Dementia Care: Combined Assistance Upheld Over Guardianship

The court upheld the decision to establish a combined assistance (Beistandschaft) rather than guardianship (Vormundschaft) for an 84-year-old individual suffering from advanced dementia, as sought by their daughter. The court reasoned that, in accordance with the principle of proportionality central to guardianship law, the comprehensive care provided by the nursing home sufficiently addresses the need for personal assistance, and the established combined assistance adequately covers the management of financial affairs. Furthermore, the court emphasized that guardianship, which revokes legal capacity, is disproportionate when the individual's needs can be met through the less restrictive measure of assistance, especially since the patient shows no current opposition and her progressive condition suggests future needs will continue to be managed through assistance unless resistance arises.