The Black and White World of Elder Abuse When Capacity is Gray

This interactive session, presented by Deirdre Lok and Brooke Santoro of The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Center for Elder Justice at the Hebrew Home at Riverdale, will use case studies and real world examples to provide attorneys with practical tools to assess and intervene in cases of suspected elder abuse. This session will review how attorneys can spot elder abuse and the ways in which guardianship proceedings can be utilized as a mechanism to address the abuse. Capacity and cognitive impairment can fluctuate and may be challenging for an attorney to assess. Compounded with red flags of abuse, financial exploitation, and unmet needs, guardianship proceedings may be the best way to ensure the safety and well-being of an older adult.

Learning Objectives:

1. Familiarize yourself with the basics of elder abuse
2. Discuss the role of a social worker's assessment of capacity and cognitive impairment
3. Examine the mechanics of guardianship proceedings
4. Review how to employ specific strategies in a guardianship proceeding to prevent or intervene in cases of elder abuse