Discussions
Elder Law
Law & Aging

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Updated: 11/28/01

• Advance Directives: Compare and contrast each of the following: durable power of attorney, healthcare proxy, living will, directive for anatomical gifting, appointment of a guardian, and last will and testament. Post your discussion here
  
  
• Wills: Prepare a simple will, for yourself, a loved one, a friend, a "make believe elder law client, etc. (just one will is fine) Post your Last Will and Testament here
  
  
• Guardianships: Review the procedure on guardianships. Discuss the procedures in appointing a guardian, and distinguish between a guardian and a conservator. Print out the Petition to Appoint a Temporary Guardian, and prepare a simple Petition.
  
  
• Patients' Rights in Healthcare Decision Making: Compare and Contrast the landmark cases of In re Quinlan, and Cruzan v. Director, Missouri Department of Health, with the California Case of Conservatorship of Morrison (1988) and Donaldson v. Lungren Post your case analysis and disucssion here
  
  
• Entitlement Programs: Itemize the benefit, what medicare pays, and what an elder client pays for the following services: hospitalization, skilled nursing facility care, home healthcare, hospice care, blood, medical expenses, clinical laboratory services, outpatient hospital treatment, and ambulatory surgical servicesPost your answer here
  
  
• Managed Care and Long-Term Insurance: Review what is a HMO, Read article on "To buy or not to buy long term insurance" from AARP, then discuss the advantages/disadvantages of buying long term health care insurance. . Discuss the advantages/disadvantages of buying long term health care insurance here..
  
  
  
• Viatical Settlements: Describe the historical background, define the term, state how they operate, and review viatical settlement requirements, Post your answers to questions on viatical settlements here.
  
  
• Living Facilities for the Elderly: Review, and compare and contrast independent living facilities, assisted-living facilities, and skilled nursing homes. Post your answers here to Living Facilities for the Elderly.
  
  
• Financial Planning: Review article on "Estate Planning" Post your five (5) tips to elder care clients on Financial Planning.
  
  
• Social Security: Describe the concept and problem of the Social Security System, set forth the eligibility for retirement benefits, and determination of retirement benefits, collecting benefits, spousal benefits, how to apply for Social Security Retirement Benefits, Social Security Disability Benefits, and fill in a Social Security Benefits Worksheet for an elder client (see page 189 textbook) Post your answer here.
  
  
• Elder Abuse: Define Elder Abuse, how is it recognized, who must report, what you should do as an elder paralegal. Post your answer here.