The Importance of Comprehensive Clinical Social Work Assessments for Determination of Older Adult Guardianship Petitions in Cook County Probate Court, Chicago, Illinois
type: CreativeWork
description: As our population ages there seems to be a strong current toward seeking surrogate decision-makers for individuals, who appear unable to manage their lives and make clear choices. Guardianship is the most profound course of action when determining that an older adult lacks decisional capacity. Older adults make up the majority of persons adjudicated incapacitated and, in turn, are assigned guardians (Crampton, 2004; Teaster, Schmidt, and Roberto, 2004). There is limited research about older adult guardianship, so this study is opportune because of the increased longevity of the population, with the most rapid growth among the very old, who likely will have the greatest needs for protective services (Iris, 1991). Literature about the use of social work in the guardianship system has typically been focused around collaborating with guardians (private - family/paid guardian or public or state agency) or the court system to assist with service linkage and care planning, and protection from abuse after adjudication of incompetence (Paveza, VandeWeerd, and Berko, 2002; Veith, Blair, Leonard, Bouma, and Pazda, 1996; Sonntag, 1995; Staudt, 1985). This qualitative dissertation research explored if social workers can serve in the role of guardian ad litem in effort to complete comprehensive clinical assessment for older adult guardianship petitions brought forth in Cook County Probate Court, Chicago, Illinois. The research involved exploration of legal case files and interviews with both mental health and legal professionals. Comprehensive clinical social work assessments seem necessary in older adult guardianship cases in order to provide a clearer picture of the individual, his or her needs, if any, supports, etc. It is within the social work profession's realm to complete in-home or facility-based comprehensive clinical assessments, which explore biopsychosocial components of an individual, to investigate family relationships, dynamics, and issues, to provide service linka…
abstract: As our population ages there seems to be a strong current toward seeking surrogate decision-makers for individuals, who appear unable to manage their lives and make clear choices. Guardianship is the most profound course of action when determining that an older adult lacks decisional capacity. Older adults make up the majority of persons adjudicated incapacitated and, in turn, are assigned guardians (Crampton, 2004; Teaster, Schmidt, and Roberto, 2004). There is limited research about older adult guardianship, so this study is opportune because of the increased longevity of the population, with the most rapid growth among the very old, who likely will have the greatest needs for protective services (Iris, 1991). Literature about the use of social work in the guardianship system has typically been focused around collaborating with guardians (private - family/paid guardian or public or state agency) or the court system to assist with service linkage and care planning, and protection from abuse after adjudication of incompetence (Paveza, VandeWeerd, and Berko, 2002; Veith, Blair, Leonard, Bouma, and Pazda, 1996; Sonntag, 1995; Staudt, 1985). This qualitative dissertation research explored if social workers can serve in the role of guardian ad litem in effort to complete comprehensive clinical assessment for older adult guardianship petitions brought forth in Cook County Probate Court, Chicago, Illinois. The research involved exploration of legal case files and interviews with both mental health and legal professionals. Comprehensive clinical social work assessments seem necessary in older adult guardianship cases in order to provide a clearer picture of the individual, his or her needs, if any, supports, etc. It is within the social work profession's realm to complete in-home or facility-based comprehensive clinical assessments, which explore biopsychosocial components of an individual, to investigate family relationships, dynamics, and issues, to provide service linka…
author: Jones, Heather
keywords: Guardianship, Older Adults, Reform, Social Work
date published: 2009-01-01T08:00:00Z
date modified: 2026-07-24T02:55:16Z
provider: Loyola University Chicago
publisher: Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations
type: WebPage
source organization: Loyola University Chicago