It can be very difficult to watch your parents age. They may experience medical events like strokes that terrify you and leave them with diminished physical and mental abilities. They could indoor the slow loss of memory and changes in personality associated with Alzheimer’s disease or just struggle with cognitive decline is part of aging.
Through all of these difficult times, your parents may still fiercely cling to their independence, even if they can’t remember to pay their bills on time. If you have started to worry about your parents’ ability to manage finances on their own or did make legal decisions on their own behalf, it may be time to consider seeking guardianship in order to protect them.
How do Minnesota guardianships work?
In Minnesota, if state workers, family members or other concerned individuals can prevent evidence to the courts of an adult’s diminished mental capacity, the court may affirm that that individual is no longer in a position to manage their own finances and legal decisions. The courts can then name a guardian to take care of that older adult while they cannot do so for themselves.
Guardians can pay bills, manage appointments and handle many aspects of life that may no longer be so easy to manage for adults dealing with cognitive decline or other issues related to aging or adverse medical events.
Especially if your parent opposes it, seeking a guardianship can be a difficult decision to make. Talking about your concerns with someone experienced with this area of law can help you better determine whether your scenario justifies a guardianship or not.
