Stories Of Guardianship

Stories Of Our Clients

Every guardianship case is unique—and behind each is a deeply human story. This collection highlights the lived experiences of individuals who have been served by public guardianship in Massachusetts. These real-life stories reflect the complexities, challenges, and essential role of guardianship in protecting people at risk. By sharing them, we hope to foster deeper understanding, compassion, and conversation around the policies and practices that shape guardianship today.
Manuel's Story

When Manuel arrived at a Boston hospital in 2023, it was because of severe back pain. Tests revealed prostate cancer that had metastasized to his spine. By then, he had been living on the margins for years: first in the shelter system, then in permanent supportive housing… 

Read Full Story on Public Guardian Services Website
Browse Newsletters
Browse Spotlights

Spotlight On Professionals

Browse Client Stories

Stories Of Guardianship

Scroll to Top

2 While both “unbefriended” and “unrepresented” are commonly used to refer to the population of concern to the Institute, we use the latter in this Report, as being more technically correct and less distracting than the other, more emotive term. In using the term, we do not intend to imply anything about legal representation.

1 Moye, J., et al., Ethical Concerns and Procedure Pathways for Patients Who are Incapacitated and Alone, HEC Forum DOI 10.1007/s10730‐016‐9317‐9 (published online), p. 4 (Jan. 13, 2017.