Presented by RI Elder Info.
\;
Join RI El der Info for "Guardianship &\; Alternatives for Older Adults: Decisions , Dignity &\; Choice", a full-day professional conference exploring per son-centered decision-making for older adults with cognitive impairment.
\;
Experts from legal services, healthcare, advocacy, ag ing services and federal programs will address Supported Decision-Making, decision-making ability, alternatives to guardianship, individual rights a nd practical resources.
\;
Agenda Topics:
Understanding Capacity &\; Decision-Making
&mdash\; Dr. John Stoukides
Cognitive impairment, deci
sion-making ability, and assessment.
Supporting the Right t
o Decide &mdash\; Disability Rights Rhode Island
Supported Decision-Making, individual rights, and less restrictive alt
ernatives.
When Legal Authority Is Needed &mdash\;
Rhode Island Legal Services, Attorney Steve Bagian
Gu
ardianship, legal standards, powers of attorney, and alternatives.
From the Bench: What Probate Courts Need from the Community &mdash\; Probate Judge Tracy Loignon
A probate judg
e's perspective and how professionals, families, and community organizatio
ns can help improve the process.
When There Is No One to Se
rve &mdash\; Office of Healthy Aging, Volunteer Guardians
hip Program, Sheila DiVincenzo
Options and challenges when an
individual needs assistance but has no appropriate family member or other
person available.
Rights Don&rsquo\;t End at the Nursing Ho
me Door &mdash\; State Long-Term Care Ombudsman Lori Ligh
t
Resident rights, autonomy, guardianship, and decision-making
in long-term care.
Mental Health, Rights &\; Guardiansh
ip: Where the Systems Intersect &mdash\; Rhode Island Men
tal Health Advocate, Meg Clingham, Esquire
The intersection of
guardianship, behavioral health, civil rights, and legal protections.
Representative Payees: Authority, Responsibilities &\; Limi
ts &mdash\; Social Security Administration, Gerald Mirabi
le
What a representative payee can and cannot do, and how repr
esentative payees differ from guardians and agents under powers of attorne
y.
VA Benefits &\; Fiduciary Oversight: Understanding th
e Federal System &mdash\; Veterans Benefits Administratio
n
How the VA fiduciary program works, when it applies, and how
it differs from court-appointed guardianship.
What the Dat
a Tells Us &mdash\; and Where Rhode Island Goes Next &mdash\;
Rhode Island guardianship d
ata, gaps identified through RI Elder Info's research, and opportunities f
or reform that strengthen accountability while preserving autonomy, dignit
y, and choice.
\;
Lunch provided
Tickets $75
\;