The Ethics of Elder and Vulnerable Adult Abuse

• ​Randy Nichols, Former District Attorney General Knox County
• Tammy Hicks, Assistant District Attorney Knox County

This session will discuss numerous ethical issues that arise when professionals are dealing with elder and vulnerable adult abuse situations. From doctors to lawyers to social workers to police officers to bankers, all professions that interact with elderly and vulnerable adults will, at some point, deal with an abuse or neglect situation, whether that’s physical abuse or neglect or financial abuse or neglect. This session will flesh out those issues, including discussing the applicable codified ethical rules that apply and looking at various hypothetical situations and the appropriate response to those situations.

Exhibit Area Open!
Networking & Partner Education

Welcome

General Session

• Philip Gentile, Special Agent, US Postal Inspection Service US Attorney and Homeland Security
• Paul Greenwood, Greenwood LLC / Former Deputy District Attorney General for San Diego County’s Elder Abuse Prosecution
• James Dunn, Director, TN Commission on Aging and Disability

Workshops

• Overview of Tennessee Elder Abuse Laws
  • Tammy Hicks – Knox County ADA
    • I will walk through the Elderly and Vulnerable Adult Protection Act of 2018 (TCA §§ 39-15-501 through 514) with emphasis on important investigatory aspects and prosecution points which are vital to prosecuting cases under these statutes. I will discuss common difficulties that arise in these investigations and prosecutions and will look at ways to minimize those difficulties.
• Protecting Depositors from Scams and Frauds
  • Cheryl Hartsell, Senior Vice President / Chief Operations Officer First Community Bank of the Hartland
• Situational Awareness
  • Danny Fay – TBI Special Agent
    • Situational Awareness is a course that is designed to teach participants the strategies and techniques for maintaining personal safety in various environments and circumstances. Identifying possible threats and understanding physical cues will be discussed. This course benefits anyone who is a public servant and works directly with the community in either a residential setting or within a facility.
• Conservatorship Basic Elements, Laws, and Most Common Questions & Answers
  • Bill Reeves, Attorney, Wise and Reeves
  • Lynette Edwards, Attorney, ETHRA / ETAAAD Public Guardianship
  • Ryan Hicks, Attorney, TN Commission on Aging and Disability
    •  What are the differences between a conservatorship and a power of attorney?
      
    • What powers does a Conservator have?
    • What does the conservatorship process look like?
    • Who can file for conservatorship, and does that person have to be the Conservator?
    • What are the responsibilities of a conservator?
      
    • Is the Conservator legally responsible for the ward’s actions?
    • Can the Conservator live out of the area?
    • What if a person only needs help with medical decisions, not  financial decisions?
    • What if a person only needs help with their finances, not medical decisions?
    • Is there assistance available to educate a new Conservator?
    • What is the Public Guardianship for the Elderly program?

Workshops

• Financial Exploitation / Fraud Prosecution
  • Bill Bright, Knox County Assistant District Attorney
    • How getting an investigation started early on can lead to a successful prosecution. In this presentation we will discuss how having good communication between EMS, the local medical examiner, the local hospital doctors, law enforcement, and the District Attorney’s Office from the beginning can lead to a conviction. In this particular case, the District Attorney’s Office was notified almost immediately by law enforcement and the local medical examiner which allowed the District Attorney’s Office to secure an Order preserving the evidence (the body of the deceased) upon death to allow for a full autopsy.
• Overview of New Group Home Registry Legislation
  • James Dunn, Director, TN Commission on Aging and Disability
  • Marcia McShane, Director of Unlicensed Facilities and Legal Affairs, TN Commission on Aging and Disability
• Patient Abandonment / Safe Hospital Discharge / Elder Abuse Protocols – Reporting
  • Annette Mendolia, PhD, HEC-C, Director of Clinical Ethics, Associate Professor, Department of Medicine, The University of Tennessee Medical Center
    • Participants will learn how to identify the stages of dying and possible risks at each stage. Specifically, participants will learn what signs may indicate neglect is occurring. There will also be discussion of the collaboration of Palliative care and Hospice care for the comfort of the patient and the family during the processes. Participants will also learn about the philosophy and origin of hospice care, as well as myths and facts about Hospice. The differences between hospice, home health, and palliative care will also be discussed.

General Session / Lunch

• Stress Management in the Real World – How to Identify and Work Through Stressful Situations
  • Dr. Farris Jordan, Psychologist, Private Practice

Workshops

• Cyber Crimes Basics
  • Nic Christian, TBI Assistant Special Agent in Charge (ASAC)
• TN Office of Criminal Justice – Elder Justice Initiative 
  • Laura Brown, Executive Director, Tennessee Alliance For Legal Services
    • An overview of the ongoing efforts in Tennessee related to the reduction of elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation from the legal services/access to justice perspective. Providers of free, civil legal services have a unique insight into the legal issues facing the population age 60+ in Tennessee. Additionally, the presenter will discuss common legal documents that all Tennesseans over age 18 should have and touch on the issues of competency and abuse and the devastating results if these important documents are in place.
• The Death Process & End of Life Care Options – Impact on Investigations
  • APS Nurse Kathy Cherry
  • Steve Yeatts and Roger Hill, Gentiva Hospice
    • Participants will learn how to identify the stages of dying and possible risks at each stage.  Specifically, participants will learn what signs may indicate neglect is occurring.  There will also be discussion of the collaboration of Palliative care and Hospice care for the comfort of the patient and the family during the processes. Participants will also learn about the philosophy and origin of hospice care, as well as myths and facts about Hospice.  The differences between hospice, home health, and palliative care will also be discussed.
• To Protect and Serve, A Detective’s Perspective
  • Captain James Hatler, Martin Police Department
    • This presentation will cover the trials and tribulations of agencies working together in order to investigate Elder Abuse cases. It will focus on the importance of these incidents and how working together is critical for success. We will focus on the law enforcement role and the problems other agencies have faced in getting assistance with these types of complaints, along with the importance of Law Enforcement’s involvement. Checking on our citizens is a critical part of policing, and should be at the forefront each day. We should take the time to examine these complaints to ensure nothing falls through the cracks and our citizens receive the service they deserve.

Wrap up & Adjourn – Program Shout Outs and Open Mic

Exhibit Area Open:
Networking & Partner Education

Welcome

General Session: TBI Resource Center Update:

• David Rausch, Director, TBI
• Greg Gonzales, Commissioner, TN Department of Financial Institutions,
• Amy Heaslet, Executive Vice President, TN Bankers Association
• Kim Bohannon, Chief Innovation Officer, TN Credit Union League

Workshops

• Mail Fraud and Money Order Scams
  • Philip Gentile, US Postal Inspection Service
    • This mail fraud presentation will provide the audience with information to help them identify and avoid being scammed out of their hard-earned money. Information about romance, lottery, work-at-home, and other scams will be discussed. The latest ways criminals are getting money from our elder population will be shared along with prevention options to keep your retirement savings safe.
• National Adult Protective Services Perspective – Model Programs and Progressive Legislation
  • Bill Benson, National Policy Advisor, National Adult Protective Services Association
• Developing a Powerful Collaborative Model – Building on What We Have Learned Through Multi-Disciplinary Teams
  • Honorable Lance Robertson, Director, Healthcare, Guidehouse / Former U.S. Assistant Secretary for Aging and ACL Administrator
• AARP – National Response to Elder Abuse and Financial Exploitation:
  • Paul Greenwood, Greenwood LLC / Former Deputy District Attorney General for San Diego County’s Elder Abuse Prosecution Unit
  • Mia McNeal, AARP TN, State Director

Workshops

• Adult Abuse and Neglect – Felony Murder Conviction
  • Bob Edwards, Assistant District Attorney, Roane County, TN
  • Jonathon Edwards, Assistant District Attorney, Roane County, TN
    • How getting an investigation started early on can lead to a successful prosecution. In this presentation we will discuss how having good communication between EMS, the local medical examiner, the local hospital doctors, law enforcement, and the District Attorney’s Office from the beginning can lead to a conviction. In this particular case, the District Attorney’s Office was notified almost immediately by law enforcement and the local medical examiner which allowed the District Attorney’s Office to secure an Order preserving the evidence (the body of the deceased) upon death to allow for a full autopsy.
• Case Review – Strategy, Solutions, and Collaboration
  • Tracy Armstrong, Program Director, ETAAAD
  • Angie Moorehead, CREVAA Manager, NWTAAAD
    • This workshop will walk participants through “elder abuse” several case scenarios, outline the steps professionals take from different perspectives, and discuss how collaboration among stakeholders facilitates and promotes positive outcomes for victims.
• TN DIDD Operations – Reportable Event Management System and Coordination with Law Enforcement Investigations
  • Jason Allen, TN Department of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilitie

Lunch / General Session: National Elder Justice Update

• Bob Blancato, National Coordinator, Elder Justice Coalition
• Bill Benson, Special Policy Advisor, National Adult Protective Service Association
• Lance Robertson, Principal, Guidehouse / Former US Assistant Sec. for Aging
• Paul Greenwood, Greenwood LLC / Former Deputy District Attorney General for San Diego County’s Elder Abuse Prosecution Unit]
• James Dunn, Director, TN Commission on Aging and Disability

Workshops

• Financial Institutions: Panel Discussion
  • Commissioner Greg Gonzales, TN Department of Financial Institutions
  • Amy Heaslet, Executive Vice President, TN Bankers Association
  • Kim Bohannon, Chief Innovation Officer, TN Credit Union League
• Advocacy Strategy – Working with Local, State and Federal Elected Officials – What the HATCH Act Really Means
  • Bob Blancato, National Coordinator, Elder Justice Coalition, President – Matz, Blancato and Associates
• The Psychology of Why Scams and Frauds are Successful
  • Dr. Farris Jordan, Psychologist, Private Practice
• Communicating with individuals with Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities, Mental Health issues, or who are in Crisis
  • Michelle Bagby, M.A., LBA, BCBA, Director of Behavioral Health & Crisis Services Clinical Director of the Tennessee START Assessment & Stabilization Teams
    • This presentation will include an overview of intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), how IDD can co-occur with mental health conditions (IDD-MH), why the IDD population is at risk for crisis, and important factors for interactions and crisis stabilization for individuals with IDD-MH. The presentation also includes information regarding additional relevant resources in Tennessee.

Wrap up & Adjourn – Call to Action / Next Steps