Women Lawyers Association
Presents
Long Term Care Resident Rights
Long Term Care Residents Have Rights! Long Term Care Ombudsman Protect Them. How Can You Help?
COVID-19 put nursing homes and other long term care facilities on the front pages as residents suffered, first from high rates of infection and mortality, and second, from profound isolation as their facilities were closed to visitors. Those circumstances were extreme, but long term care facility residents are always among the most vulnerable groups in our society. Many are elderly or disabled, or both, and without family or friends to look out for them. Many are too frightened to speak up for themselves and, when they do, are often unheard. Who helps them?
Long Term Care Ombudsman (the singular is the same as the plural) provide free advocacy services for residents in long term care facilities. Residents can get help with concerns about their care, a facility trying to discharge them without good cause, financial abuse, and poor service. Any Advance Health Care Directive signed by a person in a skilled nursing facility (whether long term or not) must be witnessed by an Ombudsman; the Ombudsman must first determine whether the resident is capable of executing the document willfully and voluntarily.
Come learn about this important resource – and how you can help - from Karen Jones, Program Manager/Executive Director of Long Term Care Ombudsman Services of San Luis Obispo County, and Linda Beck, a retired attorney and Ombudsman.
The Women Lawyers Association of San Luis Obispo County is a California State Bar approved MCLE provider. This program qualifies for one (1.0) hour of MCLE participatory credit. Please Join Us (remotely)!
Please join the Women Lawyers Association for our June event
OUR SPEAKER:
Linda Beck
Linda Beck became an elder and health advocate to help others navigate health care and caregiving after her own – unexpected - experience as a caregiver. Like many people, she felt completely unprepared; caregiving upended her life and career.
Linda holds a Certificate in Patient Advocacy from University of California - Los Angeles Extension (awarded with distinction in 2016). She passed National Patient Advocate Certification Board’s examination to become a Board Certified Patient Advocate in 2018 (the first year the exam was offered). And she has 7+ years of service as a certified Ombudsman with the Long Term Care Ombudsman program in San Luis Obispo County. Linda supported both of her parents through late- and end-of-life.
Linda is a sought-after speaker, having shared at the University of California Santa Barbara, California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo, Hartnell Community College, New Mexico Addiction Education Network, American Association of University Women, POE, and other community organizations. She also has appeared on the radio and in other media, with The Reluctant Therapist, Wilshire Community Services, the Healthy Sceptic MD podcast, and numerous print and on-line news articles.
Before starting Square One Elder and Health Advocacy, Linda practiced law for 30+ years, with a focus on public infrastructure construction. To learn more, please go to www.SquareOneAdvocacy.com. You can reach Linda at SquareOneAdvocacy@gmail.com or 805.594.1671.
Karen Jones
In 1996, Karen joined the Board of Directors of the LTC Ombudsman Program. One year later she was elected Board President before becoming the Executive Director in 1998.
Karen is the Treasurer for the California Long Term Care Ombudsman Association (CLTCOA). She is Chair for the National Local Long Term Care Ombudsman Association (NALLTCO). She participates with many groups that comment on or advocate for legislation that can benefit care facility residents or the elderly.
She also participates in many San Luis Obispo County organizations, such as Adult Services Policy Council and the District Attorney’s First Responder/Elder Death Review Team.
Karen is a California native and lives in Nipomo. She has two daughters, four grandchildren, one horse, and several house pets.
Via Zoom
The day before the event (June 1), the WLA will email all registered attendees the Zoom conference information, password, and CLE handouts.
* Late registrants should e-mail Elizabeth Culley at eculley@amblaw.com and Maren Hufton at mhufton@calpoly.edu directly to receive the Zoom information.
** Registered attendees who do not receive the email with the Zoom information, should check their junk mail folders. If a registered attendee has not received the Zoom information prior to the event, please email Maren Hufton at mhufton@calpoly.edu directly.
Payment Information:
$15.00 per attendee, regardless of whether or not you are a WLA member. All proceeds will go toward the WLA scholarship fund and the other worthy events hosted by the WLA.
If you are experiencing a financial hardship and unable to pay for this event, please email the WLA at womenlawyersslo@gmail.com.
There are two (2) ways to make a reservation for this event.
(1) Pay Online Using the Reservation Link below
(2) Send a check to:
Women Lawyers Association
P.O. Box 3918
San Luis Obispo, CA 93403-3918
*If you are having difficulty registering online, please try using a different internet browser or email Elizabeth Culley at the email listed below to reserve your spot.
**Please include the name(s) and state bar numbers of the attendee(s) on your check.
*** Please email Elizabeth Culley at eculley@amblaw.com stating that you've mailed your check and the names of those who will be attending.
Please RSVP one week in advance.