Judges seek advocates for elderly

As Douglas County senior citizen population increases, district court judges Michael Gibbons and Dave Gamble have created a new program to protect the elderly and disabled from abuse and exploitation.

The judges are seeking volunteers for Special Advocates For the Elderly. Under the direction of program coordinator John Giomi of Topaz, volunteers will be trained to visit and monitor referred cases and provide the courts with information.

The program is modeled after the county's CASA program for children and a Washoe County program that serves the elderly.

Volunteer training is to begin this month.

"The elderly and the disabled face unique challenges," Giomi said. "They have the right to make decisions about their lives, but they may also be dependent upon others. They can be easily be exploited, neglected or abused. Dishonest people may earn their trust only to squander their precious resources."

Guardianships may be created so family and friends can better care for these fragile adults. Giomi said the guardian has "the daunting responsibility" of managing another person's medical care and finances.

"Often alone and untrained, the guardian must find appropriate resources to meet the fragile adult's needs while meeting the court's strict accounting requirements," he said.

Seeing a community need Gibbons and Gamble created SAFE which is funded by grants and donations, and staffed by volunteers.

"Douglas County SAFE is comprised solely of men and women volunteers who offer companionship and assist the courts in gathering and evaluating information for adults who are under or facing guardianships," Giomi said.

"SAFE's goal is to visit and monitor referred adults of concern in the community and various institutions, and provide the courts with additional information collected by a trained and independent volunteer who can take the time to check out the facts, one client at a time, and report directly to the court," he said.

If proceedings are instituted in state or tribal court, a SAFE advocate may be appointed to speak for the best interests of the adult, he said. SAFE may aid in investigating the circumstances of the adult's life and in reading and interpreting financial statements.

"Short of court proceedings, the SAFE advocate may liaison with the fragile adult or his or her family to help them find local resources to meet their needs," he said.

Giomi, in conjunction with court staff, Douglas County Family Support Council and the Washoe Tribe, has created a training curriculum that is designed to meet the of the community.

"The duties of a SAFE volunteer may be taxing," he said. "To perform them effectively, all volunteers will be trained so that they have general knowledge of state and federal laws governing the care of fragile adults in a variety of situations."

Volunteers will also be trained so that they understand common medical conditions affecting elderly adults, appreciate differences based on culture or age, and the family process, and become familiar with the services available in this area.

"Volunteers need not be an attorney or a doctor," Giomi said. "In fact, Douglas County SAFE wants people with a broad range of backgrounds. There will always be someone from the program able to answer a volunteer's questions."

People interested in becoming SAFE advocates may contact Giomi at (877) 610-2345 or e-mail safe@douglas.nv.gov.

YOU CAN HELP

Volunteer training for advocates for Douglas County's Special Advocates For the Elderly program is to begin this month. For information, contact program coordinator John Giomi, (877) 610-2345, or e-mail safe@douglas.nv.gov.