Guardians often have thankless job

I was sorry to read the Sunday Dispatch article “Unguarded,” about the ward system in Ohio, as Paul S. Kormanik is my “go-to” attorney guardian. It is almost impossible to find a willing person for the task of being guardian for a mentally ill person with zero assets who exists on Social Security and Medicaid.

I cannot recall being refused when I have called Kormanik’s office, seeking help for what is always a difficult situation. His paralegal is a real blessing, knows the people she is working with and has face-to-face meetings with them.

I cannot speak to situations where there are family members who are disappointed with the care their loved ones received, or how assets were handled, as most of my clients have no one who cares and no assets, but I can suggest people need to have an advanced directive such as a living will or durable power of attorney for their loved ones, so some situations can be avoided in the future.

As to finding it difficult to get Medicaid, anyone in a nursing home should easily qualify. Any denial is easily handled by filing for a state hearing, simple to accomplish with a phone call to the number in the paperwork from the Department of Job and Family Services, which handles such applications.

I have yet to lose a state hearing myself and have taken clients to protest denials many times. If Kormanik needs advice on this subject, he can call me.

NANCY MILY Registered nurse

Columbus