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Parental wisdom given over the years-and still heard passed on to our children and grandchildren-has it that "the best prizes often come in the smallest packages". The same can be said of other things, as in certain smaller sized organizations where the quality and dimension of the good accomplished eclipse the organization's budget size.

The United Way funded Lorain County Volunteer Guardianship Program (VGP) is one of those programs. So much so that I believe this gem of a human service program could rightly be renamed "guardian angelship".

This dynamic organization has been providing care to the most vulnerable population since 1993. It is a population easily forgotten by society: indigent and incompetent Lorain residents over 40 years old who reside in nursing homes and adult care facilities who have no one to make medical or financial decisions for them. It is a population among the most at risk, even oppressed, in todays busy and "big issue" society. Also, one that could easily fall through the cracks and become invisible except for the service VGP provides.

VGP has a straight forward mission - to ensure that senior's rights are protected and that they have the quality of life anyone else deserves. VGP fulfills its mission by providing legal guardians who serve as caring decision-makers when no less restrictive alternative is available. VGP trains reference-checked volunteers to deal with aging and mental health issues, legal aspects of guardianship, ethical decision-making, and quality of life issues. Volunteers become advocates and surrogate family for frail seniors who are at risk of joining the community's forgotten because they cannot care for themselves or advocate on their own behalf. Volunteers take responsibility for health-related decisions. They make any and all decisions regarding the physical person, e.g. nursing home placement, medical procedures, end of life choices, etc.

And while it is sad commentary on human nature, VGP volunteers sometimes are required to protect their vulnerable and voiceless wards from family member neglect or greed. In those instances volunteers become the ward's advocate to ensure proper treatment and freedom from abuse and neglect.

The characteristics that identify VGP's service population are well defined. Clients are 40 years old and over. They can be indigent (on Medicaid) with no family, or have financial resources but be without a family, and are incompetent. A Statement of Expert Evaluation by a physician or psychiatrist, an assessment by the program director, and then a final assessment by the Probate Court Investigator determine competency.

Guardianship is only awarded when all other alternatives have been exhausted. Since guardianship relinquishes a person of all their rights, the VGP assures all other options for the person have been attempted or ruled out. The goal is not to obtain as many wards as possible, but to provide guardianship services to those who absolutely need it and have no other options left.

Anyone who has had the need to convince a parent to leave their own home for a nursing home facility or has been required to make that decision for them can speak to how white knuckle an experience that can be. Discerning what is in the best interest of an incompetent person is a similar challenge for VGP because a person's rights and dignity are at stake, as well as their safety and protection.

VGP evaluates each guardianship scrupulously, with protection being a major consideration. In too many cases, wards are being financially exploited and neglected by family members or acquaintances. Guardianship allows for taking legal action in protecting the ward and terminating any exploitation. The outcome for every ward should be that their situation after guardianship is clearly an improvement from the neglected and exploited lifestyle they were enduring.

Translated this means rights are protected and needs met. All of which takes a special person to accomplish.

Volunteer Guardianship's staff and 28 volunteers are just that. However, more hands and caring hearts are always needed.

Needed to make a commitment to watch over the welfare of the most helpless in our county.

Sounds like "guardian angelship" to me.

Volunteer Guardianship Program of Lorain County can be reached (440) 934-3613.

As printed in The Chronicle-Telegram 10/05/08