You should become familiar with the limitations and scope of responsibility assigned to you in the court order. If you have any questions or are unsure of your duties, you should consult with a lawyer.xxvi

Plan of Supportive Service

You need to assess what the IP's needs are and what supports are available to them through government agencies, the community, their family and friends, and service providers.

Consider all areas of the IP's health, well-being, and daily life to determine what types of supportive services are appropriate for the IP. Supportive services may include but are not limited to:

• Nursing
• Physical Therapy
• Rehabilitation
• Mental Health Care
• Case Management
• Transportation
• Cleaning
• Meal Preparationxxvii

Though it is your responsibility to ensure the IP’s needs are met, this does not mean that you personally need to provide all their needed services. If the IP lives with you, it may be possible for you to meet many of their daily needs, but there are also many community and government programs, as well as private service providers and medical professionals, you can work with to meet the IP’s needs even when you are not present.

Once you have a plan in place and services coordinated to meet the needs of the IP, you must monitor their well-being. You need to ensure that their needs are being met as those needs will likely change over time. It is also important to monitor the IP's service providers to ensure they are doing what is expected. The IP may be vulnerable to neglect or exploitation by service providers or other residents, and the best way to prevent mistreatment is to be diligent in your care and supervision of the IP and those who work with them. For more information on elder abuse, see Elder Abuse Identification and Responses.

Considerations in Decision-Making

As you make decisions on behalf of the IP, it is important to keep these ideas in mind:

• Whenever possible, allow the IP to make their own decisions and develop independence to the extent possible. Consider using supported decision-making, when appropriate, to give the IP greater control over their life.
• You must always act in the best interests of the IP and base your decisions on their needs, wants, and beliefs to the extent possible. This applies even if doing so conflicts with your own beliefs, is not what you would have personally chosen, or is less convenient for you.