2025 Conference on Elder Abuse

We are thrilled for our in-person Conference on Elder Abuse, California’s premier conference for attorneys, advocates, social workers, fiduciaries, care managers, and others committed to preventing and responding to elder abuse.

At a time when financial abuse and housing precarity are on the rise for older adults, Conference sessions will focus on examining the various ways older adults experience elder abuse within our communities. Speakers will provide effective tools and strategies to identify and address issues that impact older adults.

This year’s 19th Conference on Elder Abuse will take place at UC Law San Francisco on May 20th and is being co-sponsored by the UCSF-UC Law SF Consortium on Law, Science & Health Policy. We hope you will join us on May 20th for what promises to be an inspiring, relevant, and thought-provoking 19th Conference on Elder Abuse.

SESSION DETAILS:

Early Interventions for Health Care Teams to Prevent Elder Abuse and Neglect

• Anna Chodos, MD, MPH, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Internal Medicine, Division of Geriatrics, UCSF
• Sarah Hooper, JD, Professor of Practice and Executive Director, UCSF-UC Law SF Consortium on Law, Science & Health Policy; Co-Director, UCSF-UC Law SF Master of Science in Health Policy & Law; Policy Director, Medical-Legal Partnership for Seniors, UC Law SF
• Clara Park, MPA, Director of Strategy, Caregivers as Partners in Care Teams (CAP-CT) and Dementia Care Aware (DCA), UCSF
• Elizabeth Peters, JD, MPH, Attorney, Medical-Legal Partnership for Seniors, UC Law San Francisco

The cognitive health assessment (CHA) is a screening approach for primary care teams to use as an annual cognitive screen for older adults. Routine screening for cognitive impairment in older adults can help detect dementia early, which allows health care teams, their patients, and patients’ caregivers to prepare and develop a plan that can prevent elder abuse and neglect. This session will demonstrate how early detection of cognitive impairment, identification and support for caregivers, and improved legal and financial planning processes are all steps to prevent abuse and neglect in older adults.

Objectives: Upon completion of this session, attendees will:

1. Identify two reasons it is important to conduct routine annual cognitive and functional assessments in older adults, such as the “cognitive health assessment.”
2. Describe three benefits of engaging caregivers during health care visits.
3. Name key components of early legal and financial advance planning for patients living with dementia.

Enhanced Services Under One Roof: Improving Housing Stability for Seniors Through Combined Legal and Social Work Services

• Tiffany Hickey, Esq., Staff Attorney, Housing Stability Project, Disability Rights California
• “Kathy” Kiu Ho, LCSW, Ph.D., Social Services Manager, Housing Stability Project, Disability Rights California
• Ellayna Benson, BA, Lead Case Manager, Adult Protective Services Case Management (APSCM), Home Safe Case Management, Felton Institute

This panel focuses on how the intersection of disability, poverty, and social determinants of health (SDOH) creates additional challenges for seniors seeking legal assistance. By integrating social work and legal advocates, our model addresses not only the legal issues but also the broader health and social needs impacting seniors’ well-being. When tenants contact us for legal help, social workers conduct biopsychosocial assessments to identify factors that may affect seniors' ability to resolve their legal problems. This collaborative approach improves access to resources and support, ultimately enhancing outcomes for senior clients in need of both legal and social services.

Objectives: Upon completion of this session, attendees will:

1. Identify possible social work roles and tasks in legal settings to reduce barriers for seniors in resolving legal problems.
2. Explain how social work advances the mission of legal services providers and helps clients reach their legal goals.
3. Describe a model of social work practice in legal settings.

Hiring and Working with Caregivers: Risks, Liabilities and Solutions

• Robert Nuddleman, Esq., Employment Attorney, President and Principal Attorney, Nuddleman Law Firm, P.C.
• Julie Menack, MA, Fiduciary and Aging Life Care Manager, 21st Century Care Solutions
• Susan Friedman, Member, Hand in Hand

Special employment laws apply to caregivers. Learn different options for hiring caregivers and how to avoid innocent, but costly mistakes. Whether your client uses a homecare agency, a referral agency, a 3rd party employer or hire caregivers directly, it is important to understand the potential liabilities you and your clients face when working with caregivers.

Objectives: Upon completion of this session, attendees will:

1. Review existing laws when clients or members of the care team hire caregivers.
2. Determine best practices for hiring and employing caregivers.
3. Discuss common employment problems encountered when working with clients that need in-home care.

Legal and Ethical Considerations in Representing Clients with Diminished Capacity

• Arabelle Malinis, Esq., Staff Attorney, California Advocates for Nursing Home Reform
• Tony Chicotel, Esq., Senior Staff Attorney, California Advocates for Nursing Home Reform

We will discuss the essential ethical and legal considerations for effectively representing older adults with diminished capacity. This presentation includes assessing legal capacity, identifying diminished capacity indicators, and navigating the accompanying challenges. We will also examine the recent appellate decision in Herrin v. Sarlo and its implications for navigating the representation of older adults with diminished capacity.

Objectives: Upon completion of this session, attendees will:

1. Have a comprehensive understanding of the framework and resources essential for effectively assessing the legal capacity of clients.
2. Know the crucial ethical and legal implications of advocating for clients with diminished capacity, ensuring a responsible approach.
3. Understand the strategies and challenges for representing clients with diminished capacity and cognitive impairments, informed by the pivotal appellate case, Herren v. Sarlo.

Preventing and Addressing Financial Elder Abuse through Estate Planning

• Cecilia A. Rodriguez, Esq., Legal Director, Elder & Disability Law, La Raza Centro Legal
• Yulissa Zulaica, Esq., Managing Partner, JKZ, LLP
• John Rueppel, Esq., Partner, JKZ, LLP

We will discuss the importance of having a general proper power of attorney and an advanced health care directive. We will also cover how an estate plan can help folks protect their assets. Additionally we will discuss ways to prevent financial abuse and what to do if you’ve already fallen victim to it.

Objectives: Upon completion of this session, attendees will:

1. Be able to inform and/or direct folks to create a power of attorney/estate plan.
2. Understand the difference between a general power of attorney and a medical power of attorney and understand why a trust is needed versus just a will.
3. Know how to prevent financial elder abuse.

Protecting Older Adults from Financial Abuse in the Digital Age

• Alma Galvan, Regional Marketing and Communications Manager, San Francisco Better Business Bureau
• Caleb Logan, Esq., Staff Attorney & Technology Manager, Elder Law & Advocacy, San Diego

Scammers continuously evolve their tactics to exploit older adults, leading to devastating financial and emotional consequences. This session will provide information from the BBB’s 2024 Scam Tracker Risk Report on the latest fraud trends affecting seniors and discuss strategies to detect and prevent elder financial exploitation. Participants will also learn how to approach digital asset estate planning and the evolving legal landscape as different jurisdictions adapt their laws to fight fraud.

Objectives: Upon completion of this session, attendees will:

1. Identify emerging fraud trends affecting older adults.
2. Recognize common tactics used by scammers.
3. Apply preventative strategies to reduce risk.
4. Understand the legal remedies and planning tools available to address and combat elder financial exploitation.

Protecting Our Seniors: The intersection of Elder Abuse and Immigration Issues

• Greg Paulo N. Palomares, Esq., Supervising Attorney-Elder and Disability Rights Project, API Legal Outreach

Elder abuse affects some of the most vulnerable members of our community, and immigration-related challenges can further complicate their access to protection and justice. This presentation will explore how immigration status impacts seniors facing abuse, the legal remedies available, and the role professionals can play in ensuring their safety. Attendees will gain insights into the intersection of elder abuse laws and immigration policies, equipping them with tools to better serve immigrant seniors.

Objectives: Upon completion of this session, attendees will:

1. Understand the unique vulnerabilities immigrant seniors face, including barriers to reporting abuse and accessing resources.
2. Be able to identify key immigration relief options available for abused seniors, such as U visas, VAWA, and humanitarian programs.
3. Know best practices for cross-sector collaboration to protect and advocate for immigrant elders in legal, medical, and financial settings.

Rights of Older Adult Tenants Experiencing Abuse

• Victoria Snyder, JD, Director of Legal Services, Contra Costa Senior Legal Services
• Taylor Campion, JD, Senior Managing Attorney, Family Violence Appellate Project
• Leah Simon-Weisberg, JD, Executive Director, California Center for Movement Legal Services

This presentation will include different options for older adult tenants experiencing abuse, including legal remedies to promote personal safety, making the rental unit safer, eviction defense, and rights regarding breaking a lease when personal safety is at risk. The presentation will include a brief overview of different restraining order options, federal protections available under VAWA, state law protections and some local city ordinance protections available for older adults.

Objectives: Upon completion of this session, attendees will:

1. Know when the Violence Against Women Act does apply.
2. Be able to use strategies for eviction defense when the eviction may be related to abuse.
3. Understand the rights of a tenant to leave when experiencing abuse.
4. Know the rights of tenants when abuse is conducted by landlord or manager including financial through illegal fees, rent increases or failure to maintain the unit.

Less Restrictive Alternatives to Conservatorship

• Kirsten Voyles, Esq., Legal Director, Legal Assistance for Seniors
• Caitlin M. Doyle, Esq., Supervising Attorney, Legal Assistance for Seniors

(details to come)

Thank you to our Conference Sponsors & Supporters! 

Gold

Campbell Green
Cotchett Pitre & McCarthy LLP
Stebner Gertler & Guadagni

Silver

Acuña Regli
Fennemore
Kazan Law
Private Fiduciary Association of California
Tileshop

Bronze

Anderson Yazdi Hwang Minton + Horn LLP
California Advocates for Nursing Home Reform
Christine Sevier, Creating New Hope Senior Living Advisors
Fiduciary Accounting Services, LLC
Holland & Knight
IMT Associates
Law Office of Susan Kang Gordon
Mechanics Bank Wealth Management
Merrill – The Special Needs Team
Michael Stephens & Matthew Quamina, Probate and Trust Real Estate Specialists
Needham Kepner & Fish LLP
Senior Alternatives
Seniors At Home, Jewish Family and Children’s Services

Supporter

ARM Homes
De Vries Law
EverSafe
John Balquist of Turnstone Associates
Julie Menack, Fiduciary and Aging Life Care Manager (21st Century Care Solutions)
Merlander Company
True Link