Beyond
Guardianship
Massachusetts Guardianship Policy Institute
August 2026
In this issue, we reflect on the past, present, and future of guardianship: from Scott Harshbarger’s perspective on unfinished reform in Massachusetts to new legislative efforts, organizational partnerships, and the people making person-centered guardianship possible every day.
Thirty Years On: Scott Harshbarger on the Future of Guardianship in Massachusetts
Former Massachusetts Attorney General Scott Harshbarger reflects on the unfinished work of guardianship reform in the Commonwealth.
Thirty years after helping bring guardianship to the forefront of public policy, former Massachusetts Attorney General Scott Harshbarger believes one of the Commonwealth’s most important human services issues is still hiding in plain sight.
Much of that conversation began in 1995, when Scott convened the Bentley College Conference on Guardianship. This was the first statewide effort to bring advocates, legal professionals, and policymakers together to examine how Massachusetts could strengthen its guardianship system.
At the time, guardianship had emerged as part of a broader focus on elder protection. While serving as District Attorney and later Attorney General, Scott saw firsthand how older Americans were disproportionately targeted by fraud, financial exploitation, and other white-collar crimes. Many were isolated, living alone, or lacked strong support systems, making them especially vulnerable.
In the News:
Boston Globe Highlights Massachusetts' Guardianship Crisis
A new Boston Globe article examines the growing guardianship crisis in Massachusetts, highlighting how the shortage of professional guardians is delaying hospital discharges, straining the healthcare system, and leaving thousands of vulnerable adults without the support they need.
The article features insights from healthcare leaders, advocates, and Public Guardian Services Care Manager Madeline Feist, whose work illustrates the life-changing impact that professional guardians can have. Readers of our March issue may recognize Madeline's story about "Jack," which offered a firsthand look at the complex, person-centered advocacy behind professional guardianship.
As policymakers continue to examine solutions, the article highlights why strengthening guardianship matters for both vulnerable individuals and the healthcare system.
In the News:
New York Lawmaker Calls for Statewide Investment in Nonprofit Guardianship
New York Assemblymember Charles Lavine is calling for a statewide investment in nonprofit guardianship, citing growing concerns from judges, hospitals, advocates, and families about the shortage of qualified guardians. In an opinion piece published June 1, Lavine argues that when no guardian is available, medically stable patients can remain in hospitals for months, courts face delays in making appointments, and vulnerable individuals are left without the support they need.
To address what he calls New York's "guardianship gap," Lavine is sponsoring the Good Guardianship Act, legislation that would expand nonprofit guardianship services, strengthen statewide capacity, and improve coordination across healthcare and community systems. He emphasizes that guardianship should remain a last resort—but when it is needed, the system must be equipped to respond promptly and responsibly.
Our People:
Meet the Staff: Patricia Burke
How a former home-care director turned PGS Care Manager leads with presence, respect, and a social-work model.
As a Care Manager at Public Guardian Services, Patricia Burke takes the responsibility of her role with just as much seriousness as she does heart.
And that doesn't just apply to the legal responsibilities of guardianship. For Patricia, the work is about holding space for clients’ beliefs, showing up consistently, and making sure every voice — from doctors to nursing staff to the clients themselves — is heard.
Meet the Clients: Jenny's Story
From the limitations of a nursing home to finding a home, community, and the opportunity to thrive, Care Manager Betsy Frye shares one of PGS's latest guardianship success stories.
What does it mean to be part of a guardianship success story?
If you ask Public Guardian Services Care Manager Betsy Frye, she thinks of her client Jenny finally finding the right place to call home and, as Betsy puts it, "getting the opportunity to reach the full potential she always had."
Meet Guardian Community Trust
Guardian Community Trust is a Massachusetts nonprofit committed to supporting the quality of life of vulnerable older adults and people with disabilities through special needs trust services and statewide advocacy.
In addition to its pooled special needs trust, Community Trust works in partnership with public and private stakeholders to address the need for a public guardian for Massachusetts.
Through its affiliate Public Guardian Services, Community Trust advances research, training, oversight, and high-quality decisional support services for individuals who are isolated, incapacitated, or underserved by existing fiduciary systems.
Never Miss a Story.
Learn More About Us
Massachusetts Guardianship Policy Institute — research, policy, and advocacy
Guardian Community Trust, Inc. — funding and care coordination
Public Guardian Services (PGS) — person-centered guardianship in practice