Elder Law
5 SMART TIPS FOR HIRING AN ELDER LAW ATTORNEY
Having the essential legal documents in place gives you the necessary legal rights to provide the best care for your older adult, now and at the end of life. That’s why it’s so important to find an expert lawyer that you trust to draw up the right documents. We explain what an elder law attorney does and …
Polypharmacy in the Elderly: Taking Too Many Medications Can Be Risky
Polypharmacy occurs when a patient takes too many medications for their own good. It is most common among seniors and individuals with multiple medical conditions. Since older people metabolize drugs differently, the combined effects of numerous medications can be especially harmful. What Is Polypharmacy? Polypharmacy is the simultaneous use of multiple medications. While this may …
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Paper: Therapeutic Jurisprudence and American Elder Law
Abstract Throughout the world, modern legislative and regulatory entities have spawned an impressive body of law intended to protect and improve the rights and well-being of older persons and the quality of their lives (Eekelaar and Pearl 1989; Koff and Park 1999). This regulatory corpus takes the form of enactments establishing public benefit programs targeted exclusively or …
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National Institute On Aging: What Are Palliative Care and Hospice Care?
What is palliative care? What is hospice care? What are some similarities and differences between palliative care and hospice care? Many Americans die in facilities such as hospitals or nursing homes receiving care that is not consistent with their wishes. It’s important for older adults to plan ahead and let their caregivers, doctors, or family …
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An Elder Law Attorney’s Perspective on Guardianship
Provides a survey of guardianship law in the United States from an elder law attorney perspective covering such topics as: legal incapacity vs. clinical capacity: less restrictive alternatives to guardianships, the trend toward limited guardianships; the adjudication process; the examination process; due process protections; the role of court appointed counsel and; the guardianship process. Presented …
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Resident, Dependent Adult, and Older Individual Act Summary
On July 1, 2022, Iowa’s first broad elder abuse criminal law went into effect after being passed by the Iowa House and Senate unanimously. The Act is entitled “Resident, Dependent Adult, and Older Individual Protection Act.” The Act creates new criminal offenses, civil actions, and provides penalties. The new law defines “older individual” as an …
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Civil Rights of the Elderly
The elderly, or senior citizens, are vulnerable to civil rights abuses due to a propensity for sickness, disability, and poverty. LEARNING OBJECTIVE Discuss the civil rights issues that affect the elderly in the United States KEY POINTS Senior citizens are those Americans who are older than the retirement age and who are therefore eligible for state benefits. American population shifts …