Finding the Right Fit: Decision-Making Supports and Guardianship- Online Course

Produced under the Elder Justice Initiative, U.S. Department of Justice. This FREE interactive, user-friendly online training provides information and guidance on supports for decision-making. Learn about: Supporting someone to make decisions; Legal options such as power of attorney, advance directive, and guardianship; and Serving as a guardian.
ONLINE Training: Finding the Right Fit: Decision-Making Supports and Guardianship

  1. Want to help a loved one make decisions? Do you or someone you know need help paying bills, juggling appointments, and managing life?
  2. Do you have a court-appointed guardian? Do you serve as a guardian for a friend or loved one?
  3. As a professional, do you look for ways to explain to your clients complicated concepts such as supported decision- making, power of attorney, and guardianship?

Finding the Right Fit: Decision-Making Supports and Guardianship can help. This interactive, user-friendly online training provides information and guidance on supports for decision-making. Learn about:

  1. Supporting someone to make decisions;
  2. Legal options such as power of attorney, advance directive, and guardianship; and
  3. Serving as a guardian.

Learn from realistic scenarios:

  1. Sam, an adult with an intellectual disability, wants to make his own decisions. His parents are worried about his health and safety. How can Sam and his parents work together?
  2. Jimmy’s mental illness contributed to his financial troubles. His sister has always supported him in times of crisis. If Jimmy has a mental health crisis, what legal options would allow his sister to manage his money?
  3. Maria, who had a stroke, cannot communicate. She did not have advance care planning documents like a power of attorney. How can her brother make sure her bills are paid and she is getting the best medical treatment?

Balancing Values. Finding the Right Fit is about:

  1. Protecting the rights of people to make their own decisions;
  2. Focusing on what the person needs and wants;
  3. Considering guardianship only if other options won’t work; and
  4. Making sure every form of decision-making assistance comes without the intention to influence, take advantage, or harm.

Registration

Online Training Course
or copy and paste: eji.courtlms.org

This training was produced by the National Center for State Courts with the assistance of the American Bar Association Commission on Law and Aging and supported by a contract awarded by Elder Justice Initiative, U.S. Department of Justice. The opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this training are those of the contributors and do not necessarily represent the official position or policies of the U.S. Department of Justice.

Author(s): National Center for State Courts with the assistance of the American Bar Association Commission on Law and Aging and supported by a contract awarded by Elder Justice Initiative, U.S. Department of Justice
Publication Date: 2019