Implementation of recommended guardianship practices and outcomes of hearings for older persons.

We analyzed 1,160 court records to determine whether implementation of recommended procedural safeguards and guardianship practices was associated with outcomes of hearings for older persons. The presence of the proposed ward at the hearing was not related to decisions about guardianship. Proposed wards who retained their own counsel were more likely to receive limited guardianships or have the petition denied. Wards with undefined court-appointed counsel more often received full guardianships than those without representation.