BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — The Central Oregon Guardian Assistance Program was established as a nonprofit organization last August in Bend to provide guardianship services to indigent and low-income incapacitated individuals in the Central Oregon area.
The formation of the nonprofit was in response to the rapid increase of indigent and low-income incapacitated adults having no family or other legal decision-making support cycling through the hospital and jails or unhoused in our communities and without care and housing appropriate to their needs.
The program was formed following input from the Council on Aging of Central Oregon, the state Department of Human Services, adult behavioral health agencies and mental health agencies, elder law attorneys, judges, trial court administrators, the probate commissioner, law enforcement, professional guardians and medical professionals.
COGAP provides pro bono and low-cost guardianship services to Central Oregonians with limited means who are incapacitated and unable to make medical, housing, and financial decisions for themselves.