Most people have grown accustomed to having their parents give them the tools and knowledge they need to navigate life, but at some point, these roles often reverse, with the child assuming the caregiver role over a parent. Watching your parent lose the ability to manage his or herself may prove challenging, and so, too, might determining when the time is right to appoint someone a guardian over that parent.
According to Forbes, establishing guardianship over your mother or father may prove necessary when you need to accomplish certain objectives you may not be able to do through a power of attorney. Furthermore, you may find consider whether a guardianship might be necessary if your parent refuses to sign a power of attorney at all, but he or she is making decisions that you might consider questionable or unsafe. There are several other circumstances that may also warrant a guardianship over your mother and father, such as:
When a parent refuses entry into a nursing home
Many aging adults want to maintain their independence for as long as possible. However, at some point, your mother or father may become a danger to him or herself by continuing to live alone. Generally, you are going to have to establish a guardianship before you are able to force a loved one to enter a nursing home.
When a parent requires certain types of medical intervention
If your mom or dad lacks a health care proxy or needs treatment that goes beyond what a health care proxy might allow, you may need to step in and appoint someone a guardian over your parent. Certain types of medications and treatments may require patient consent, but if your parent is unable to give it, you may need to step in.
Many aging adults find it difficult to surrender some of their independence. However, in some cases, establishing a guardianship is the safest and most sensible thing to do for an aging parent.