Staying at home
One of your most important jobs is to decide where your ward will live, keeping in mind your ward's wishes and lifestyle and what s/he can afford. The first place to consider is your ward's current residence. If your ward is living at home, s/he should be able to stay at home if s/he wants as long as help is available to ensure s/he will be safe while remaining as independent as possible.

The following are some suggestions for keeping the ward at home, considering what s/he can afford:

• Hire part-time or full-time help to prepare meals, do laundry and other housekeeping jobs (it is usually safer to obtain help through licensed and bonded agencies, but if the ward cannot afford such help, be sure to screen in-home help carefully)
• Adapt the house where necessary to your ward's physical needs with wheelchair ramps, bars etc.
• Clean the house and yard
• Buy a fire extinguisher and smoke detectors
• Subscribe to an emergency response medical system
• Change the locks and/or consider installing a burglar alarm or other security system
• If your ward is renting, see what repairs the landlord can make and how s/he can adapt the house or apartment for you;
• Get relatives, friends and neighbors or social service agencies to help with your ward. Make sure you are aware of all the community resources like Meals on Wheels, adult day care, home health/homemaker assistance and the disabled and elderly waiver program administered by the state. (See list of resources in Appendix (PDF: 206k)).

These suggestions will also help if your ward moves into your home.

If the ward has the assets to pay for extra help, it is your job to arrange for as much help as possible to ensure the ward’s safety and independence. It is not your job as guardian to preserve the ward’s assets for your inheritance or for the inheritance of other family members. The ward’s money should be spent on his or her care first and foremost. No one but the ward has a right to his or her assets during the ward’s lifetime.