Ursuline Support Services

Filing Period

Jul 1, 2009 to Jun 30, 2010

Signed

Apr 6, 2011

Return Version

2009v1.7

Gross Receipts

$3,852,452

Mission

Major Activities

Activity 2

Guardianship services- in 1984, ursuline senior services established a guardianship program through a contract with the allegheny county department of aging. This program serves persons who are 60+ in age, low income, are not initially institutionalized and meet the department of aging criteria. Today, ursuline senior services is the only agency in allegheny county to provide such services for this segment of the population.since the inception of the guardianship program, the ursuline senior services staff has been named the legal guardian for over 500 persons. Presently, the staff includes ten (10) guardians of estate, eight (8) guardians of person and one (1) support member. The average caseload for each guardian is 30 to 40 clients. Over the years, the guardians have been exposed to unique, complex, intricate and sometimes dangerous situations, which require good judgment, refined problem-solving skills, reflective decision-making and a balanced advocacy role. The guardianship program director guides the staff to ensure that appropriate services are provided to the clients. As such, the director serves as the primary program liaison with the orphans' court to promote a positive working relationship with the judges and with the court staff. Court support program- the court support program investigator handles the referrals for the court support program. These referrals come directly from the orphans' court division of the allegheny county court of common pleas. The services vary according to the needs of the indigent elderly population. The program investigator inspects the referral seeking out the assets of the person, their present living arrangement and any family that may be involved. Public guardianship program- the allegheny county area agency on aging makes the referrals to the public guardianship program for individuals over the age of 60 years. These are people who have no other responsible caregiver. Sometimes these referrals come through the protective services program and are emergency situations. Five people serve as guardians of estate for this program. They spend their days controlling the assets of their assigned clients. On any given day, they may be cleaning out the apartment or home of a client and preparing the property for sale. They pay the bills for the clients. If needed, they will make the arrangements for burial for the clients. Each guardian has a "fiduciary duty" to protect the rights and property of their clients. The guardians of person are responsible to the clients for meeting their day-to-day needs for safe placement and appropriate medical care. They visit the clients on a regular basis, sometimes doing grocery shopping, arranging and accompanying them to medical appointments and often having to seek alternate living situations for their clients. There are times when the guardian of person is the only "family" for a client. One guardian provides support services to the guardians and to their clients by reconciling bank statements, completing pace and rent rebate applications, and helping with reporting concerns. Private guardianship program- a telephone call from an attorney, a physician, a hospital, a long term care facility or an assisted living facility initiates the process for a private guardianship. As in the public guardianship program, there are both guardians of estate and guardians of person in the private program. The difference between the programs is the extent of the assets the client possesses. The private guardianship program is a fee-for-service program. There are two guardians of estate to serve the private clients. Their primary responsibility is to manage and use the client's funds and property for the client's benefit. They sort out bank accounts, stocks, bonds, life insurance policies, real estate, personal possessions and automobiles as well as income from social security, pensions and trusts. The guardians of person travel far and wide to provide their clients' suppor

Activity 3

Protective services- ursuline senior services' protective services program identifies older adults who are vulnerable to abuse, neglect and exploitation. These abuses can take the form of self-neglect, caregiver neglect, abandonment, or physical, emotional, and financial distress. Our staff investigates all allegations of abuse, and through working with various resources, develops a plan to correct the situation. Ursuline senior services shares this responsibility in allegheny county with eastern area adult services and lutheran services society. Through the area agency on aging, our protective service workers are fully-trained under pennsylvania state law to provide crisis intervention for individuals 60 years of age and older who lack the physical and/or mental capacity to protect themselves from imminent risk such as physical or psychological abuse, caregiver neglect, financial exploitation, abandonment, or self neglect.client entry requirements-prospective clients of protective services: -must be 60 years or older and a pennsylvania resident. -have no responsible caregiver. -must be unable to obtain or perform services necessary to maintain physical or mental health. -present imminent risk to person or property.

Filer

EIN

25-1401610