Our History
Guidance Carolina (GC) is a private, non-profit organization located in Greensboro, North Carolina. Guidance Carolina began operations in 1979 – under the name Corporation of Guardianship (CoG) – in response to a growing need for person-centered assistance, intervention, and advocacy for older adults and persons with disabilities. Since our inception, we have maintained a focus on providing person-centered guardianship and supported decision-making services for people with diminished capacity who have no family or friends available to help them.
In the early 1980s, Guidance Carolina was awarded certificates to construct and expand services to include the operation of small community-based homes for people with developmental disabilities. This was a way to ensure that our clients would not be forced into institutional environments. Guidance Carolina quickly spun off that program in order to keep true to our vision and mission of dedicated advocacy, case management, and fiduciary services to our clients.
In the mid-1990s, we amended our charter to include Special Needs Trust Administration as one of our services. This new service allowed individuals with disabilities or their families to put aside money specifically for the disabled individual’s care, without these assets counting as part of their personal wealth. By 2001, Guidance Carolina expanded our trust administration services to include the Umbrella First-Party Pooled Trust and in 2022, we added the Community Third-Party Pooled Trust which made trust services available to an even broader population of older adults and persons with disabilities.
In 2024, we celebrated our 45th Anniversary and unveiled our new name: Guidance Carolina. This change marks a new chapter in our organization’s journey, as we continue to evolve and adapt to better serve older adults, individuals with disabilities, and their families throughout North Carolina.
In our more than four decades of service to the community, Guidance Carolina has enabled thousands of older adults and individuals with disabilities across North Carolina to live full and more independent lives.
Our Services
Guardianship
As Guardian, we serve as a diligent advocate for our clients. Our goal is to keep vulnerable adults secure, safe, and independent.
Special Needs Trust
As Trustee, Guidance Carolina’s experienced staff understand the complex rules governing public benefits and Special Needs Trusts.
Power of Attorney
A Power-of-Attorney is a useful planning tool in the event that you become unable to make important decisions independently.
Representative Payee
A Representative Payee is appointed when an individual receives benefits from the Social Security Administration (SSA) but is unable to manage his or her own funds.
Elder Justice Care Management
We are champions of the need for enhancing our community’s collaborative response to elder abuse, as these cases are on the rapid rise.