When you are diagnosed with a chronic medical condition, not only do you need to prepare medically, you need to prepare legally and financially. Besides having the proper estate planning documents, you need to know what legal options are available in planning and paying for long-term care. That Medicare will pay for everything is a myth. This session, presented by an elder law attorney, will focus on the limitations of Medicare and how Medicaid, long-term care insurance, and personal care contracts can be used to maximize you and your loved one’s quality of life.

Presenter: Kathryn Casey, JD, CELA

Date: Thursday, January 14, 2021

Time: 6:00pm-7:00pm

Location: Webinar

Community Members: There is no charge to attend. However, advanced registration is required. Please contact events@elderwerks.org or 847-462-0885

For Professionals: 1. CE Credits will be awarded to Illinois nurses, social workers, professional counselors, and nursing home administrators. Payment, $5.00, may be made at registration. Please contact events@elderwerks.org or 847-462-0885

Click here to view the flyer.

Adequate legal planning for life involves more than just making a Will. It helps to have the proper documents in place, especially when those documents are designed to help and protect you and your family. This session will focus on the legal planning necessary to help you have a say in your future.

Presented by: Helen Mesoloras, JD

Date: Thursday, January 21, 2021 from 6:00pm-7:00pm

Location: Webinar

CEUs: 1 CEU is available for Illinois Nurses, Social Workers, and Counselors for no fee.

Registration there is no fee to attend. However, advanced registration is required. Click on this link to register – http://events.constantcontact.com/register/event?llr=txvqzbdab&oeidk=a07ehg7vgmq663f0a97

Click here to view the flyer.

A Legal Road Map for Aging Well

If the only certainties in life are death and taxes, then one of the major uncertainties is how our golden
years will play out. We all hope to age well with excellent physical, cognitive, and mental health. But
what about financial and legal health? We must all prepare for the possibility that we may become ill,
disabled, or lose cognitive function. Attend this program, presented by an elder law attorney, to learn
how the proper advanced legal planning can help ensure a smoother and safer journey.

Presented by: Kathryn Casey, JD, CELA, Certified Elder Law Attorney

Date: Tuesday, February 2, 2021

Time: 4:00pm

This program is being presented for members of the Village Chicago. Please contact Niki Fox, MSW, Director of Member Services, The Village Chicago, at 773-248-8700 for information.

Date; February 15th, 2021

Time:  9:00am-5:00pm

Erin Vogt, LCSW, CMC, our Client Coordinator, is presenting: “Eldercare Resources; A Discussion with a Geriatric Social Worker and Certified Case Manager” from 3:45-4:45PM

Location: Webinar

Registration: There is no charge to attend. However, advanced registration is required. Please click on this link to register or for more information.

https://app.glueup.com/event/elderwerks-caregiver-symposium-26662/

How individuals plan in advance for a family member with special needs can make a significant difference.  Incorrect or inadequate planning can cause families and their loved ones to lose eligibility for critical public benefits and government programs.  This presentation will explain how to preserve public benefits, help ensure quality of life, guardianship guidelines, and much more. Please bring your questions.

Presenter: Attorney Kathryn Casey, JD, CELA

Date: Tuesday, February 23, 2021

Time: 6:00pm-7:30pm

Location: Webinar or Phone

CEUs: 1 CEU is available for Illinois Nurses, Social Workers, and Counselors for no fee.

Registration: This program is being offered in connection with C.A.B.S. Autism and Behavior Specialist. However, you do not need to be their client to attend. There is no fee to attend. However, advanced registration is required. Please click this link to register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/legal-care-for-a-loved-one-who-has-special-needs-tickets-133769276507

Prepare to Care – A Discussion with a Certified Elder Law Attorney and a Geriatric Social Worker / Care Manager 

Taking care of our aging parents is one of the most important roles we will take on during our lifetime. It is also one of the most daunting and demanding roles we will ever experience. Preparing to care in advance of a crisis gives our parents the ability to have a say in their future, to maximize their independence and quality of life, to improve their chances of aging well and aging in place, to maintain family harmony, and to avoid creating difficult, time-consuming and expensive problems for their spouses and adult children.  Dutton Casey & Mesoloras helps families prepare in advance with legal documents to address health care and financial decision-making, advice regarding professional and community resources, assistance navigating long-term care options, advice regarding how to pay for care, assistance protecting assets for spouses, disabled adult children, and  adult children acting as caregivers, assistance accessing public benefits, and legal support for adult children acting as a fiduciary or as a caregiver for their parents. 

Presenters: Kathryn Casey, JD, CELA, and Erin Vogt, LCSW, CMC

Date: Tuesday, March 23, 2021

Time: 12:30pm-1:30pm

This program is being offered in connection with Cogent Strategic Wealth Management. 

When you are diagnosed with a chronic medical condition, not only do you need to prepare medically, you need to prepare legally and financially. Besides having the proper estate planning documents, you need to know what legal options are available in planning and paying for long-term care. That Medicare will pay for everything is a myth. This session, presented by an elder law attorney, will focus on the limitations of Medicare and how Medicaid, long-term care insurance, and personal care contracts can be used to maximize you and your loved one’s quality of life.

Presenter: Helen Mesoloras, JD
Date: Wednesday, March 24, 2021
Time: 6:00pm-7:00pm
Location: Webinar
Community Members: There is no charge to attend. However, advanced registration is required by clicking this link –http://events.constantcontact.com/register/event?llr=txvqzbdab&oeidk=a07ehjh2qr7d4586abc

For Professionals: 1. CE Credits will be awarded to Illinois nurses, social workers, professional counselors, and nursing home administrators for no fee.

Register at – http://events.constantcontact.com/register/event?llr=txvqzbdab&oeidk=a07ehjh2qr7d4586abc

Dont Be Fooled by the 1,2,3’s of Elder Care Planning

Planning for our future or the future of a loved one can be confusing, almost like learning another language. Terminology and explanations can be unknown or seem more difficult when in crisis. Attend this program to learn this new language so you can plan for a smoother and safer future.

Presented by: Helen Mesoloras, JD, and Carol Raso, Community Resource Consultant with Elderwerks

Date: Thursday, April 1, 2021

Time: 5:30pm-7:00pm

Location: Webinar

Community Members: There is no charge to attend. However, advanced registration is required. Please contact events@elderwerks.org or 847-462-0885

For Professionals: 1.5 CE Credits will be awarded to Illinois nurses, social workers, professional counselors, and nursing home administrators. Payment may be made at registration. Please contact events@elderwerks.org or 847-462-0885.

Click here to view the flyer for this event.

A Legal Road Map for Aging Well   

If the only certainties in life are death and taxes, then one of the major uncertainties is how our golden years will play out. We all hope to age well with excellent physical, cognitive, and mental health. But what about of financial and legal health? We must all prepare for the possibility that we may become ill, disabled, or lose cognitive function. Attend this program, presented by an elder law attorney, to learn how the proper advanced legal planning can help ensure a smoother and safer journey.

Presenter: Helen Mesoloras, JD, Elder Law Attorney and Partner

Date:  Wednesday, April 7, 2021

Time  11:00am-Noon

Location: Webinar or Phone

CEUs: 1 CEU is available for Illinois Nurses, Social Workers, and Counselors for no fee

Registration: This program is being offered in connection with Pathlights (formerly PLOWS Council on Aging). However, you do not need to be their client to attend.  There is no fee to attend. However, advanced registration is required. Please contact Catherine at 708-274-0052 or c.stowers@plows.org

It’s About Living: Planning for Your Health Care Future

Presenters: Kuljik Kapur, MD, Medical Director Transitions Palliative Care and Hospice, and Melissa Kallio, JD Elder Law Attorney

Date: Friday, April 16, 2021, National Health Care Decisions Day

Time: 12:00pm – 1:00pm

Location: Webinar

Registration: There is no charge to attend. Advanced registration is required by contacting Kate Monahan Brooks at kmonahan@transitionshospice.com

Continuing Education: 1 hour is provided for Illinois Social workers, counselors, and registered nurses.

Click here to see the flyer for this event.

Preserving Independence in the Guardianship Decision-Making Process

Melissa Kallio is the current chair of the Chicago Bar Association’s Elder & Disability Law Committee. On April 20, 2021, the Committee will hold its annual seminar for attorneys via a live webcast. This year’s topic is “Preserving Independence in the Guardianship Decision-Making Process.” This seminar will explore the role of the legal decision-maker from the perspective of practitioners advocating for different viewpoints in the guardianship process. Guardianship abuse and the loss of rights for persons with disabilities has been in the spotlight as of late. This seminar will highlight strategies to maximize the independence and dignity of persons with disabilities.

This event is for members of the Chicago Bar Association.

Estate Planning & Guardianship for the LGBTQ+ Community

This presentation will address considerations for working with LGBTQ+ clients on their estate plan. We will also take a look at advocacy when there was no advance planning and the LGBTQ+ individual is the subject of a guardianship. Participants will learn strategies that address all phases of legal practice from client intake to document terms to holistic planning for the LGBTQ+ community

Presenters: Melissa Kallio, Attorney, Dutton Casey & Mesoloras, P.C. and Jacqueline Boyd, Owner, The Care Plan

Date: Friday, April 23, 2021

This program is being offered for the Illinois Paralegal Association

A Legal Road Map for Aging Well   

If the only certainties in life are death and taxes, then one of the major uncertainties is how our golden years will play out. We all hope to age well with excellent physical, cognitive, and mental health. But what about of financial and legal health? We must all prepare for the possibility that we may become ill, disabled, or lose cognitive function. Attend this program, presented by an elder law attorney, to learn how the proper advanced legal planning can help ensure a smoother and safer journey.

Presenter: Helen Mesoloras, JD, Elder Law Attorney and Partner

Date:  Wednesday, May 5, 2021

Time  6:00pm- 7:00pm

Location: Webinar or Phone

CEUs: 1 CEU is available for Illinois Nurses, Social Workers, and Counselors for no fee

Registration: This program is being offered in connection with Pathlights (formerly PLOWS Council on Aging). However, you do not need to be their client to attend.  There is no fee to attend. However, advanced registration is required. Please contact Catherine at 708-274-0052 or c.stowers@plows.org

Legal and Financial Considerations for Living with Dementia

Presenter: Attorney Kathryn Casey, JD, CELA

Date: Thursday, May 6, 2021

This session is being offered in connection with the Support and Education for Early Dementia Program through Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine, Mesulam Center for Cognitive Neurology and Alzheimer’s Disease.

For information regarding the Center and services, please contact Debbie Dyslin, LCSW, at 312-503-5559 or deborah.dyslin@northwestern.edu.

UNDERSTANDING THE SURROGATE DECISION MAKERS – WHO DECIDES WHEN YOUR PATIENT OR CLIENT CAN’T?

Date: Thursday, May 6, 2021
Time: 9:00am-10:00am
Presenter: Amy Gjesdahl, JD

This session, offered in connection with Transitions Palliative Care and Hospice, will discuss the types of decision-makers authorized by Illinois law to make decisions on behalf of a disabled adult including agents under Powers of Attorney, trustees, guardians, and health care surrogates. Before you can successfully work with these decision-makers, you need to (1) understand whether the decision-maker is legally entitled to make the decision at issue, and (2) know the extent of a decision-maker’s authority and what ethical standards he or she should apply when making decisions.

This presentation will discuss these issues, and more, along with questions commonly asked of elder law attorneys.

Continuing Education: 1.0 CEU for Illinois Social Workers, Counselors, and Nurses

Registration: There is no charge to attend, However, advanced registration is required. Please contact Katie Monahan Brooks at kmonahan@transitionshospice.com to register.

Paying for Long-Term Care – Uncovering the Medicare Myths

In celebration of May being National Elder Law Month, Melissa will focus on the concern and financial burden of paying for Long Term Care. A realistic look at our future or the future of an aging senior leaves many wondering “how can I afford to age?” Melissa will uncover the Medicare Myths and provide attendees guidelines and specifics that apply to Long Term Care Costs. Attendees will have an improved understanding of their options.

Presenters: Melissa Kallio, JD

Date: Tuesday, May 25, 2021

Time: 12:00pm-1:00pm

Location: Webinar or Phone

Registration: There is no charge to attend. However, advanced registration is required. Please call 847-462-0885 or email Events@Elderwerks.org to register.

Part of our “Have a Say in Your Summer and Beyond” Series. Click here to view the flyer.

Documents You Don’t Think You Need – Until You Do 

Estate planning is needed for all of us, regardless of income and assets. Many people believe that having an estate plan simply means drafting a will or a trust. However, there is much more to include to make certain all of your assets are transferred seamlessly to your heirs upon your death. A successful plan also includes provisions allowing others access your assets and make healthcare decisions for you in the event you become unable to do so yourself. 1 CEU is available for Illinois nurses and social workers.

Presented by: Helen Mesoloras, JD, CELA

Date: Wednesday, June 9, 2021

Time: 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM

Location: Webinar or Phone

Registration: There is no cost to participate. However, advanced registration is required. Please click here to register -. http://events.constantcontact.com/register/event?llr=txvqzbdab&oeidk=a07ehq2ww1hf80bd991

Legal Planning for Living with a Chronic Medical Condition – The Good, The Bad, and The Necessary 

When you or a loved one is diagnosed with a chronic medical condition, not only do you need to prepare medically, you need to prepare legally. This session will address important documents such as Powers of Attorney, Trusts and Wills. And this session will address important questions such as what legal options are available in planning and paying for your long-term care? How can Medicare, Medicaid, long-term care insurance, and personal care contracts maximize your quality of life?

Presented by: Melissa Kallio, JD

Date: Wednesday, June 9th, 2021

This program is being held in connection with Chicago Hyde Park Village, and is only for their members.

In this two-part presentation, these dynamic and engaging speakers will be discussing the challenges LGBTQ+ may experience when planning for later life; strategies to build strong relationships and effectively care plan with LGBTQ+ clients; why long-term care planning is a must, and what documents, resources, and information are needed to ensure a secure future.

Presenters: Kathryn Casey, JD, CELA and Jacqueline Boyd, LGBTQ+ advocate and founder of the The Care Plan

Date: Wednesday, June 9, 2021

Time: 5:30pm – 7:30pm

Location: Webinar

Registration for community members: There is no fee to attend. However, advanced registration is required. Call 847-462-0885 or send an email to events@elderwerks.com

Registration for Professionals: There is a $10.00 fee to attend. 1.5 credits for cultural competency will be awarded to Illinois nurses, professional counselors, social workers, and nursing home administrators. Call 847-462-0885 or send an email to events@elderwerks.com to register.

Click here to see the flyer for this event.

Part of our “Have a Say in Your Future” Series. Click here to view the flyer.

Wills and Trusts: What They Are, How They Work, and Much More

A will or a trust may sound complicated or expensive—something only wealthy people have. That is an incorrect.  A will or trust should be one of the main components of every estate plan. A will specifies inheritance which is the passing on of property, titles, debts, and rights after death. A trust, of which there are many types, is a set of instructions for assets that can be helpful during your lifetime and after. Attend this program for a detailed review of these often misunderstood, but important, documents. 1 CEU is available for Illinois nurses and social workers.

Presented by: Helen Mesoloras, JD, CELA and Vida Cruz, JD

Date:  Thursday, June 24, 2021

Time:  10:00 AM – 11:00 AM

Location: Webinar

Registration: There is no cost to attend, However, advanced registration is required. Please click here to register – http://events.constantcontact.com/register/event?llr=txvqzbdab&oeidk=a07ehrd1rrod15d5a9e

Click here to see the flyer for this program.

UNDERSTANDING THE SURROGATE DECISION MAKERS – WHO DECIDES WHEN YOUR PATIENT OR CLIENT CAN’T?

Date: Thursday, June 24th, 2021
Time: 12:00pm-1:00pm
Presenter: Amy Gjesdahl, JD

This session, offered in connection with Transitions Palliative Care and Hospice, will discuss the types of decision-makers authorized by Illinois law to make decisions on behalf of a disabled adult including agents under Powers of Attorney, trustees, guardians, and health care surrogates. Before you can successfully work with these decision-makers, you need to (1) understand whether the decision-maker is legally entitled to make the decision at issue, and (2) know the extent of a decision-maker’s authority and what ethical standards he or she should apply when making decisions.

This presentation will discuss these issues, and more, along with questions commonly asked of elder law attorneys.

Continuing Education: 1.0 CEU for Illinois Social Workers, Counselors, and Nurses

Registration: There is no charge to attend, However, advanced registration is required. Please click here to register.

Click here to see the flyer for this event.

Elderwerks Aging Better Expo: Planning Your Future Today

Date: August 9-13, 2021

Time: 9:00 am —3:30 pm

Session: Paying for Long-Term Care: Debunking the Medicare Myths

When you are diagnosed with a chronic medical condition, not only do you need to prepare medically, you need to prepare legally and financially. Besides having the proper estate planning documents, you need to know what legal options are available in planning and paying for long-term care. That Medicare will pay for everything is a myth. This session, presented by a certified elder law attorney, will focus on the limitations of Medicare and how Medicaid, long-term care insurance, and personal care contracts can be used to maximize you and your loved one’s quality of life. Bring your questions.

Presenter: Kathryn Casey, Certified Elder Law Attorney and Partner

Date: Monday, August 9, 2021

Time: 1:15 PM- 2:15 PM

For more information and / or to register for the Expo., please go to https://www.elderwerks.org/resources/seniorfair/default.aspx

Click here to see the flyer for this event.

Estate Planning with a Person who has Diminished Cognitive Capacity

This program, presented by a clinical neuropsychologist and a certified elder law attorney, will discuss (1) the role of a clinical neuropsychologist in objectively evaluating cognitive capacity for the purpose of estate planning (2) the primary uses and domains of a neuropsychological assessment (3) the levels of cognitive capacity needed to execute Powers of Attorney for Healthcare and Property, and other estate planning documents (4) the rights and responsibilities of an agent under power of attorney; successor trustee, and much more. Bring your questions.

Presenters: Certified Elder Law Attorney Kathryn Casey, JD, CELA and Clinical Neuropsychologist Jennifer Wilson Binotti, Psy.D.

Date: Wednesday, September 1, 2021

Time: 6:00 PM-7:30 PM

Location: Webinar

Registration for community members: There is no fee to attend. However, advanced registration is required. Please call 847-462-0885 or send an email to events@elderwerks.com

Registration for Professionals: There is a $10.00 fee to attend. 1.5 credits will be awarded to Illinois nurses, professional counselors, social workers, and nursing home administrators. Please call 847-462-0885 or send an email to events@elderwerks.com to register.

Documents You Don’t Think You Need – Until You Do

Long-term care and estate planning are for all of us, regardless of our assets. After attending this program, you will be able to:

-Discuss role of an agent under power of attorney for healthcare

-Describe the use of a power of attorney for property

-Explain a negative consequence that can occur when relying on the health care surrogate act

Presenters: Certified Elder Law Attorney Helen Mesoloras JD, CELA

Date: Thursday, September 9, 2021

Time: 12:00 PM – 1:30 PM

Location: Webinar

Registration for community members: There is no fee to attend. However, advanced registration is required. Please call 847-462-0885 or send an email to events@elderwerks.com

Registration for Professionals: There is a $5.00 fee to attend. 1.5 credits will be awarded to Illinois nurses, professional counselors, social workers, and nursing home administrators. Please call 847-462-0885 or send an email to events@elderwerks.com to register.

Understanding Special Needs Trusts – A Valuable Tool for People Who Have Special Needs

Living with a disabling condition can be not only challenging, but also expensive.  Special Needs Trusts were designed to protect people living with a disability and to maximize their quality of life, their access to benefits, and to good care.  Also known as a supplemental needs trust, this legal tool is designed to hold and protect assets for the benefit of a person with a disability. This presentation will explain the different types of trusts, their uses, benefits and more.

Presenter: Attorney Kathryn Casey, JD, CELA

Date: Friday, October 1, 2021

Time: 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM

Location: Online

Registration: There is no charge to attend. However, advanced registration is required. Please contact Lauren Ewan at 847-884-0030 x2025 or lewan@schaumburgtownship.org

UNDERSTANDING THE SURROGATE DECISION MAKERS – WHO DECIDES WHEN YOUR PATIENT OR CLIENT CAN’T?

Date: Wednesday, October 12, 2021
Time: 2:00pm-3:00pm
Presenter: Amy Gjesdahl, JD

This session discuss the types of decision-makers authorized by Illinois law to make decisions on behalf of a disabled adult including agents under Powers of Attorney, trustees, guardians, and health care surrogates. Before you can successfully work with these decision-makers, you need to (1) understand whether the decision-maker is legally entitled to make the decision at issue, and (2) know the extent of a decision-maker’s authority and what ethical standards he or she should apply when making decisions.

Continuing Education: 1.0 CEU for Illinois Social Workers, Counselors, and Nurses

Registration: There is no charge to attend, However, advanced registration is required. Please click here to register.

Parents of an Adult Child who has a Disability – What Happens When You Need Care?

Parents who are both aging and caring for an adult disabled child have unique needs and concerns. They also have very unique legal needs and care planning opportunities, In this program, an attorney who practices in both elder law and special needs planning will discuss how aging parents can plan for their own care while protecting the financial and care needs for their disabled adult child.

Presented by: Attorney Kathryn Casey, JD, CELA

Date: Thursday, October 14, 2021

Time: 11 AM – 12 PM

Location: Webinar or Phone

Registration: This program is being offered in connection with the Linkages Program with CJE Senior Life. All are invited. There is no charge to attend. However, advanced registration is required. Please contact linkages@cje.net or call 773-508-1078 to register.

Legal Care for Loved Ones with Special Needs

The AMITA Health Autism Spectrum & Developmental Disorders Resource Center hosts the Seminar Series to provide professionals in the community educational information about all neurodevelopmental disorders as well as opportunities to identify and connect with area providers. Each month we invite a different speaker to address a variety of issues specific to the neurodevelopmental population. This month’s presenter will discuss special considerations across the lifespan, including later life planning for populations requiring additional support in daily activities. Presenter: Kathryn Casey, JD, CELA Dutton Elder Law Title: Legal Care for Loved Ones with Special Needs

Learning Objectives:
1. Define cooperative and surrogate decision making
2. Explain the use and benefits of special needs trusts
3. Describe public benefits available and enrollment

Presenters: Certified Elder Law Attorney Kathryn Casey, JD, CELA

Date: Thursday, October 28, 2021

Time: 12:00 PM-1:30 PM

Location: Webinar

1.0 credits will be awarded to Illinois nurses, professional counselors, social workers, and nursing home administrators.

Registration: Click here to register.

A Legal Road Map for Aging Well

If the only certainties in life are death and taxes, then one of the major uncertainties is how our golden years will play out. We all hope to age well with excellent physical, cognitive, and mental health. But what about of financial and legal health? We must all prepare for the possibility that we may become ill, disabled, or lose cognitive function. Attend this program, presented by an elder law attorney, to learn how proper advanced legal planning can help ensure a smoother and safer journey.

Presenter: Certified Elder Law Attorney Melissa Kallio, JD, CELA

Date:  Tuesday, November 9, 2021

Time: 10:30am – 11:30am

Location: Webinar

Registration: There is no charge to attend. However, advanced registration is required. Please contact Jennifer Aiello, M.S., LPC, Social Services Coordinator, City of Highland Park, 847-432-4110 or jaiello@cityhpil.com to register.