Volunteer Advocates for Seniors

The Volunteer Advocates for Seniors (VAS) Program provides volunteer limited guardian services for elderly persons who are unbefriended and in hospital, nursing home or hospice health care facilities in Northwest Indiana. The at-risk seniors served by the VAS Program are incapable of representing or protecting their own "best interests" and are without suitable family or guardian involvement to help them make decisions.

The VAS Program recruits, trains and supervises community volunteers to serve as temporary limited guardians for incapacitated seniors. The volunteers are appointed by the Lake Superior Court. The role of the volunteer guardian is to assist the Court by investigating and assessing the at-risk person’s life situation, facilitating health care and social services needed by the individual, and planning for the appropriate residential placement and services for the person.