Ethics and Counseling Older Clients

Understanding the Four C’s of Elder Law Ethics

This consumer-friendly brochure explains the “Four C’s” of elder law ethics—client identification, conflicts of interest, confidentiality, and capacity. It helps family members understand the relationship between a lawyer and an older client. Updated in January 2020. Also available in Spanish as a free download.

For orders of 100 or more brochures, please paste code AGBULK100 at checkout for a discounted price of $0.50 per brochure.  (please note that the discount code will need to be copied and pasted or manually entered at checkout in order to recieve the discount)

• Free PDF download
• Purchase hard copies
  

Also Available in Spanish!

• Free PDF download (Spanish)

Advance Directives: Counseling Guide for Lawyers

Advance Directives: Counseling Guide for Lawyers is designed to assist lawyers and health care professionals in formulating end-of-life health decision plans that are clearly written and effective.

The guide provides detailed information on how to bridge the chasm between lawyers and health care providers. It helps lawyers to provide guidance that is more in harmony with the clinical and family realities that clients face. The foundation for it is a set of eight principles to guide patients and clients through the advance care planning process.

It includes a checklist for lawyers, which offers an itemized listing of what is expected throughout the entire process.

Order a hard copy of the Guide through the ABA Web Store or download the complete guide.

You can also download key sections of the Guide here: https://www.americanbar.org/groups/law_aging/resources/health_care_decision_making/ad-counseling-guide/

Checklist for an Elder Friendly Law Office

As the American population ages, accommodating the needs of older Americans becomes more and more important to a myriad of businesses. An elder-friendly law office is one that provides spatial and social accommodations for disabilities prevalent among older persons such as hearing loss, visual impairment, and mobility limitations. In order to better provide legal services to an older population, your office floor plan, lighting, furniture, and staff procedures need to be designed so elders with disabilities can easily navigate your office. By complying with the American with Disabilities Act (ADA) Accessibility Guidelines and making the other practical design decisions highlighted in this publication, you can improve an older client's experience in your office. Checklist for an Elder-Friendly Law Office - Free PDF download. 

Articles

How to Find Medicare Law, by Sidney Zahabizadeh, Bifocal, Vol. 38, No. 1.

Key Changes of the Older Americans Act Reauthorization Act of 2016, by Teresa Yao, Bifocal, Vol. 37, No. 6.

Ethical Challenges of Using Law Student Interns/Externs to Expand Services to Low-Income Older Adults, by Alaina Anderson, Eleanor Crosby Lanier, and Keith Morris, Bifocal, Vol. 37, No. 3.

The Social Security Administration’s Representative Payee Programs, by Shana Wynn, Bifocal, Vol. 37, No. 3.

Creating Effective Agreements for Payment of Family Caregivers, by Kerry Peck, Bifocal, Vol. 37, No. 3.

Twenty-Five Years of the Americans with Disabilities Act: A Brief Look, by Dara Valanejad, Bifocal, Vol. 37, No. 1.

Extreme Case Management with Legal Care: A Best Practice for Serving Elders at Homelessness Risk, by JoHanna Flacks, Bifocal, Vol. 36, No. 5.

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