We partner with fellow providers, advocates, and allies to improve New York's guardianship system.
More New Yorkers are aging, living longer with dementia and other cognitive disabilities, and doing so with fewer family members nearby to help. As need grows, the supply of qualified guardians has not kept pace, leaving New Yorkers without critical legal protections, decision-making support, and access to the essential services they need to survive and thrive.
At the same time, guardianship is overused. Often this is because people were never connected to the benefits, housing, and support services that would have let them manage their own affairs safely. Tools such as healthcare proxy, power of attorney, and supported decision making can also help people plan ahead and avoid guardianship, but they are underused, not always accessible, and not always designed in ways that work for everyone.
Project Guardianship uses budget and policy advocacy to improve New York’s adult guardianship system. Our priorities include:
- Addressing the shortage of qualified guardians
- Establishing a right to guardianship for those who need it
- Safeguarding guardianship as a last resort
We also partner with the courts to improve their practices, conduct original research to uncover systemic challenges and develop solutions, and increase public awareness through training sessions and strategic communications.
To learn more about our guardianship reform work, email advocacy@projectguardianship.org.