This is a follow-up of 24 cases of guardianship orders, and demonstrates how they can be used in practice for complex cases and highlights practical problems with the process of guardianship. Results showed that orders were generally applied to elderly females with dementing illness living alone. Many orders resulted in a move to residential care where the orders were often left to lapse within six months. Occasionally orders needed continuous renewal and here the process was often haphazard and disorganised. However, guardianship was used to coordinate and facilitate multi-disciplinary care. Difficulties have since been identified and improvements in organisation are discussed.