The Office of the Public Guardian is an agency charged with caring for adults who have no one else and are too infirm and poor to care for themselves. In coming months, agency officials will be visiting communities throughout the state to offer treats and solicit cash and volunteers.

The next "Cookies & Conversation" fundraiser is set for Thursday at 6 p.m. at the Davis County Library in Centerville (45 South and 400 West).

Though perfectly legal, it's rare for a tax-funded government agency to solicit private donations. Public colleges ply pennies from their alumni, and schools sell anything from wrapping paper to chocolate bars. But most agencies shy away from the conflicts of interest that can arise.

Government money-grubbing also can lead to complaints of unfair competition from the nonprofit sector. Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr.'s decision last spring to use private money to fund dental and vision services for adults on Medicaid drew protests from advocates for the low-income, who worried about setting a precedent of double dipping into the public's pockets.

Sensitive to this, public guardian director Lori Bays characterizes her fund drive as a public awareness campaign. She stressed donations will be used to support guardians and conservators in their duties, not to fund routine services.

For example, gifts of cash will go to purchase "extras" for clients that state and federal dollars don't cover, said Bays. The "extras" she describes include such basics as birthday and holiday gifts, burials and cremations for clients who die in state custody, dental and vision care, clothing and disposable undergarments.

Also, volunteers are needed for social visits with clients, and they can serve as an extra pair of eyes, acknowledged Bays. "If they happen to notice something that needs attention, they can let a guardian know."

A special section of Utah law permits Bays to pay for services with private money, and also allows her to delegate responsibilities for a client to a volunteer.

"When I came on board as director a year ago, I happened to notice this was in the statute, but the office had never done it before," said Bays. "I decided to run with it."

More than legal, Bays said fundraising is appropriate given the current political climate.

"Federal and state dollars simply aren't available. As director of this office, it's my job to make sure we do the best job we can," said Bays. "I also love the idea of harnessing the community to care for our elderly and incapacitated."

Created in 1999, the public guardian serves as Utah's guardian of last resort, managing the medical, financial and personal affairs for 230 incapacitated adults, many of whom are elderly or mentally disabled and with no living relatives. Virtually all have less than $50,000 in assets.

The office provides its services for free, but on a $650,000 budget, which hasn't seen an increase in five years.

Human Services Director Lisa-Michele Church chose not to ask the Legislature for more money this year, though she acknowledges demand on the public guardian will continue to grow as the baby boomers age.

"With all the competing needs in human services, it doesn't rise to the No. 1 priority," said Church. "I don't have the luxury of staffing up for anticipated needs. I don't even have staff for our current needs."

kstewart@sltrib.com

Office of the Public Guardian

ä What they do: Manage the financial, medical and personal affairs for 230 Utah adults who are too infirm and destitute to do it themselves.

ä What you can do to help: Volunteer to visit clients or donate cash, services or goods.

ä For more information: Call the office at 801-538-8255