Care Management for Guardianship Cases in New Jersey
When a court appoints a guardian, someone still has to make sure the person is safe, seen and well cared for day to day. We act as the guardian's eyes and ears: we assess, build a care plan, visit regularly, coordinate medical and psychiatric care, and report back in writing. Guardians, elder law attorneys and trustees across New Jersey rely on us for exactly this work.
What is guardianship care management?
A guardian has legal authority and responsibility for a person who can no longer make some or all of their own decisions. That role carries a lot of weight. It can also be hard to carry out from a law office, from out of state, or alongside a full-time job. Guardianship care management gives the guardian a licensed, experienced professional on the ground who knows the person, knows their providers and keeps the guardian informed.
We do not replace the guardian or make legal decisions. We give the guardian the information and the hands-on support they need to make good ones.
Who do we work with?
- Court-appointed guardians, both family members and professional guardians, who need help overseeing care.
- Elder law and guardianship attorneys who want an independent care professional involved in a case.
- Trustees and trust officers managing funds for someone whose care needs are changing.
- Families who are considering guardianship, or who have just been appointed and are not sure where to start.
Many of the people we serve in these cases have complicated needs: dementia, serious mental illness, a developmental disability, addiction, or several medical conditions at once. Some have no family nearby. Some have family who disagree. Those are the situations we are used to.
What does the work include?
- An initial assessment. We meet the person where they live, review medical and psychiatric history, look at daily functioning, safety, supports and finances as they affect care, and speak with providers. See our care assessment page for more on what this covers.
- A written care plan. Clear recommendations, in order of priority, that the guardian can act on and keep on file. More on care planning.
- Regular visits and monitoring. We visit at an agreed schedule and more often when something changes. We look at the person, the home or facility, the medications and the staff, not just the chart.
- Coordinating medical and psychiatric care. We keep track of doctors, psychiatrists and specialists, attend appointments when needed and make sure follow-up happens. See medical advocacy and mental health care management.
- Placement and transitions. When a person can no longer live safely where they are, we evaluate options and recommend appropriate settings, from in-home care to assisted living, group homes, nursing homes and specialized programs. We manage hospital and rehab discharges so nothing falls through. Read about placement and discharge planning.
- Crisis response. Falls, hospitalizations, behavioral emergencies and psychiatric admissions happen. We respond, coordinate with the treating team and keep the guardian informed. See crisis intervention.
- Written reports. After visits and at key moments we send clear, factual updates to the guardian or attorney: what we saw, what changed, what we recommend and what still needs a decision.
Why an independent care manager matters
A care manager who works for the guardian, not for a facility or a home care agency, can give an honest view. We never accept commissions or payment for referrals, so our recommendations are about what is right for the person. When something is not working, we say so.
Guardians also tell us they value having one person who knows the whole story. Staff change. Doctors change. A care manager who has been visiting for months notices when someone is quieter than usual, losing weight or more confused, and acts on it early.
Experience with complicated cases
Our practice is led by Lisa Kolton, LCSW, C-ASWCM, and Kimberly Hamilton, LCSW, LMSW, C-ASWCM, each with more than 30 years in social work, mental health and care management. Kim is frequently relied upon by guardianship attorneys throughout New Jersey to oversee the care of vulnerable individuals with complicated medical, psychiatric and personal needs. Each case is handled by an experienced care manager on our team, with Lisa and Kim leading the practice and available for the hardest decisions. You can read more about our team.
A note on the legal side
We are licensed social workers and care managers, not attorneys. Guardianship in New Jersey is established through the court, and questions about a guardian's legal authority, court filings, reporting requirements or the guardianship process itself belong with an attorney. What we offer is the practical, clinical side: knowing how the person is doing and making sure their care is sound. We work comfortably alongside counsel and are glad to follow the format and schedule an attorney or guardian needs for updates.
Where we work
We come to the person, wherever they live: their own home, a family member's home, a hospital, a rehab, a group home, an assisted living community or a nursing home. We serve northern New Jersey, including Essex, Bergen, Passaic, Morris, Union, Hudson and northern Middlesex counties, as well as Rockland County, New York.
How to get started
Call Lisa at 973.747.5571 or Kim at 845.480.1561, or send us a message. Tell us a little about the person and the case. The first conversation is free, and we will tell you honestly whether we are the right fit. Attorneys and other professionals can learn more on our page for referral partners.
Guardianship Care Management: common questions
Can a care manager be involved before a guardian is appointed?+
Yes. Families and attorneys sometimes bring us in while guardianship is being considered or is pending. An assessment can give everyone a clear, current picture of the person's needs and safety. Questions about whether guardianship is appropriate or how the court process works should go to an attorney.
Who do you report to in a guardianship case?+
We report to the guardian, and to the attorney or trustee when the guardian wants them included. We agree at the start on who receives updates, how often, and in what form, and we follow that consistently.
Do you serve as guardian ourselves?+
No. We are care managers, not guardians. We support the person who holds that role by overseeing care, visiting, coordinating providers and keeping them informed so they can make well-grounded decisions.
How is guardianship care management paid for?+
Medicare and standard health insurance do not cover private care management. In guardianship cases our services are often paid from the person's own funds or a trust, as directed by the guardian or trustee. Some long term care insurance policies also cover care management. We are happy to talk through payment in the first conversation.
Not sure where to start?
Tell us what is going on. We will listen, explain your options and help you decide on the next step. The first conversation is free.