By JAN LARSON McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
Rocky Ramos and Denise Niese are buddies. When they talked Thursday morning, Niese reminded him she was bringing some Costco rotisserie chicken to his apartment for dinner. They talked about Ramos’ favorite sports teams. And he asked again about getting a “Hawaii 5-0” tattoo in honor of his favorite TV show.
Though separated by several years, the two are tight.
But they are more than friends. Niese is a Volunteer Guardian for Ramos. She is one of 20 volunteers in the county who work with a program established by the Wood County Probate Court to help adults who are unable to look out for themselves.
The needs of the program are outgrowing the number of volunteers, according to Jennifer Robeson, office manager for the probate court.
The Volunteer Guardian program pairs up volunteers with adults declared incompetent by the court. Many of the adults are referred to the court by local nursing homes, Adult Protective Services, Behavioral Connections or Wood Lane. Some of the older adults are no longer able to look out for their best interests and don’t have family members to help. Some of the younger adults have developmental disabilities and lack family to take the role.
“They are mostly strangers,” Robeson said of the volunteers matched with adults in need. They range from teachers and nurses, to attorneys and retirees.
The guardians represent the person, not the estate. “They are an advocate or a friend they wouldn’t have otherwise,” she explained.
The guardians might have to give permission for medical procedures or be with the person at the end of their life. “On the other hand, they might take them to a movie or dinner,” Robeson said, explaining the wide range of needs.
“The volunteers provide a quality of life to these people who wouldn’t have it otherwise,” Robeson said. “This is a fantastic reminder there are still great people in the world,” which is not something that is frequently seen by those working in the court system, she added.
Wood County Probate/Juvenile Judge Dave Woessner has been a strong supporter of the guardian program.
“I truly believe this is an invaluable program for the county. It fills an ever increasing need in the county,” Woessner said. “They do an excellent job assisting people who can’t help themselves.”
And the work benefits the volunteers as well, the judge said.
“Feedback is that it’s very rewarding. It can be challenging at times, but the rewards outweigh the challenges,” Woessner said.
However, the Volunteer Guardian program cannot keep up with the need, both Robeson and Woessner pointed out.
“There’s a rise in the number of people needing guardians, but there aren’t people to fill the role,” Robeson said.
So Robeson is putting the call out to try to get more volunteers. To qualify, a volunteer must be 21 years or older, fill out an application and go through a background check. They must complete six hours of training, then three hours of continuing education each year. The volunteers must make at least once a month face-to-face contact with the person they are matched with.
“We need more volunteers. Our population is growing, we’re aging,” Robeson said. “We don’t want to turn people away.”
To handle the growing need, some volunteers take on multiple adults. Niese has three adults she has been matched with. Besides Ramos, 47, who lives in an apartment with some assistance, the other two people are in their 90s and reside in nursing facilities.
“Society has changed,” Niese said. “Families aren’t necessarily living close to their elders or people unable to make decisions.”
The work is rewarding, even when working with nursing facility residents who aren’t able to communicate much, she said.
“On the days you can communicate, you celebrate that,” Niese said. “You make sure they are comfortable and well cared for.”
Niese’s family has also joined in her Volunteer Guardian role. That helps when Ramos want to talk sports or superheroes – two of his favorite topics. “I’m very lucky that my husband and two adult sons are into it, too.”
Another Volunteer Guardian, Brad Prater, includes his family in his volunteer role. He visits the adult he is matched with every Sunday. “I’ve integrated my family,” he said. “It’s a good teaching experience for my boys.”
Prater recently volunteered to take on a second adult who needs an advocate.
“The people we’re serving are the people who need the most in the community,” he said.
Anyone interested in becoming a Volunteer Guardian may call Wood County Probate Court at 419-354-9230.
