Families often contact IKOR of Western Pennsylvania when a loved one’s life becomes complicated, due to age, illness, disability, or mental health concerns. In many of these cases, families feel overwhelmed and ask whether guardianship is the only option to protect their loved one. While guardianship can be necessary in some situations, it should be a last resort. The right kind of support can often help individuals make their own decisions without giving up their rights.
That’s where Supported Decision-Making comes in.
What Is Supported Decision-Making?
Supported Decision-Making (SDM) allows older adults and individuals with disabilities to stay in charge of their lives while getting help from trusted supporters. These supporters can be family members, friends, or professionals. They help people understand options, weigh risks and benefits, and communicate their decisions.
As supporters, we help our clients understand their options, evaluate the risks and benefits, and communicate their decisions.
Unlike guardianship, where someone else makes all the decisions, SDM keeps the individual’s voice and preferences front and center. It’s flexible, respectful, and empowering.
Why It Matters in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania law is shifting. The state now requires families and professionals to consider less restrictive options before pursuing guardianship. Supported Decision-Making is one of those options. Courts are starting to favor SDM and other tools, like Powers of Attorney or Representative Payees, Special Needs Trusts, and ABLE accounts, to help people manage their affairs without losing their rights.
The Trouble with Guardianship
Guardianship can be expensive and emotionally challenging. It involves going to court, paying legal fees, and filing yearly reports. Once in place, guardianship takes away a person’s ability to make decisions, even simple ones, about their daily life. Families often find it more stressful than expected, and the person under guardianship may feel powerless or unheard.
Before choosing guardianship, it’s worth asking: Can this person make decisions with the proper support?
How IKOR Can Help
At IKOR, we help people make good decisions with proper guidance and oversight. Sometimes, we’re named Power of Attorney to step in legally when needed. Other times, we act as advocates, helping clients understand information, plan for the future, and follow through on their choices.
We’re also an allowable expense under a Special Needs Trust, and we often serve as a Representative Payee, helping manage Social Security or disability benefits responsibly and legally.
In addition, IKOR provides comprehensive fiduciary services. We are often named to serve as Power of Attorney, Medical and Financial, Representative Payee, or work with a Special Needs Trustee in complex cases where clients need trusted, neutral oversight. Our fiduciary role includes managing income, overseeing expenses, coordinating benefits, creating budgets, and protecting assets in alignment with the individual’s needs and long-term goals. This approach provides both structure and flexibility, ensuring accountability while preserving dignity.
Whether we’re serving older adults, individuals with disabilities, or families of children with special needs, our goal is always to protect dignity, encourage independence, and make life more manageable.
A Case Study: Helping Without Guardianship
Meet Sarah, a 34-year-old woman with developmental disabilities. After her mother passed away, her extended family was unsure how to help. They consulted an attorney about guardianship, but the lawyer recognized that Sarah might not meet the legal criteria, and the family didn’t want to take away her independence. That’s when they contacted IKOR.
Sarah’s parents had created a Special Needs Trust with a professional nonprofit trustee, ensuring she would have financial stability and access to services without jeopardizing her benefits. She lives in a supportive group home environment and works part-time at a local retail job she enjoys and takes pride in. They were considering guardianship, but didn’t want to remove her independence.
Our team completed a full assessment and found that Sarah could make most decisions with the proper support. Her aunt was named a supporter under a structured Supported Decision-Making arrangement, while IKOR stepped in to serve as Representative Payee and Health Care Power of Attorney.
We coordinated her medical appointments, helped her understand care options, and supported her in finding a new day program and volunteer opportunity that matched her interests.
With the proper support, Sarah is thriving—living in the community, managing her daily routines, and staying involved in decisions about her life. Her family has peace of mind, knowing she’s safe and respected. Most importantly, Sarah didn’t lose her rights.
A Team Professionals Trust
We work closely with attorneys, trustees, and financial advisors who need a trusted partner to support clients in complex situations. Our team includes nurses, mental health professionals, fiduciary advocates, and care specialists who understand how to provide expert oversight without taking over.
Call us if you’re considering guardianship or trying to support a loved one through complex decisions. IKOR can help you explore your options and find a better path forward.