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Video Description

Type: KIHASA Policy Featurette

Topic: What Does the Dementia Public Guardian Do?

Original video: [KIHASA Special] Safety Net in an Aging Society: Public Guardianship for Dementia Patients - Rights of and Systems for Older Adults with Dementia

Guest Speaker: Hong Jong-seok, Team Leader and Social Worker, Gangdong-gu Dementia Safety Center

Related Research Monograph: Exploring Improvement Measures for the Adult Guardianship System: Focusing on Decision-Making Support for Older Adults with Dementia and Cognitive Decline (Lee Sun-hee) https://repository.kihasa.re.kr/handle/201002/47026

Transcript

Narration:

Once qualified and appointed as a dementia public guardian, what exactly do they do?

Hong:

Dementia Public Guardians support decision-making for, and act on behalf of, vulnerable individuals with dementia in the community. They are granted by the court the authority to make decisions and provide personal support for their wards―individuals with dementia―across various areas of daily life. This authority primarily covers matters related to personal protection and property management. By exercising this authority, guardians help their wards do as much as they can independently while offering supplementary decision-making support and assistance to safeguard their rights.

Narration:

Guardians serve as legal representatives for people with dementia who have difficulty making decisions on their own. So, what qualifications are required to become a guardian?

Hong:

Because public guardians act under the authority granted by the court, anyone who does not fall under the disqualification criteria specified in the Civil Act is, in principle, eligible to serve as a guardian. However, since the Dementia Public Guardianship Program is implemented in accordance with the Ministry of Health and Welfare’s guidelines for supporting vulnerable individuals with dementia in the community, only those who complete the required education course on the Ministry’s Dementia Public Guardianship Program and follow the prescribed procedures can be considered as candidates. Once appointed, they may then perform the role of guardian in the community.