Hurley Elder Care Law Offers New CEs for 2019

It is no secret that we enjoy sharing knowledge and information about best practices with other elder care professionals in Georgia (and across the country!). Last year, we spoke over 150 times and offered 73 different continuing education events. We are certified to offer continuing education credits to social workers via the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB), case managers via the Commission for Case Management Certification, and registered nurses via the California Board of Registered Nurses.

This year we are excited to offer 12 information-packed topics that you care about. Seven of these topics are brand new for 2019, and all are excellent topics. You can find a list of the CE topics we will be offering in 2019 below. Please contact our office at (404) 843-0121 or info@hurleyeclaw.com to learn more details about our CE offerings. We never charge co-sponsors or attendees for our events.

2019 Continuing Education Topics for Professionals

CEs available: 1 ethics or core hour for social workers; 1 ethics or contact hour for case managers and RNs.

Unequal, Unprepared and Unprotected: Women and Aging

The downside of living a long healthy life can be a retirement fraught with economic insecurity. Women face unique challenges as they age which are amplified by a lifetime of gender inequity. In fact, more than 50% of women over age 65 face the real crisis of outliving their resources. This CE will analyze why women are so susceptible to aging in poverty, identify the most at-risk populations and explore what resources are available to support the most vulnerable including Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and the Qualified Medicare Beneficiary Program (QMB).

Healthcare Laws Every Provider Should Know: 2019 Update

The laws and regulations impacting healthcare providers and consumers are constantly changing, both at the Federal level and within our State of Georgia. Our 2019 update will feature an in-depth review of the significant changes to the VA Aid and Attendance program, the new regulations surrounding Medicaid Estate Recovery, an analysis of the Social Security Representative Payee program as well as an update on continued changes to the ACA. We will review the 2018 Georgia legislative session accomplishments in the healthcare arena and provide a timely update on proposed Federal legislation.

Elder Abuse: New Laws, New Programs, New Results

Over the last 5 years, Georgia has made significant changes to its approach to crack down on elder abuse. This educational workshop is intended to help social workers, Registered Nurses, case managers, and other mandated reporters to understand those changes, clarify their responsibilities as mandated reporters, and learn more about how they can help protect Georgians from elder abuse.

The Peach State’s Dementia Plan: What’s on Georgia’s Mind?

Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias are a looming national public health crisis. It is important for health care providers in Georgia to understand the problem and to know how our state will be meeting the growing needs of individuals and families impacted by dementia. This CE will explore the programs, services, and policies that have been implemented to diagnosis, treat, care for, and protect our residents with dementia. Hurley Elder Care Law will discuss what Georgia is doing well, what needs improvement, and how the private sector, public sector, and academics can best work together to best meet the need for this growing population.

The Long-Term Care Toolkit – Building a Plan to Pay for Care

The need for long-term care is on the rise and cost of care continues to soar. As Georgia’s aging population continues to explode understanding what options are available for receiving and paying for long- term care are imperative. Case managers, social workers and nurses often partner with families to navigate this complex process. This seminar offers healthcare professionals practical information outlining Georgia’s long-term care options. In addition, it examines potential costs families may face along with strategies to access public benefits. Special attention will be paid to Georgia Nursing Home Medicaid and the VA Aid and Attendance benefit.

The Ethics of Surrogate Decision Making: Who’s in Charge?

Healthcare professionals recognize that dealing with a surrogate decision maker (healthcare agent or next of kin) is often necessary. Yet knowing who is the legal decision maker is not always clear. During the presentation Hurley Elder Care Law will present information explaining the four different types of surrogate decision makers and their necessary legal documents. The discussion will feature a review of ethical dilemmas that health care agents face and examine guidelines for making decisions on behalf of someone else. Through a series of case studies, the presenters will discuss how healthcare professionals sometimes struggle with patient autonomy and informed consent when surrogates are involved. (ETHICS)

Guardianship and Ethics: How to Avoid Removing Someone’s Rights

The Guardianship/Conservatorship process is a necessary, complicated intersection of our medical and legal worlds. Oftentimes, the healthcare providers are the first to recognize that a patient’s capacity may be questionable. Recommending that a family seek guardianship over their loved one may mean that complicated medical issues and complex family dynamics will be litigated in a courtroom. What ethical implications and unintended outcomes can result from this recommendation? In this CE, Hurley Elder Care Law will offer information on the basics of guardianship/conservatorship, explore the ethical issues surrounding removing someone’s rights, and offer practical alternatives to guardianship. Current information on Georgia’s Advance Directives and Powers of Attorney will also be provided. (ETHICS)

The New Aging Family: Elder Care in the 21st Century

Healthcare professionals are being challenged with meeting the needs of an older population that is living longer with more complex issues and fewer family supports than ever before. Do you ever feel overwhelmed/lost when dealing with this population? This seminar will offer guidance for professionals dealing with the new aging family. We will explore elder orphans, elderly immigrants, and blended families.

Probate: The Problems, The Panic and The Process!

The mere mention of the word “probate” produces feelings of nausea for many. This seminar will provide a basic framework of understanding of the legal distribution of a person’s assets after they die. Healthcare providers in the geriatric field are often the first people families turn to, when dealing with end-of-life issues. This seminar will examine how Probate works in the State of Georgia, how best to handle an estate if there is no will in place and some of the complications that may arise in the Probate process. We will also review possible ways to avoid Probate and discuss if an attorney is necessary to complete the process. Case Studies are presented to encourage dialogue and present real-world scenarios.

Successful Nursing Home Placements

The decision to transfer a family member to a nursing home can be a difficult one. The many emotions arising from such a decision may be impacted further by a complex placement process. It is the family’s responsibility to explore facilities and to make decisions about which facilities can best meet the patient’s financial, physical, and social needs, but health care providers also play a crucial role.
Case managers and social workers must understand how to complete the DMA-6 and Level 1, how to navigate the options, and how to advise families on paying for nursing home care. Please join us to learn what you need to accomplish Successful Nursing Home Placements.

The Road Often Traveled: Essential Documents for Adults

“Do you have your documents in place?” Healthcare providers ask this question to patients and families daily and more often than we would like, the answer is “no.” What healthcare documents does everyone really need and how do they work? What are the repercussions of needing care and having no documents in place? What options do healthcare providers have when families need to take action? We will review the essential documents every adult needs including the General Durable Power of Attorney, The Georgia Advance Directive for Healthcare various other documents that may be recommended.

VA Aid and Attendance: Making the Most of Your Past Service

The VA “Aid and Attendance” benefit is one of the VA’s best kept secrets for retired service men and women. War time veterans over 65 or their surviving spouses who are facing the burden of long-term care costs can use the benefit to offset the expenses of in-home caregivers, Assisted Living Community fees and in certain circumstances Independent Living Community fees. The VA has recently implemented comprehensive changes to the rules for qualification. It is now critically important for healthcare professionals to understand the impact of these changes as they assist patients and families with their long-term care options.

You can download an easy-to-print list of our CE topics: CE Topics for Professionals 2019.

To learn more about our upcoming events, please check our events page.

Please contact our office at (404) 843-0121 or info@hurleyeclaw.com with any questions.