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Advanced Seminar for GALs for Incapacitated Persons - Alzheimer's Disease and Other Forms of Dementia: Issues and Answers/Solutions for Attorneys

Register for this course

Cosponsored with the Alzheimer's Association, Central and Western Virginia Chapter

Program Level: Intermediate-Advanced

COURSE PURPOSE

You are appointed guardian ad litem for an alleged incapacitated person in a guardianship proceeding. What exactly do you do?
• How do you communicate with this person?
• How do you know if the person is in fact incapacitated?
• If the person is incapacitated, is it reversible?
• How do you get the person’s medical records?
• How do you understand the medical records?
• When do you get a second opinion?

This program offers attorneys, guardian ad litems, and guardians and conservators a unique opportunity to learn about:
• The symptoms and progression of the various forms of dementia and cognitive testing from doctors specializing in treating and diagnosing dementia and other cognitive defects
• An analysis of legal capabilities that clients with dementia may go through
• Legal and practical considerations in representing incapacitated and alleged incapacitated persons in a guardianship proceeding
• The services available to persons suffering from Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia, and what is available to their families

Through a series of hypotheticals, a panel of doctors, lawyers, and caregivers will discuss these issues and give practical advice for attorneys.

There will also be a discussion of the thorny ethical issues attorneys face when dealing with clients who have dementia. Learn what to do in situations like these:
• Your longtime legal client is showing signs of dementia.
- Can you bring a petition for appointment of a GAL?
- Can you ask to be appointed GAL?
- Can you be appointed guardian?
• You have damaging information about a proposed guardian and the incapacitated person wants that person appointed.
• The wife of the incapacitated person has asked you to represent her in a divorce. Can you do this?

COURSE SCHEDULE

8:30 Registration
9:00 Overview of the Alzheimer’s Association and Other Community Resources Available to Virginia Attorneys
9:30 Signs and Symptoms of Alzheimer’s
11:30 Lunch (box lunches provided at the live seminar only)
12:00 How to Communicate with Clients Who Have Alzheimer’s
1:00 Ethics Concerns When Dealing with Clients Who Have Alzheimer’s or Other Dementia That Makes Them Incapacitated
2:00 Adjourn

FACULTY

Paul G. Izzo, ThompsonMcMullan / Richmond
Mr. Izzo’s practice areas include estate planning for incapacity and long-term care, appointment of guardians and conservators for incapacitated adults, administration of decedents’ estates, and nursing home residents’ rights. He graduated from the University of Richmond School of Law. Mr. Izzo is a frequent lecturer on estate planning, nursing home residents’ rights, and the legal concerns of the frail elderly and disabled. He currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Greater Richmond Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association, on the Advisory Board of the Virginia Center on Aging at Virginia Commonwealth University, and on the Multidisciplinary Panel of the Public Guardianship Program of Commonwealth Catholic Charities.

Ellen Phipps, Alzheimer’s Association / Charlottesville
Ms. Phipps is a certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist. She has been with the Central and Western Virginia Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association for the last eight years. As vice president of Programs and Services, she provides community education and training on issues relating to Alzheimer’s and dementia.

Carolyn A. White, Davidson, White, Lesniak & McCarthy, L.L.P. / Richmond
Ms. White is the managing partner of her firm and practices law in the areas of estate planning, elder law, estate administration, trust administration, and Medicaid planning. She has been both a guardian and a guardian ad litem for many incapacitated persons in the last twelve years. She is a graduate of the University of Richmond School of Law.

LIVE LOCATION AND DATE

Charlottesville / Friday, November 13
Virginia CLE Office
105 Whitewood Road
(800) 979-8253

Directions to Seminar Site

VIDEO LOCATIONS AND DATES

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 20
Alexandria: Crowne Plaza Old Town Alexandria (formerly the Radisson Hotel Old Town), 901 North Fairfax Street (703) 683-6000
Richmond: UVA Richmond Regional Center, 2810 N. Parham Road, Suite 300, 3rd Floor (Parking available only in spots not marked “Visitor Parking”) (804) 662-7464
Roanoke: Roanoke Higher Education Center, 108 North Jefferson Street (Parking validated for parking deck adjacent to center only) (540) 767-6161
Virginia Beach: Holiday Inn Executive Center, 5655 Greenwich Road (757) 499-4400

THURSDAY, JANUARY 21
Abingdon: Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center, on the campus of Virginia Highlands Community College (I-81 exit 14), 1 Partnership Circle (276) 619-4300
Charlottesville: The Virginia CLE Building, 105 Whitewood Road (800) 979-8253
Tysons Corner: Crowne Plaza Tysons Corner (formerly the Holiday Inn Tysons Corner), 1960 Chain Bridge Road (entrance to hotel on Greensboro Drive) (703) 893-2100

Directions to Seminar Sites

LIVE REGISTRATION FEES
$199.00 regular registration (lunch included).
$150.00 law firm non-attorney staff (lunch included).
$214.00 / $165.00 on-site registration (if space is available) (lunch included).

VIDEO REGISTRATION FEES
$189.00 regular registration (lunch not included).
$140.00 law firm non-attorney staff (lunch not included).
$204.00 / $155.00 on-site registration (if space is available) (lunch not included).

Cancellation/transfer requests will be honored through 5:00 p.m. of the DAY BEFORE the seminar.
If you have a disability that requires special accommodation, please contact Virginia CLE well in advance of the program date.
Private taping of this program is not permitted.