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| Community Budget Issue Requests - Tracking Id #320 |
| Guardianship Services |
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| Requester: |
Rod Malloy/Anne Ridings |
Organization: |
Lutheran Services Florida |
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| Project Title: |
Guardianship Services |
Date Submitted |
12/19/2007 3:25:02 PM |
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| Sponsors: |
Bennett |
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| Statewide Interest: |
| The State of Florida is one of the top three states for numbers of the elderly population, with those over sixty-five numbering over 3 million. Current figures from the Florida Department of Elder Affairs for the year 2004 indicate that there are 3,066,746 persons or 17.6% of Florida�s population aged sixty-five and over. In Sarasota County alone that figure is 31.4%, and this population is continuing to grow.
According to statistics reported by the University of Florida Bureau of Economic and Business Research (1999), the projected number of Florida�s population will increase by 19.6% to nearly 18 million people in 2010. Of that number, 19% will be over the age of sixty-five. Sarasota and Manatee Counties are projected to gain the most residents, up to 17.5%. To date, 31.4% of Sarasota County residents are over the age of sixty-five. An estimated 15.1% of the elderly population in Sarasota alone suffers from Alzheimer�s and other forms of dementia, and the demographics clearly indicate significant growth in the needs of the older adult population.
With all these figures in mind, it is important to note that of these persons aged sixty and over, the Department of Elder Affairs estimates that approximately 14% suffer from probable Alzheimer�s and 16% are considered �low income� or �poverty level.� Many of these clients suffer from chronic medical conditions and have survived their spouses and oftentimes their families. If there is family, they often are not local or are unable or unwilling to assist in providing for the individual's needs.
The Department of Elder Affairs Statewide Public Guardianship Office estimates that a minimum of 5,000-10,000 people annually need the services of a public guardian in the State of Florida. |
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| Recipient: |
Lutheran Services Florida |
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Contact: |
Anne Ridings |
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1748 Independent Blvd |
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Contact Phone: |
(941) 358-6330 |
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Sarasota 34237 |
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Contact email: |
Aridings@lsfnet.org |
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| Counties: |
Sarasota |
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| Gov't Entity: |
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Private Organization (Profit/Not for Profit): |
Yes |
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| Project Description: |
| LSF has served as guardian for over 1200 active guardianships in Sarasota County since the inception of our program in 1990. LSF handles approximately 39% of all new guardianships opened in Sarasota County on an annual basis. LSF has been averaging approximately 60-80 new clients each year for the past several years. Although the need has drastically increased, the majority of the clients accepted into the program were in crisis and it was emergent in nature. Due to the growing need for our services, we have been operating a waiting list for the past several years and we only expect this trend to continue to rise, with the aging population in Florida. During the period July 1, 2005 through June 30, 2006, LSF was appointed as guardian for 72 new clients. We are currently, as of April 30, 2007 serving as guardian for 338 clients, of whom 70% are indigent, living on fixed incomes, consisting mainly of social security benefits.
Provision of court appointed guardianship services to some of the community�s most vulnerable citizens that have been identified as currently suffering from or being at risk of abuse, neglect and exploitation. These individuals have become incapable of managing everyday life situations, such as taking care of their basic daily needs. These needs may include providing for food, clothing and shelter, protecting themselves from abuse and exploitation, ensuring bills are paid, taxes are filed and paid, medical procedures attended to, and applying for benefits to which they are entitled. Individuals may fall into this situation because of a mental health diagnosis, developmental disability, a head injury, or infirmities as a result of aging, such as Alzheimer�s or other dementias. The guardian is appointed not only to protect them from injustices, but also to serve as their advocate. |
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| Is this a project related to a federal or state declared disaster? |
No |
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| Measurable Outcome Anticipated: |
| Immediate protection from abuse, neglect and exploitation of 100% of individuals serviced.
The goal of the Sarasota Guardianship program is to provide guardianship services to some of the community�s most vulnerable citizens. The LSF Guardianship Program is dedicated to protecting incapacitated individuals�the majority of whom are frail elderly�from abuse, neglect and exploitation, while ensuring and sometimes improving their quality of life with the dignity they deserve. LSF accomplishes this by being legally appointed on the individuals identified at risk, therefore enabling us to assess and monitor their physical, psychological, sociological and financial needs on an ongoing basis.
LSF is the only agency in Sarasota County providing service to a large number of incapacitated individuals at no charge or at a drastically reduced rate. The agency fills a great need by providing services that are unduplicated in this area of Florida. Without LSF, many indigent and low-income individuals in need of guardianship services would be left unprotected and at risk. |
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| Amount requested from the State for this project this year: |
$300,000 |
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| Total cost of the project: |
$1,200,000 |
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| Request has been made to fund: |
Operations |
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| What type of match exists for this project? |
None |
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Cash Amount |
$ |
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| Was this project previously funded by the state? |
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No |
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| Is future-year funding likely to be requested? |
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No |
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| Was this project included in an Agency's Budget Request? |
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No |
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| Was this project included in the Governor's Recommended Budget? |
No |
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| Is there a documented need for this project? |
Yes |
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Documentation: |
Department of Elder Affairs, Statewide Public Guardianship Office Needs Assessment 2004 |
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| Was this project request heard before a publicly noticed meeting of a body of elected officials (municipal, county, or state)? |
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Yes |
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Hearing Body: |
Sarasota County Legislative Delegation |
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| Is this a water project as described in Section 403.885, Laws of Florida? |
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No |
