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Protect Senior Citizens
"People who don’t cherish their elderly have forgotten whence they came and whither they go." ~ Ramsey Clark
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You Can Make a Difference
"Volunteers do not necessarily have the time; they just have the heart." ~ Elizabeth Andrews
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Our Elderly Deserve Better

Our Vision

To ensure the people in our program can continue to live as safely and independently, as possible. With the help from community donations and compassionate volunteers we will be able to provide the peace of mind to our clients with overseeing quality healthcare and finances.

Our Mission

To protect area seniors with dementia and other incapacitated adults by acting as guardian and decision maker to realize better personal, financial and social outcomes when no family is willing or able to help.

Our Values

VACA will provide a Volunteer Guardian for an incapacitated adult when such services are not available from willing, capable or suitable relatives or other interested persons.  It is the goal of the organization that these services be administrated in the least restrictive way and with the most respect for the value of all individuals in the community.

About Guardianship

A legal proceeding to appoint a person who is responsible to the court to take care of an incapacitated individual or minor and/or manage that individual’s property.

An “incapacitated person” is someone who cannot fully manage their property and/or provide self care because of insanity, mental illness or deficiency, physical illness, habitual drunkenness, excessive use of drugs, incarceration, confinement, detention, duress, fraud, undue influence of others, or other incapacity or a person who has a developmental disability. (IC 29-3-1-7.5)

  • Guardian of the Person: oversees the proper living condition and treatment for the protected person
  • Guardian of the Estate: responsible to oversee and manage proper investment and financial affairs of the protected person
  • Guardian of the Person & Estate: responsible for both of the above aspects of a protected person’s life
  1. A power of attorney is voluntary; a Guardianship can be voluntary or involuntary
  2. A power of attorney is easily revoked; a Guardianship can only be terminated by a court order
  3. A power of attorney is made by someone who is competent; a Guardianship usually involves someone who is incompetent by age or health
  4. A power of attorney is private and does not involve a court; a Guardianship involves court proceedings
  5. An attorney in fact under a power of attorney has less formal accountability than a Guardian
  • Do everything for the best interests of the protected person
  • File an inventory of assets if guardian of the estate
  • Keep all funds of the protected person separate from the Guardian’s personal funds
  • Obtain permission from the court before selling anything of value belonging to the protected person
  • Obtain approval from the court if making an unusual expenditure for the protected person
  • Obtain approval before moving the protected person out of town or out of state
  • Every two years, file an accounting of income, assets and expenses with the court and others

Our Services

Volunteer Guardianships

VACA will serve as the court-appointed legal guardian of incapacitated adults in Floyd County and provide assistance to those adults through trained Volunteer Advocates. The Guardianship Program promotes the dignity of a person who no longer has the capacity to make major life decisions by helping them find the least-restrictive assistance that also prioritizes their best interest, safety, and self-determination.

Advocacy

Volunteer Advocates serve by building positive relationships with clients under guardianship, helping identify client needs, connecting clients to service providers, and monitoring client care plans to ensure the highest quality of life for the incapacitated adult. The Volunteer advocates on behalf of the senior/incapacitated adult under care and represents the Floyd County VASIA Guardianship Program and VACA.

Supported Decision Making

Supported decision making (SDM) is a tool that allows people with disabilities to retain their decision- making capacity by choosing supporters to help them make choices. A person using SDM selects trusted advisors, such as friends, family members, or professionals, to serve as supporters. The supporters agree to help the person with a disability understand, consider, and communicate decisions, giving the person with a disability the tools to make her own, informed, decisions.

Guardianship Training

For guardians, there is a lot to learn — about guardianship court processes, reporting requirements, fiduciary responsibilities, marshaling income and assets, accessing public benefits, making medical and end-of-life decisions, and much more. Guardians oversee a wide variety of healthcare, homecare, housing, benefits, budget, finance, and other basic needs.

Ways You Can Help

Whether it be through monetary donations or contributing your time, we appreciate all the support from this community. Together we can make a huge impact by bringing joy and peace of mind to our at risk senior citizens and incapacitated adult population.

Community Partners