NGA’s webinars are available in live formats and successful webinars are also offered in recorded formats throughout the year. Details about each webinar are provided below; for complete information, including information about continuing education credits, click on the More Info button to the right.
Recorded webinars are accepted by the CGC, those who are looking for state-specific or other accreditation must check with their state or accrediting body to see if code-verified recordings are acceptable prior to purchasing.
Please order a recorded webinar only when you have time to view it. You will have 30 days from the date/time of purchase to watch the webinar and verify your participation to receive a certificate of attendance. We cannot accommodate extensions for recorded webinars.
Only a person who has registered and paid for a webinar will receive continuing education credits.
Upcoming Live Webinars
Understanding and Supporting Grief: Practical Strategies
Thursday, November 4, 2021 @ 1 p.m. Eastern
(12 p.m. Central, 11 a.m. Mountain, 10 a.m. Pacific)
This webinar will define grief (It’s a wider definition than most think), dispel myths about grief and share the hidden things that make the experience of grief so difficult. The presenter will discuss the connection between grief and health and give practical strategies to support yourself and stay well as you work hard to support others.
Participants will learn how to support themselves and support others in meaningful ways (physically, intellectually, emotionally, and spiritually) amid loss and change. Practical strategies and words to say (when you don’t know what to say) are included.
Intended Audience: Anyone who wants to know how to better care for themselves and/or others amid loss and change. Those, like guardians, who support/care for others professionally are the obvious audience, but anyone can participate and learn.
The webinar is eligible for one hour of continuing education credit from the Center for Guardianship Certification.
Registration ends on October 28, 2021 or when the session is full, whichever comes first.
About the Presenter: Rachel Weinstein, M.S. Ed.
Rachel Weinstein has over 25 years of experience in the field of grief and loss and has appeared as a grief expert on local and national television, on syndicated radio programs, and in syndicated newspapers in the United States. She is the owner of “Jacksonville Center for Grief and Loss” and provides support, education, and consultation for loss and life transition. She spent the early part of her career as a general therapist prior to experiencing a personal loss. That loss awakened her to how little most well-intentioned helping professionals know about distinguishing grief from clinical depression and often what was done and said made the grief experience even harder. Family and friends were equally ill-equipped to show up in a way that felt supportive. After getting through her loss, she pursued additional training on understanding and supporting grief and loss. Rachel is passionate about helping others, particularly helping professionals, better understand grief, literally support it, and take care of themselves in their quest to support others.
Pre-Recorded Webinars
2021
What Families Need to Know About Planning for a Loved One with Special Needs
Estate planning by parents who have children with disabilities involves many challenges, including the following:
- How do you leave funds for the benefit of the child without causing the child to lose important public benefits?
- How do you make sure that the funds are well-managed?
- How do you make sure that your other children are not over-burdened with caring for the disabled sibling, and that any burdens fall relatively evenly among the siblings?
- What is fair in terms of distributing your estate between your disabled child and your other children?
- How do you make sure there is enough money to meet your disabled child’s needs?
Often, parents of children with special needs try to resolve these issues by leaving their estates to their other children, leaving nothing to the disabled children. They have several reasons for this approach:
1) the disabled child should not receive anything because they cannot manage money and would lose their benefits,
2) they do not need any inheritance because they will be taken care of by the public benefits they receive; and
3) the other children will take care of them.
When addressing a special needs planning situation, be sure to speak with a professional who understands the nuances of the special needs planning process.
Attendees will come to understand what is involved in the planning process for a special needs family and the importance of preserving the loved one’s financial security and quality of life. The key issues of understanding the role of public benefits, making decisions about the future, Maryland ABLE, and using estate planning and trusts to protect assets will be discussed along with the types of special needs trusts and their specific purposes (along with who the decision makers and beneficiaries can be in these trusts). Also, to be touched upon will be the “planning team concept” — how your planning team (attorney, financial advisor, CPA) — can work together to help provide your family peace of mind during the special needs planning process.
Intended Audience: The target audience for this presentation is all families who need to plan their loved one with special needs. This includes young families with young children up to older parents with disabled adult children, as well as other family members including grandparents who wish to contribute to 3rd party special needs trusts. This presentation is also important for financial decision makers who want to better understand the ins and outs of special needs planning so they can be a better resource for their clients.
About the Presenter: Olivia R. Holcombe-Volke, Esq.
Olivia Holcombe-Volke is a Senior Principal with Elville and Associates, P.C. Her primary focus is on all aspects of estate planning, including the initial drafting of wills, trusts, advance directives, and powers of attorney, as well as the continued revision and updates of those documents as life and statutory changes occur. She also regularly works with clients who have elder law and/or special needs concerns, whether on behalf of themselves or a family member, assisting with Medicaid and Veteran’s asset protection efforts, special needs planning, and the difficult issues attendant to mental and physical incapacity.
The webinar is eligible for one hour of continuing education credit from the Center for Guardianship Certification.
Aging Life Care Associates and the Guardianship Process
Aging Life Care Associates have been providing care for seniors, people with disabilities, and their families for more than 35 years. The array of services is matched only by the uniqueness of their clients. Aging Life Care Associates can be part of the guardianship process by providing assessments, ongoing care management, family mediation and expert witness.
Participants will gain an understanding of this unique profession and how they have helped families navigate the health care arena, advocate for those who cannot advocate for themselves, and how they can be used to help the participants of a guardianship proceeding get to a solution that improves the life of the person involved in the guardianship.
Intended Audience: Anyone who participates in the guardianship process; guardians.
About the Presenters: Anne Markowitz Recht, Nancy E. Avitabile, C. Taney Hamill
Anne Markowitz Recht, LMSW, CMC, is a Licensed Master Social Worker in New York State and a Certified Care Manager. Anne is the Director of Care Management for Caring People, Inc. She is the founder and former CEO of AMR Care Group, a Care Management and Companion Services company which merged with Caring People, in January 2020. Anne was the Director of Family and Children’s Association’s Guardianship program. Anne has served as Court Evaluator, Guardian, court-appointed care manager and expert witness in hundreds of Guardianship cases.
Nancy E. Avitabile, LMSW, CMC, is the owner of Urban Eldercare, LLC and a founding partner of Home Care Match, LLC. Nancy served on the National Board for Aging Life Care Association, including as President. She has been featured on Thomson Reuters, “The Business Managing Old Age”, has written for the Aging Live Care Association publications, “Inside ALCA” and “The Journal of Aging Life Care” as well as other publications. Nancy was the Co-Chair of the NY Aging Life Care Association Guardianship Program and served as Guardian.
The webinar is eligible for one hour of continuing education credit from the Center for Guardianship Certification.
Understanding and Caring for the Aging Holocaust Survivor
It is estimated there are over 67,000 Holocaust survivors residing in the United States. All are at least age 75 and over half at least age 85. Holocaust survivors suffered unimaginable trauma, which has affected their aging process. Many in this identified group have very specific thoughts and beliefs, which reflect the trauma they endured. Imagine being a young teenager and having your entire family murdered in the Holocaust. How do you learn to trust others, how do you define family, how do you know what it is like to age? As a guardian for a Holocaust survivor, there are many and different considerations to contemplate when making decisions. Understanding a survivor who ‘acts out’ with medical professionals may have been part of inhumane experiments during the Holocaust. Consider a survivor who panics at people in uniform, recalling the uniformed officers removing parents from their family home, only to never be seen again. Increased understanding of the special needs of a Holocaust Survivor plays a critical role in the Guardian – Survivor relationship.
Participants will learn:
- History of the Holocaust
- Who is a Holocaust Survivor
- Immigration and resilience
- Normal aging – the aging Survivor
- Family dynamics/ trauma
- When a Holocaust survivor is a ward
- Case example
- Resources
Intended Audience: Registered guardians and professional colleagues
The webinar is eligible for one hour of continuing education credit from the Center for Guardianship Certification.
About the Presenters: Pamela Wiener, RG, PhD, Eva Weiss, MEd, EdS, and Michael Gans, MA, MS, MSA, PhD-c, LCSW
Pamela Wiener, RG, PhD is Director of the Guardianship Program at Alpert Jewish Family and Children’s Service in West Palm Beach. Prior to that, she was Elder Care & Crisis Manager of the West Palm Beach Housing Authority and Managing Director of it’s non-profit, Pine Ridge Holistic Living Center. She is a past president of the Partnership for Aging of Palm Beach County and has served on that board in other capacities. Dr. Wiener served on the Advisory Council of the ADRC of the Treasure Coast and the Palm Beaches. She holds a BA in foreign languages (Adelphi University), an MSSW (University of Texas/Arlington), and a PhD in social welfare from the University at Albany, SUNY. She started her social work career in volunteer management, and her gerontology career in an adult day care setting in Jerusalem. She has worked in Israel, NY, TX, ME, CA, and FL and is trilingual. She is a Registered Guardián.
Eva Weiss, MEd, EdS: Mrs. Weiss has been the coordinator of the Holocaust Survivor Assistance Program at AJFCS since its inception in 1995. This program has given access to over 100,000 hours of supportive services to the 12,000 survivors living in the tri-county area. Eva was born in Lvov, Russia and is herself the daughter of Holocaust survivors. She has a Masters and Specialist’s degrees from the University of Florida in Counseling and Education and is certified in Social Learning Family Therapy and Gerontology. Eva has over 20 years’ experience in providing clinical and administrative services to families and elders; and has presented nationally and internationally on issues related to the Holocaust.
Michael Gans, MA, MS, MSA, PhD-c, LCSW: As a Licensed Clinical Social Worker/ Psychotherapist, certified in EMDR, Michael is presently completing his Ph.D. studies. His course of study has focused on the Holocaust, trauma, the transmission of transgenerational trauma, LGBTQ issues, and how to most effectively provide clients with culturally competent, person-centered, and trauma-informed (PCTI) care.
Michael has served as an adjunct lecturer at various universities teaching Yiddish and German language, culture and business courses, and lecturing as a member of the University’s Speaker’s Bureau. In addition, Michael co-created and directed the I-witness Holocaust Field School in which university students explore ways in which the Holocaust is memorialized in Central Europe, and build understanding of how the lessons of the Holocaust are relevant in today’s world.
At Alpert Jewish Family Services, Michael developed an award-winning United Way funded program to assist aging parents in the life planning for their severely disabled adult children and developed HonoringLife, a JFNA-funded professional training program that educates professional caregivers in the delivery of culturally competent, PCTI care and services to Holocaust survivors and their families.
Is It Alzheimer’s or Normal Aging?
Thursday, August 26, 2021 @ 1 p.m. Eastern (12 p.m. Central, 11 a.m. Mountain, 10 a.m. Pacific)
Many people confuse normal aging memory issues as early warning signs of Alzheimer’s and dementia. Understanding the differences can prevent a great deal of stress as well as provide a roadmap for action should one be uncertain as to what is happening to them or what they see in others. This webinar will help identify the differences in Normal Aging and Alzheimer’s disease and provide you with the tools necessary to take appropriate action where necessary.
Participants will gain an understanding of the differences between normal aging and dementia.
Intended Audience: Anyone dealing with seniors.
The webinar is eligible for one hour of continuing education credit from the Center for Guardianship Certification.
About the Presenter: Scott Greenberg, CAEd
Scott Greenberg is the CEO of ComForcare Senior Services and author of the award-winning book “Oh My God, I’m Getting Older and So is My Mom”. He is a Nationally Certified Alzheimer’s Educator by NCBAC and has been conducting workshops and support groups for more than 10 years. He has spoken at the largest educational conference on Alzheimer’s disease held in Florida for 10 of the last 12 years including one year as the keynote speaker. An accomplished speaker on the subject, Scott has presented to thousands of family caregivers and professionals on caring for people living with Alzheimer’s disease.
The National Outlook: Elder Justice, Adult Protective Services, and Congressional Action Important to Guardians
Numerous federal policy developments are presently underway which are directly relevant to guardians, protected persons, and the programs and services available to them. Earlier this year, the first-ever federal funding dedicated to Adult Protective Services (APS) was made available under the Elder Justice Act (EJA) to states. Legislation was just introduced in the House and Senate to reauthorize the EJA including significant APS provisions, along with other proposals related to court reform concerning guardianships, establishing medical-legal partnerships, and other purposes. The Biden Administration and congressional Democrats are preparing an extraordinary $3.4 trillion “human infrastructure” package that if enacted is expected to contain dramatic improvements in and expansions of services for older adults, people with disabilities, and their families, addressing Medicare, Medicaid, long-term services and supports, caregiving, and affordable housing. This legislation is expected to be introduced as early as September. The webinar will give participants an up-to-date overview of these new developments.
Participants will be informed about various aspects of the recently amended Older Americans Act, funding for state and local APS under the Elder Justice Act (EJA), and the pending EJA reauthorization, which includes provisions related to APS, the LTC Ombudsman Program, nursing homes, and innovative amendments addressing the Medical-Legal Partnership model and guardianship reform. Participants will also learn the most current information about the pending $3.4 trillion “human infrastructure” legislation and its prospects for enactment during this Congress. CAVEAT: Many aspects of Congressional action and the resulting legislation are unpredictable. This presentation will be a report on the current state of affairs, not a guarantee of desired outcomes.
Intended Audience: Professional guardians, their advisors, and other people involved with aging and disability services.
The webinar is eligible for one hour of continuing education credit from the Center for Guardianship Certification.
About the Presenter: Bill Benson
Bill Benson has been actively involved in state and federal policies, programs, and legislation affecting the aging population for more than four decades. He is National Policy Advisor to the National Adult Protective Services Association. He is co-founder and president of the International Association for Indigenous Aging and past board president of the National Citizens Coalition for Nursing Home Reform (now Consumer Voice). From 1993 to 1997, Mr. Benson was Deputy Assistant Secretary for Aging at the Administration on Aging (AoA) at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and was the Acting Assistant Secretary for Aging in 1997. Benson previously spent eight years working for several Congressional Committees on federal legislation affecting the aging population. Since 2000 he been host of First Person, a weekly series of interviews with Holocaust survivors for the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, D.C.
Guardianship Training for Family Guardians
Family Guardianship – Guardian of the Person
This session details the overall guardianship process, the rights involved in a guardianship, the various hats a guardian of the person must wear, and the initial steps for managing someone else’s care. It also discusses the initial and ongoing court responsibilities of a guardian of the person. The presenter will reveal the steps to take in decision-making for your family member, including residential decisions, what to expect when it comes to court reporting requirements, what you need to document, and how the guardianship ends.
Continuing Education Credit
The webinar will last for 60 minutes, and is eligible for one hour of continuing education credit from the Center for Guardianship Certification.
Family Guardianship – Guardian of the Estate
The session includes the initial steps you’ll need to take as a fiduciary, how to manage income and property, budgeting, benefits, selling property, court reporting requirements, conflicts of interest, final arrangements, and how a guardianship terminates, all from the perspective of a family guardian.
Continuing Education Credit
The webinar will last for 60 minutes, and is eligible for one hour of continuing education credit from the Center for Guardianship Certification.
NGA Fundamentals Series
Fundamentals Module 1: The Basics
The Basics module focuses on preliminary guardianship information, decisional capacity, incapacity, types of guardianships and guardianship process.
Fundamentals Module 2: Guardian of the Person
This module identifies the phases of guardianship, lists the initial duties of the guardian, describes the ongoing duties of the guardian, explains the importance of confidentiality and discusses guardianship transition.
Fundamentals Module 3: Guardian of the Estate
This module explains fundamental fiduciary principles, lists and explains the responsibilities and duties of the guardian of the estate, defines prudent investment principles and describes the possible indicators of exploitation. In addition, it will detail conflicts of interest and the termination of guardianship.
Fundamentals Module 4: Rights and Alternatives
This module discusses the rights of persons under guardianship, the importance of protecting and advocating for the persons’ under guardianship rights, alternatives to guardianship and when they should and should not be used and alternative ways to handle issues related to finances or health.
NGA Review Course
Review Course Module 1: Universal Roles
Summarizing the guardianship process, explaining the main roles of a guardian, outlining the model code of ethics for guardians, etc.
Review Course Module 2: Guardian of the Person
Covering the initial duties of guardian of the person, discussing confidentiality issues, addressing rights of the person, etc.
Review Course Module 3: Guardian of the Estate
Defining the prudent investor rule, identifying situations that pose a conflict of interest, discussing the process of developing a financial plan and budget, etc.
Review Course Module 4: Decision Making
Explaining the informed consent principle, evaluating withholding or withdrawal of medical care in end-of-life situations, etc.
2020
Family Matters
This webinar will focus on five ways to change guardianships with a professional in place, to guardianships in which family members have a significant role in the person’s day-to-day affairs.
About the Presenter: Leesa Arthur
Leesa Arthur is a Washington State Certified Professional Guardian who has been working as a professional fiduciary since 1994. In her role as a co-director of Summit Guardian Services, she focused her attention on reworking guardianships to restore family members to recognized roles.
Continuing Education Credit
The webinar is eligible for one hour of continuing education credit from the Center for Guardianship Certification.
Reforming Guardianship Law for the 21st Century – The Uniform Guardianship, Conservatorship, and Other Protective Arrangements Act
The Uniform Guardianship, Conservatorship, and Other Protective Arrangements Act is a comprehensive new law governing all aspects of guardianship. It includes many innovations designed to maximize the independence and self-determination of persons who might be subject to guardianship, and to promote less-restrictive alternatives to guardianship. The act provides guidance to both courts and guardians to help ensure the best possible outcome for the individuals in their care. See how reforming guardianship law can improve outcomes for guardians and the individuals in their care.
Participants will learn the major features of the new uniform act, including:
- Less-restrictive alternatives to guardianship
- Right to social interaction
- Clear standards for decision-making
- Expanded procedural rights
- Individualized guardianship plans
- Advanced monitoring procedures
- Informal review of grievances
About the Presenters: Diana Noel and Benjamin Orzeske
Diana Noel is a Senior Legislative Representative with AARP’s Department of Government Affairs. Since joining AARP in 2011, Diana has served as an issue expert primarily in the areas of elder abuse, financial exploitation, adult guardianship, powers of attorney, and other probate related issues. She provides strategic advocacy advice, presentations, volunteer training, and technical assistance to AARP’s 53 state offices to further their engagements in state level legislative, judicial and regulatory efforts.
Ben Orzeske is Chief Counsel at the Uniform Law Commission (ULC), a non-profit law reform organization founded in 1892 to draft model legislation for consideration by state legislatures. The ULC collaborated with over 20 organizations representing advocates for seniors and the developmentally disabled, judges, public and private guardians, and others to draft a new uniform law on guardianship. The final act was approved in summer 2017.
Ben is responsible for promoting enactment of all uniform laws involving probate, trusts, and estates, including the Uniform Guardianship, Conservatorship, and Other Protective Arrangements Act.
Continuing Education Credit
The webinar is eligible for one hour of continuing education credit from the Center for Guardianship Certification.
Pooled Trusts and Quality of Life
Pooled special needs trusts (pooled trusts) are a program through which older individuals requiring long-term care may set aside assets and remain eligible for Medicaid. Disbursements from pooled trusts are used to purchase services such as medical devices, access to social activities and funeral expenses. Through these disbursements, pooled trusts enhance elderly individuals’ well-being. This webinar describes the relationship between Medicaid, pooled trusts and their role in nursing home residents’ well-being. To understand this relationship, disbursements from a pooled trust program were sorted into the five domains of well-being described by the Gallup-Healthways index. The result supports that pooled trust programs offer access to essential goods and services that support well-being.
Participants will learn:
- Basics of Medicaid
- Basics of Pooled Trusts
- Ways in which Pooled Trust support the quality of life of people in nursing homes
About the Presenters: Heather Conners, PhD and Penny Brierley-Bowers, EdD, PMP
Heather Connors has a PhD in Gerontology and over 10 years of experience working with the older adult population. She currently works for a pooled trust agency.
Dr. Brierley-Bowers is a psychologist with both clinical and policy experience.
Continuing Education Credit
The webinar is eligible for one hour of continuing education credit from the Center for Guardianship Certification.
The New Ethics of Banking
This webinar focuses on how fiduciary banking has changed in the last few years and how some of those changes have created ethical challenges that guardians should be ready to respond to with good policy and procedure. Some topics covered include online access, non-check transactions, and walk in branch limitations. A main focus will be on the Know Your Client laws and how that change impacts the fiduciary relationship with the bank account or accounts. And, how this one change alone creates a problem with what used to be considered ethical banking practice. The final discussion covers how to craft policy and procedure that acknowledges the new rules and allows the guardian to apply them in a consistent manner.
Participants will learn what some of the new rules are in fiduciary banking and will receive some tips on how to create policies and procedures that reflect these new rules.
About the Presenters: Leesa Arthur
Leesa Arthur is a Washington State Certified Professional Guardian who has been working as a professional fiduciary since 1994. Her current focus is on managing complex guardianship matters, small trusts, and VA Fiduciary appointments.
Continuing Education Credit
The webinar is eligible for one hour of continuing education credit from the Center for Guardianship Certification.
COVID-19 Impact on 2021 Medicare
The recent pandemic has impacted every aspect of healthcare. Medicare is no exception; in fact, it ensures the individuals who are the highest risk either by age or disability. In response, the Center for Medicare and Medicaid services and the insurance carriers have all made adjustments that impact your clients who are on Medicare or are a caregiver for someone who is.
Participants will learn what changes have been made in Medicare and Medicare health plans and what changes are planned in the future.
Intended Audience: Anyone who is an advisor for someone impacted directly or indirectly with Medicare will appreciate the insights and updates.
This webinar was presented on 09.17.20
About the Presenters: Dan Mangus
Dan has worked with individuals on Medicare for over 37 years and has taught Medicare courses at Universities and many local and national insurance conferences. He conducts Medicare certification courses and is listed as an Expert Contributor for the RICP designation program through the American College. In addition, Dan has authored a series of books entitled, “TalkingMEDICARE: A Resource Guide for Advisors in the Medicare Market.”
Continuing Education Credit
The webinar is eligible for one hour of continuing education credit from the Center for Guardianship Certification.
2019
Personal Property Liquidation: Navigating an Unregulated Industry
When it comes to tangible personal property (TPP), minimal industry standards and a changing marketplace can create challenges for fiduciaries. There are numerous ways to value and manage the disposition of personal property, but few methods are reliable or regulated, leaving estates vulnerable. In this webinar you will learn:
- Regulated v. unregulated property liquidation services
- Common pitfalls, frauds and scams
- How to vet resources for “appropriate expertise”
- Responsible options for property valuation and disposition
About The Presenter – Nan Hayes, CRTS, CSA
Nan Hayes is the Vice President of Promisor Residential, managing the disposition of residential assets for corporate trust and other fiduciaries, nationwide. She is a leading authority in Senior Relocation and Residential Services and has spent more than twenty years defining the industry’s professional standards. Nan is the founder of MoveSeniors.com, an Illinois Continuity of Care Board member, and on the area agency advisory council. She can be seen on the PBS network and Retirement Living TV.
Continuing Education Credit
The webinar is eligible for one hour of continuing education credit from the Center for Guardianship Certification.
Balancing Autonomy and Protection: Using Supported Decision Making (SDM) to Improve Decision-Making in Guardianship
The webinar will explore how we can apply the person centered and person driven decision-making model of Supported Decision Making to improve the quality of decisions and quality of life of protected persons, while providing reasonable protections. The session will start by exploring the decision-making model that is at the core of SDM, and how it can be applied with many persons who are subject to guardianship to give the person a voice in decisions that are made. We will then explore balancing autonomy in decision making against a guardian’s obligation to protect the person from harm, looking at the intricacies of who are we protecting from what risk. Participants will be provided with a decision-making model to engage persons under guardianship in choices, and a model for examining risks and protections.
Participants will learn:
- The core decision making model of supported decision making.
- How to practice decision supports with protected persons.
- A model for examining risks and protections.
About The Presenter – David Godfrey, J.D.
David Godfrey is a senior attorney at the American Bar Association Commission on Law and Aging, his work focuses on ethics, health and financial decision-making including SDM, advance care planning, and legal issues in dementia. Prior to working at the ABA, he was responsible for age-related programming at the Access to Justice Foundation in Kentucky. David earned his B.A. with honors at Rollins College in Winter Park, Florida and his J.D. Cum Laude at the University of Louisville, in Kentucky. He serves on the board of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys.
Continuing Education Credit
The webinar is eligible for one hour of continuing education credit from the Center for Guardianship Certification.
New Rules on Veteran’s Benefits
This webinar will cover the rule changes implemented by the VA to the pension eligibility rules. Attendees will learn what new eligibility rules are in place, as well as planning opportunities for Veterans that are available under the new rules. Attendees will also learn how to determine how quickly a Veteran may qualify for VA pension benefits.
About The Presenter – Valerie Peterson, J.D., Chief Executive Officer, ElderCouncel, LLC
Valerie serves as CEO of ElderCounsel LLC and oversees the education programs offered by ElderCounsel. Valerie has been training attorneys in the Veterans pension planning area for over 10 years. She is an accredited by the VA, and is an adjunct professor for the Stetson Law School Elder Law LL.M. program where she teaches Veterans Benefits.
Continuing Education Credit
The webinar is eligible for one hour of continuing education credit from the Center for Guardianship Certification.
Preparing Your Clients for Medicare in 2020
Medicare is going through many changes in 2020 that impact all individuals on Medicare or assist those on Medicare. There are changes to Medicare Advantage and Medigap plan options, mergers and acquisitions of carriers and providers, changes in prescription drug benefits and the Medicare/Medicaid appeals process.
Attendees will gain an understanding of the impact of upcoming Medicare related changes to better advise their clients.
About the Presenter
Dan Mangus has worked with individuals on Medicare for more than 37 years, and has taught Medicare courses at universities and many local and national insurance conferences. He also conducts Medicare certification courses and is listed as an Expert Contributor for the RICP designation program through the American College. Among this, he has authored a series of books entitled, “TalkingMEDICARE: A Resource Guide for Advisors in the Medicare Market.”
Continuing Education Credit
The webinar is eligible for one hour of continuing education credit from the Center for Guardianship Certification.
End of Life Decision-Making Using Five Wishes to Guide Advance Care Planning
Discussions around end-of-life planning are often difficult and uncomfortable. For guardians, particularly those who have little to no history with the person under guardianship, having this conversation in the early stages of the relationship can be beneficial to both the guardian and the person under guardianship. During such conversations, the guardian is afforded the opportunity to involve the person in decision-making to the greatest extent possible, employing the standard of self-determination. Likewise, the discussion can provide the guardian with the information necessary to advocate for the goals, needs, and preferences related to end-of-life care, a key standard in decision-making. In the absence of such conversations, guardians find themselves in the challenging place of making difficult decisions without a clear understanding of the end-of-life wishes of the person under guardianship. While having this discussion promptly is vital, how and when to initiate it can be hard. By employing the use of Five Wishes, an advance directive tool, the guardian and person under guardianship have the opportunity to discuss and document end-of-life wishes expressed during the conversation.
Participants will:
- Gain an understanding of the challenges associated with End-of-Life conversations as they relate to guardianship.
- Recognize the importance of using an advance directive tool early in the relationship to know the End-of-Life wishes of the person under guardianship.
- Learn how to use Five Wishes Advance Directive Document for End-of-Life planning for the person under guardianship.
About the Presenters: Traci Cucinotta and Paul Malley
Traci Cucinotta, MSW, MBE, LICSW is the Education and Training Specialist for Guardian Community Trust, Inc. (GCT), a non‐profit organization located in Andover, Massachusetts, that advocates for guardianship reform through research, education and an active grant‐making program. Her experience as a Medical Social Worker spans critical care, dementia, chronic mental illness and end-of-life. Her education in the field of Bioethics has given her the opportunity to teach the principles of decision-making, particularly pertaining to the ethics of end-of-life care. She is a current board member of the Massachusetts Guardianship Association, National Association of Social Workers and American Society for Bioethics and Humanities.
Paul Malley, MA, is President of Aging with Dignity, a national non-profit organization based in Tallahassee, Florida, with a mission to help individuals and their families receive the care they want in case of a serious illness. Aging with Dignity, is the creator and distributor of America’s most popular advance directive, Five Wishes, an easy-to-use legal document – used by more 35 million people – that addresses important medical issues as well as personal, emotional and spiritual matters at the end of life. Paul brings more than 20 years of experience as a national advocate for dignified care for those who are most vulnerable.
Continuing Education Credit
The webinar is eligible for one hour of continuing education credit from the Center for Guardianship Certification.
Ethical Principles
This Ethical Principles webinar discusses six areas of ethical behavior for fiduciaries. The major principles taken from the NGA Standards of Practice are used to apply these principles to everyday decision-making for fiduciaries. These principles include:
- Protection of civil rights
- Exhibiting the highest degree of trust and loyalty to the person under guardianship
- Placing the person in the least restrictive placement
- Consenting to care, treatment, and services
- Management of the estate
- Termination or limitation of your guardianship.
Participants will learn:
- Models of decision-making
- Ethical principles and how they apply to your everyday practice
About the Presenter: Lucille Lyon
Lucille Lyon has 40 years of experience working as a California Public Guardian. After 10 years as a case-carrying employee and later a supervisor, Ms. Lyon served as the Riverside County Chief Deputy Public Guardian directing staff to provide services to individuals placed under a mental health conservatorship and vulnerable older adults. Later, she worked for Los Angeles County Public Guardian as the Division Chief, and the Orange County Executive Director – Public Guardian. Ms. Lyon has presented trainings for the NGA and California Association of Public Administrators/Public Guardians/Public Conservators. She holds a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from California State University San Bernardino and Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science from the University of Southern California.
Continuing Education Credit
The webinar is eligible for one hour of continuing education credit from the Center for Guardianship Certification.
2018
Medicare: Changes Affecting Today’s Beneficiaries
Those who are on Medicare will be majorly impacted with regard to how much they pay, and their access to programs and care, due to recent changes in the law. This webinar will alert you to these upcoming changes, and introduce you to resources to better assist people who are impacted.
In this webinar, we will look into the world of Medicare with emphasis on current costs and upcoming major changes, including the 2018 changes to the Medicare ID numbers. We will also raise awareness of many key programs that are vital to individuals on Medicare, and highlight available resources.
About The Presenter – Dan Mangus
Dan Mangus began working with Medicare beneficiaries in 1982, and his passion for education expanded when he became nationally recognized for his training of Medicare advisors. Many years – and many successes – later, Dan is the vice president of sales for the McNerney Management Group, a nationwide organization that educates thousands of advisors on the inner workings of Medicare.
Continuing Education Credit
The webinar will last for 60 minutes, and is eligible for one hour of continuing education credit from the Center for Guardianship Certification.
Using One’s Social History to Improve the Quality of Care
The webinar is for people who are caring for someone living with Alzheimer’s disease or dementia. It will create an understanding of how using the person’s social history and life story can help create a rich and rewarding quality of life that focuses on what is still preserved and what can be maintained despite the diagnosis.
Participants will learn the questions to ask when diving into someone’s life story. Those questions go far beyond what he or she did for a living and where they used to live. These questions are then coupled with details about their daily routine. Scott will then discuss how to take all of the information and create meaningful activities to improve the quality of life for the person living with Alzheimer’s or dementia.
About The Presenter – Scott Greenberg
Scott Greenberg is currently CEO of ComForcare Senior Services, a private-duty, non-medical home healthcare agency serving Palm Beach, Martin, St. Lucie and Indian River counties. Scott serves as Treasurer of the National Guardianship Association and is Past President and a current board member of the Florida State Guardianship Association. He is also on the Advisory Council for the Area Agency on Aging. He has served on Alzheimer’s Community Care’s special goodwill task force, and is a former AmeriCorp volunteer. Scott is a highly sought after speaker on senior issues important to boomers and their parents, is the author of an award-winning book entitled “Oh My God, I’m Getting Older and So is My Mom” and the host of a weekly radio show on 95.9FM True Oldies with the same title. Scott received his National Certified Alzheimer’s Educator designation from the National Certification Board for Alzheimer Care in July 2014.
Continuing Education Credit
The webinar will last for 60 minutes, and is eligible for one hour of continuing education credit from the Center for Guardianship Certification. The webinar is an encore presentation of a session presented at the 2017 National Conference on Guardianship. If you attended that session and received credit for it, credit will not be awarded for this webinar.
Hiring the Proper Caregiver for In-Home Care
The webinar will address tips and tools designed to help make the search and selection process of hiring a private-duty caregiver as smooth as it can be. The presentation will include the unique needs of someone living with Alzheimer’s disease or dementia.
Participants will learn how to recognize signs that in-home help is necessary, the different in-home provider options, things to consider, questions to ask, regulations, caregiver responsibilities, and how to ensure a successful transition when bringing a caregiver in the home.
About The Presenter – Scott Greenberg
Scott Greenberg is currently CEO of ComForcare Senior Services, a private-duty, non-medical home healthcare agency serving Palm Beach, Martin, St. Lucie and Indian River counties. Scott serves as Treasurer of the National Guardianship Association and is Past President and a current board member of the Florida State Guardianship Association. He is also on the Advisory Council for the Area Agency on Aging. He has served on Alzheimer’s Community Care’s special goodwill task force, and is a former AmeriCorp volunteer. Scott is a highly sought after speaker on senior issues important to boomers and their parents, is the author of an award-winning book entitled “Oh My God, I’m Getting Older and So is My Mom” and the host of a weekly radio show on 95.9FM True Oldies with the same title. Scott received his National Certified Alzheimer’s Educator designation from the National Certification Board for Alzheimer Care in July 2014.
Continuing Education Credit
The webinar will last for 60 minutes, and is eligible for one hour of continuing education credit from the Center for Guardianship Certification.
Marshaling Assets
Once a guardian of the estate (conservator) is appointed over an incapacitated adult, the guardian has a duty to bring all of the client’s assets under his/her control to protect and preserve the estate. This training will cover all aspects of bringing estate assets under the control of the guardian.
Participants will learn how to organize the case and marshal assets effectively, how to develop and document a case file, steps to identify assets and start controlling them, and how to document the assets in the case.
About The Presenter – Lucille Lyon
Lucille Lyon has 35 years of experience as a public guardian, having personally managed more than conservatorships of the person and estate for mentally ill clients and older adults. Later, as a director for three public guardian programs in California, she oversaw the training and management of staff. She is a lifetime member of the California Association of Public Administrators, Public Guardians and Public Conservators, and she presented many educational topics to public administrators and public guardians at the annual educational conference.
Continuing Education Credit
The webinar will last for 60 minutes, and is eligible for one hour of continuing education credit from the Center for Guardianship Certification.
2017
NGA Ethical Principles, Standards of Practice, and Fundamentals of Guardianship
Excellence in guardianship is built on the foundation of the Ethical Principles, the support provided by Standards of Practice that elaborate on those principles, and the structure found in the Fundamentals of Guardianship. Sally Hurme, who has been instrumental in developing each of these NGA documents, will explain how guardians can use the documents to uphold excellence in guardianship every day. Electronic copies of the Standards of Practice and the Ethical Principles will be provided.
Note: This webinar is an introductory course, and is geared toward guardians who are newer to their responsibilities, or for those needing a refresher.
Original Presentation Date – June 13, 2017
About The Presenter – Sally Hurme
During multiple terms on the NGA board of directors, Sally has served on the committees that developed and updated the Standards of Practice, Ethical Principles, and Fundamentals of Guardianship.
Continuing Education Credit
This webinar has been approved by the Center for Guardianship Certification for 1.0 credit.
Burial Customs
Since time immemorial, death has been both celebrated and feared. This training covers burial customs of different cultures and faiths. The purpose is to provide conservators and guardians with information which may be useful as they make burial arrangements for their clients who die. The training is a survey of the different ways we dispose of our dead and how culture and faith affect our actions.
Original Presentation Date – May 18, 2017
About The Presenter – Chris Fierro
Chris Fierro worked for a guardianship/conservatorship agency from 1975 to 2008, in various positions, including the last 19 years as the deputy director in charge of the County of Los Angeles, CA, Office of the Public Guardian, the state’s oldest and largest. LA County Office of Public Guardian has thousands of cases; and approximately 20 clients die each month. Because the county is diverse in ethnicities and religions, a familiarity with how burial customs differ among the various groups is critical in making appropriate burial arrangements. After retirement, Chris continued working as a consultant, developing policies and training modules.
Continuing Education Credit
This webinar has been approved by the Center for Guardianship Certification for 1.0 credit.
2016
Caring for Someone with Alzheimer’s and Dementia
This webinar offers real-world practical tips on how to care for someone with Alzheimer’s and dementia. It includes: understanding the skills required to respond to certain behaviors, role-playing of specific behavior scenarios, understanding triggers, and learning strategies for success. It also teaches redirecting tools when dealing with communication, wandering, rummaging, hiding things, aggressive behavior, bathing, and more.
Original Presentation Date – Tuesday, November 15, 2016
About The Presenter – Scott Greenberg
Scott Greenberg is currently president and CEO of ComForcare Senior Services, a private duty home health care agency in Palm Beach, Florida. Scott just completed his term as president of the Florida State Guardianship Association and now retains his position on the executive board as immediate past president. In addition, he serves as a board member of the National Guardianship Association. He is the treasurer for the Partnership For Aging and is on the advisory council for the Area Agency on Aging. He has served on Alzheimer’s Community Care’s special goodwill task force, and is a former AmeriCorp volunteer. He also developed and is part of the Lifespan Education and Resource Network speaker series and developed a second speaker series dedicated to family caregivers. Scott has written an award-winning book entitled, Oh My God, I’m Getting Older and So is My Mom, and hosts a weekly radio show on 900AM The Talk with the same title. Scott received his National Certified Alzheimer’s Educator designation from NCBAC in July 2014.
He is a frequent speaker on topics relevant to the senior community and has most recently spoken at FAU Lifelong Learning Society, Florida State Guardianship Association annual statewide conference, BMO Private Bank and Ruth Rales Jewish Family Services. Scott is proud of his collaboration with Alpert Jewish Family & Children’s Services in building a cultural competency in Holocaust caregiving. Scott has also recently been a guest on numerous radio shows around the country including KFWB Los Angeles California, KKNW Seattle Washington, KXYL Brownwood Texas, AM 600 WMT Cedar Rapids Iowa, among others discussing senior issues important to boomers and their parents.
Continuing Education Credit
This webinar has been approved by the Center for Guardianship Certification for 1.0 credit. This session was originally presented at the 2015 National Conference on Guardianship. Anyone who earned credit from attending that session will be unable to earn credit by attending this webinar.
Safeguarding Digital Assets
Nearly two-thirds of Americans age 65 and older use the internet or email, and more than a quarter own a smart phone. Seniors are the fastest-growing population on the internet. In the near future, we will have people under our guardianship with substantial digital assets. Although a guardian should be able to step into the shoes of the person under guardianship to access all types of digital assets, the law is in its nascent state.
The session will discuss types of digital assets and how to locate them. It will also discuss the emerging law, including the Revised Uniform Fiduciary Access to Digital Assets Act, which was approved in 2015 and has already been introduced in 31 states and enacted in 19.
Original Presentation Date – Tuesday, October 18, 2016
About The Presenter – Charles Golbert
Charles P. Golbert is the Deputy Public Guardian in charge of the adult guardianship division of the Office of the Cook County Public Guardian, in Chicago. He oversees all aspects of the office’s services for the 700 adults with disabilities under its guardianship, including legal and social services and management of nearly $100 million in assets. Mr. Golbert supervises approximately 75 personnel including 20 attorneys. He has been lead counsel in numerous financial exploitation lawsuits that have recovered millions of dollars in assets stolen from persons with disabilities. He has also litigated complex cases in the areas of health care surrogate decisions, the right to community placement, and contested guardianship.
Mr. Golbert earned his juris doctor, and his bachelor of arts with honors in economics, from Northwestern University. He is an adjunct professor at the John Marshall Law School, where he teaches elder law, and frequently presents at other law schools, universities, and continuing legal education programs. Mr. Golbert has authored or coauthored 17 law journal articles and book chapters. One of the articles won a national award for writing in elder law. He has served as Articles Editor, Executive Editor, and Editor in Chief of the Journal of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA Journal). He is the primary author of legislation, now law, to protect persons with disabilities from abuse and financial exploitation.
Continuing Education Credit
This webinar has been approved by the Center for Guardianship Certification for 1.0 credit. This session was originally presented at the 2015 National Conference on Guardianship. Anyone who earned credit from attending that session will be unable to earn credit by attending this webinar.
NGA Dirty Little Secrets of the Financial Industry and Fees
The financial industry does a great job of confusing people by over complicating the simplest of things. The goal of this webinar is to help expose some of those dirty little secrets, specifically related to the different products and fees charged by the industry. It goes into great detail of the true “all-in” costs of specific products with real life case examples, and provides “red flag” information on many issues that signal that it’s time to make a change.
The presentation will also provide valuable tools and resources to help private professional fiduciaries select, partner and retain a competent investment advisor, and will go into detail on decision making protocols to help fiduciaries protect themselves from unnecessary risk.
Original Presentation Date – Tuesday, August 9, 2016
About The Presenter – Daniel Cutter
Daniel Cutter is a Vice President and Senior Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch. He helped to create the Merrill Lynch Fiduciary and Special Needs Group and has been in the financial industry since 1999. Daniel earned his MBA in Finance from the University of San Francisco and is a Chartered Retirement Planning CounselorSM. He is a special consultant on the book, ‘Special Needs Trusts: Planning, Drafting, and Administration’ through the California Continuing Education of the Bar.
Continuing Education Credit
This webinar qualifies for 1.0 hours of continuing education from the Center for Guardianship Certification.
2015
What Guardians Need to Know About Financial Services
Attendees will acquire tools for evaluating the ethical standards of a financial advisor. They will understand the potential conflict of interest between the “suitability standard” that applies to the brokerage industry versus the much higher fiduciary standard that applies to fiduciaries and registered investment advisors. They will learn how to interview financial advisors and identify those with the knowledge and competence to manage fiduciary portfolios in compliance with the laws regulating fiduciary investing. They will understand the difference between the advisor they work with, his or her broker/dealer, and the “custodial firm” that may hold the person’s assets.
A professional fiduciary is sometimes reticent to accept clients with substantial investment portfolios, as he or she is intimidated by the prospect of fulfilling the responsibility of monitoring the investment portfolio. Perhaps even more worrisome, he or she may worry about finding a financial advisor who understands how to comply with fiduciary investment law and who he or she simply feels can be trusted. This webinar will help you overcome that challenge by teaching you how to find a knowledgeable advisor and by helping you understand how the financial industry operates.
Original Presentation Date – Wednesday, November 18, 2015
About The Presenters – Lee Anke & Ted Ong
Lee H. Anke is an SEC-registered investment advisor (RIA) and has been counseling investment clients since 1977, specializing in developing and managing Modern-Portfolio-Theory portfolios to comply with the UPIA and in servicing the needs of both public and private fiduciaries. He has managed PIN’s premier discipline, the “PIN Conservative Portfolio” since 2001. He developed and teaches Management of the Investment Portfolio, one of five classes comprising the Professional Fiduciary Management for Trustees curriculum at the California State University at Fullerton. Lee has served as an expert witness in the San Diego, Los Angeles, Riverside and El Dorado County Courts in California; also in the Las Vegas NV and Pima County AZ courts on matters including suitability of investments under state probate codes, compliance with the Uniform Prudent Investor Act (UPIA) and fiduciary abuse.
Ted H. Ong has been an investment professional since 1983. He is an SEC-registered Investment Advisor specializing in servicing the needs of both public and private fiduciaries. In order to better service clients, Ted also retains dual licensing as a Registered Representative subject to FINRA supervision. He teaches classes and round tables at annual conventions of the National Guardianship Association, the Professional Fiduciary Association of California (PFAC), the Florida State Guardianship Association, the Texas Guardianship Association, the Arizona Fiduciaries Association, the Washington Association of Public Guardians, and the California Public Administrators Public Guardians and Public Conservators Association. He also serves as a consultant to the San Diego Fiduciary Abuse Specialist Team (FAST).
Continuing Education Credit
This webinar has been approved by the Center for Guardianship Certification for 1.5 credits.
Best practices for Mitigating Risk
NGA’s newest webinar employs a case study approach to explore the implications and nuances of what claims counsel from Lloyd’s of London has identified as the top ten best practices for mitigating risk in a professional fiduciary’s practice.
Original Presentation Date – Wednesday, October 7, 2015
About The Presenters – Lawrence Hilton
Lawrence D. Hilton, founder of Dominion Insurance Services, serves professionals in a wide range of disciplines. His prior law practice focused on professional liability defense and insura nce coverage. He belongs to the California and Utah Bar Associations, holds insurance licenses in all 50 states, and is a Lloyd’s of London coverholder.
Continuing Education Credit
This webinar has been approved by the Center for Guardianship Certification for 1.0 credit.
Needs Based Approach to Financial Decisions for Guardians
Guardians face many challenging budgeting decisions. This webinar will help Guardians learn methods to analyze complex life decisions and justify their actions to courts and families, as well as outline tools and processes to justify financial decisions and foster cooperation among interested parties. A variety of actual case studies will be presented to explore these topics. Compliance with state codes and liability protection for the Guardian will also be highlighted.
Original Presentation Date – December 2, 2015
About The Presenter – Scott MacDonald
Scott MacDonald is a Senior Vice President and Senior Portfolio Manager for Merrill Lynch, with more than 28 years of industry experience. Mr. MacDonald has been featured in a variety of publications on serving clients with disabilities, including the San Francisco Chronicle, New York Times, Oakland Tribune, The Street.Com, Advisor One and a cover story in On Wall Street Magazine. He was a consulting author and editor of the attorney training manual — Special Needs Trusts: Planning, Drafting, and Administration through the California Continuing Education of the Bar as well as for the book, Administrating the California Special Needs Trust. He has lectured extensively for various Bar and Consumer Attorney Associations, the Special Needs Alliance, the National Guardianship Association,
Continuing Education Credit
This webinar has been approved by the Center for Guardianship Certification for 1.0 credit.
2014
Guardian and Conservator Investing – Part 1
In the first of this two part webinar, fiduciaries will learn how to: review a new case’s investments by analyzing relevant information, determine how long assets will last if expenses exceed income, and how to review existing relationships. The presenters discuss how to use Broker Check at FINRA.org to review an existing advisor and his/her firm for compliance, regulatory, or arbitration issues. Morningstar.com is also reviewed to show how to get a quick assessment of performance, risk, expenses, manager tenure, and liquidity of existing investments.
Original Presentation Date – Wednesday, December 3, 2014
About The Presenter – Lee Anke & Ted Ong
Lee Anke and Ted Ong are nationally recognized experts on the UPIA (“Prudent Investor Rule”). As principals of Prudent Investors Network, an SEC registered investment advisory firm, they manage assets for public guardians, private professional fiduciaries, and family fiduciaries nationwide.
They teach the “Management of the Investment Portfolio” class in the Trust Certification program at California State University at Fullerton and are consultants to the Fiduciary Abuse Specialist Team (FAST) in San Diego.
Continuing Education Credit
This webinar qualifies for 1.0 hours of continuing education from the Center for Guardianship Certification.
Guardian and Conservator Investing – Part 2
In the second part of this webinar, fiduciaries will review the process for creation of an investment plan for submission to the court, including creation of investment policies and setting goals. The basics of the Uniform Prudent Investor Act (UPIA) will be reviewed with focus on how to monitor risk, returns, and diversification as mandated by UPIA.
Original Presentation Date – Wednesday, December 10, 2014
About The Presenter – Lee Anke & Ted Ong
Lee Anke and Ted Ong are nationally recognized experts on the UPIA (“Prudent Investor Rule”). As principals of Prudent Investors Network, an SEC registered investment advisory firm, they manage assets for public guardians, private professional fiduciaries, and family fiduciaries nationwide.
They teach the “Management of the Investment Portfolio” class in the Trust Certification program at California State University at Fullerton and are consultants to the Fiduciary Abuse Specialist Team (FAST) in San Diego.
Continuing Education Credit
This webinar qualifies for 1.0 hours of continuing education from the Center for Guardianship Certification.
NGA Veterans Benefits
The presentation provides an overview of the federal VA benefits. Learn how the VA supports veterans and their families through the cash programs and the VA medical system.
Original Presentation Date – Wednesday, May 14, 2014
About The Presenters – Tony Szczygiel
Tony Szczygiel is a Professor at the SUNY Buffalo School of Law where he has taught since 1982. His classroom courses include elder law and health law. Every semester, Tony also supervises the Foster Elder Law Clinic that he founded in 1983. The Clinic works closely with Legal Services for the Elderly, Disabled or Disadvantaged of WNY. As part of this work, the Clinic has represented scores of elderly or disabled clients, including many veterans.
Continuing Education Credit
This webinar has been approved by the Center for Guardianship Certification for 1.0 credit.
Standards of Practice – Part 1: Guardian of the Estate
This webinar focuses on the changes to the Standards of Practice that were implemented in 2013 as a result of the recommendations from the Third National Guardianship Summit in 2011. The Standards were originally adopted to guide guardians in the decision-making process. This webinar will provide participants with a better understanding of the Standards of Practice for guardians of the estate, including the expectations of performance, identifying conflicts of interest, applying guardianship fee factors and more. This is part one of a two-part series on the changes to the Standards.
Original Presentation Date – ?
About The Presenter – Michelle Kenney
Michelle Kenney is a National Certified Guardian Emeritus and Center for Guardianship Certification Trustee with more than 14 years of experience in the guardianship community. Since 2001, she has provided over 1,400 hours of guardianship instruction to more than 3,600 students and professionals in Florida and has been an Approved Educator with NGA since 2007, working on the Education committee’s efforts to revise the review study guide and to create the Review Course and Fundamentals webinars. Michelle has served as President of both the Florida State Guardianship Association and the local chapter in her area. While a paralegal by day, she is also a Supreme Court Certified Circuit & County Mediator, and now a law student. Michelle has been focused on working to increase the professional standards in the industry, and to gather public recognition and support for guardians. She has served on the NGA Board since 2010.
Continuing Education Credit
This webinar has been approved by the Center for Guardianship Certification for 1.0 credit.
Standards of Practice – Part 2: Guardian of the Person
This course, the second of a two-part series, focuses on changes to the Standards of Practice that were implemented last year as a result of the recommendations from the Third National Guardianship Summit in 2011. The Standards were originally adopted to guide guardians in the decision-making process. This webinar provides participants with a better understanding of the Standards of Practice for guardians of the person, including appropriate housing, level of care, ethical and cultural considerations, community resources and more.
Original Presentation Date – ?
About The Presenter – Helen Ferraro Zaffram
Helen is supervising attorney for the Guardianship Unit at Legal Services for the Elderly, Disabled or Disadvantaged of Western New York, Inc., where she handles Article 81 Guardianship matters and health related issues. The agency presently serves as the guardian for approximately 100 individuals. In most of these court appointments, the agency is responsible for personal and property decision-making for these clients. Helen handles legal issues surrounding the guardianship cases. In addition, she handles Medicaid, Social Security and other elder issues. She was named Lawyer of the Year by the Erie County Bar Association in 2013 and has served on the NGA Board since 2011.
Continuing Education Credit
This webinar has been approved by the Center for Guardianship Certification for 1.0 credit.
NGA Public Benefits
NGA’s Public Benefits Course focuses on the benefits received by many people under guardianship. This webinar outlines the guardian’s responsibilities regarding benefits, explains the differences between Medicare and Medicaid , differentiates between categories of Social Security benefits and more.
Guardians have many responsibilities, including:
- determining if the person under guardianship is eligible for benefits
- applying for and managing benefits
- maintaining ongoing benefits
- assisting clients with applications
The Public Benefits Course will:
- outline the guardian’s responsibilities regarding benefits for people under guardianship
- describe the differences between Medicare and Medicaid
- explain Medicaid benefits and types of coverage
- differentiate between the three general categories of Social Security benefits and the qualification criteria for each program
- review the different types of benefits available through the Veteran’s Administration system
- summarize the application process for each benefit class
Original Presentation Date – ?
About The Presenter – Lauren Sherman, NMG
Lauren is the Chief Operating Officer and an Expert Lifecare Manager for Lifecare Innovations, Inc. in Illinois. She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and is one of only six people in Illinois who holds the National Master Guardian distinction from the Center for Guardianship Certification. She is also a member of NGA.
Continuing Education Credit
This webinar has been approved by the Center for Guardianship Certification for 1.0 credit.