Question: Are staff members of a Residential Care Facility/Assisted Living Facility (RCF/ALF) allowed to be recognized as guardians of a resident if their actual guardians request to give the facility the right to make some basic health decisions concerning the resident?
Answer: Guardian-signed forms that indicate the facility staff can make basic health decisions on behalf of the resident are not accepted. The guardian is appointed through the court system and DSDS will recognize the guardian that was approved/appointed by the judge only. However, it is protocol that DSDS consult facility staff when developing the person-centered care plan for a participant.