania Guardianship Reform Legislation.

Serving Seniors, Inc. is staffed with skilled professionals. We are an active member of the National Guardianship Association which establishes standards and ethics for individuals and the organizations acting as court appointed guardians.

Serving Seniors, Inc.'s Executive Director is certified as a Registered Guardian through the Center for Guardianship Certification (CGC) which identifies individuals who are involved in guardianship issues and who meet the levels of knowledge and expertise in guardianship of person and estate services to the public as Registered Guardians.

Serving Seniors, Inc. is committed to the provision of quality guardianship services to its clients and makes every effort to assist and support them in the development of maximum self-reliance and independence.

Who is Eligible for Guardian of Person and/or Estate Services?

Pennsylvania State residents eighteen (18) years of age or older.

Who can make a referral for Guardianship Services?

Referrals may be made by individuals within the community, hospitals, long term living facilities, physicians, attorneys, the Court, financial institutions and the social service agencies.

Serving Seniors, Inc. provides the following services as a court appointed Guardian of Person and/or Guardian of Estate:

• Confidentiality
• Advocacy for appropriate medical/social services
• Functional Assessments
• Securing Appropriate housing/long term living placement
• Visitation and personal support services
• Case Management
• Medical Decision Making
• Consents for medical treatment
• 24 hour availability, 7 days a week
• Consults with medical professionals
• Attendance at care plan conferences as well as individual support plan meeting
• Provide competent management of the estate
• Supervise all income and disbursements of the client's estate
• Shall apply the Prudent Person Rule and the Prudent Investor Rule when managing the estate
• Manage the estate only for the benefit of the client
• Maintain accurate records of all transactions
• Completion of Guardianship reports as mandated by the Court and PA Guardianship Law
• Educational Programs made available to Professionals, community groups, staff and residents of long term living facilities and social service agencies

Funding

The Private Guardianship of Person and Estate Program of Serving Seniors, Inc. is funded through a fee for service. Serving Seniors Inc. also receives funds form the Lackawanna County Commissioners through the Lackawanna County Area Agency on Aging in support of our Guardianship of Person Program.

Grants have been received by the Robert Y. Moffat Family Charitable Trust, the Scranton Area Community Foundation, the Moses Taylor Foundation and the Peoples Charitable Foundation in support of our Guardianship of Person Program.