How to Start Volunteering with Vulnerable Adults: A Checklist for Compassionate Helpers

Across Johnson and Shelby Counties, many adults — both aging seniors and younger individuals with cognitive or physical impairments—live without the support of family or a trusted advocate. Some are in long-term care. Others navigate complex health and legal systems alone. Many have lost the ability to make safe decisions on their own and are at risk for abuse, exploitation, or neglect.

The VASIA program (Volunteer Advocates for Seniors and Incapacitated Adults) exists to change that. VASIA matches trained volunteer guardians with vulnerable adults in need of protection, representation, and compassionate advocacy. If you're ready to serve your community in a direct and impactful way, this checklist will help you take the first steps toward becoming a volunteer guardian.

Step 1: Understand the Role of a Volunteer Guardian

Volunteer guardians are appointed by the court to represent adults who have been legally deemed incapacitated. These individuals may be elderly, but many are adults of all ages living with developmental disabilities, mental illness, dementia, or brain injury. What they all share is a need for oversight, support, and someone to speak on their behalf.

Guardians do not provide hands-on care or manage money. Instead, they advocate for their ward’s safety, dignity, and best interests—particularly when it comes to decisions about healthcare, housing, and personal welfare. Guardians ensure their wards live in the least restrictive, most supportive environment available.

This is a long-term, high-impact volunteer opportunity that changes lives—often one relationship at a time.

Step 2: Meet the Requirements

To become a VASIA volunteer guardian, applicants must meet the following qualifications:

Be at least 21 years of age
Complete an application and participate in an interview
Pass a background check
Commit to training and ongoing support

These safeguards help ensure that every volunteer is equipped to act with integrity, maturity, and compassion.

Step 3: Complete Volunteer Training

VASIA’s comprehensive training program gives volunteers the tools and knowledge they need to confidently navigate the responsibilities of guardianship. Training is not only informative—it’s empowering. You'll learn about:

Guardianship Law and Due Process
Understand how guardianship is established in Indiana, what alternatives exist, and how to advocate within legal frameworks while respecting individual rights.

Aging and Cognitive Impairment
Explore common health conditions affecting decision-making capacity, including dementia, delirium, and chronic illness.

Navigating Care Systems
Learn how Medicare, Medicaid, and long-term care options work, and how to access services for vulnerable adults.

Ethical Decision-Making
Review the standards of practice, including confidentiality, least restrictive alternatives, and the importance of informed consent.

End-of-Life Considerations
Gain confidence in supporting palliative care decisions, hospice resources, and the emotional and ethical challenges that come with them.

Protective Services and Referrals
Know when and how to engage Adult Protective Services, and what role a volunteer plays in identifying signs of abuse or neglect.

Once training is complete, you’ll be ready to begin serving with the ongoing support of the VASIA team.

Step 4: Get Matched and Begin Serving

After training, you’ll be matched with a ward based on your availability, comfort level, and the needs of individuals currently awaiting guardianship. Wards may live in nursing homes, group homes, or other supervised settings.

Your role includes visiting regularly, staying in touch with care providers, and representing the ward during annual court reviews. With VASIA’s continued support, you’ll gain confidence as you build a meaningful, consistent relationship with the person in your care.

Step 5: Stay Engaged and Make a Difference

This is a volunteer role that requires patience, empathy, and dedication—but the reward is immense. Your presence ensures that someone vulnerable has an advocate in their corner. You become their protector, their connection to the outside world, and their voice in systems that often overlook them.

Even a few hours a month can change a life.

Ready to Get Started?

If you're ready to be a servant-leader in your community, VASIA is here to guide you. With structured training, professional support, and meaningful impact, the volunteer guardian role offers a chance to serve others while connecting with something larger than yourself.