By Michael Kirtland, CELA, CAP, and Bridget O’Brien Swartz, Esq.
The 2017 NAELA Summit offered advanced-learning seminars, peer-to-peer collaboration, and networking opportunities.
NAELA hosted its third Summit in beautiful Newport Beach, California, in November. Sunny skies and mild weather provided the perfect backdrop for advanced learning, peer-to-peer collaboration, and creating new professional relationships. Summit attendees were able to attend a complimentary pre-program, Elder Law in an Era of Change – Expanding Your Practice, on Thursday morning prior to the Summit kick off at 1:00 p.m. This pre-program opened with an overview of proposed legislative changes we’ll most likely continue to see that will affect how we plan for our clients. A variety of client service opportunities were then presented by some of NAELA’s most respected leaders.
Alternatively, those attendees who wanted to strengthen their presentation skills and better understand “adult learners” were able to attend NAELA’s first live faculty development session prior to the kick off.
First-time attendees were encouraged to attend the First-Time Attendee Welcome Session. This informal session included tips and tricks to succeed at the Summit and an opportunity to connect with others and the 2017 Summit planning committee members. There was an option for all.
Keynote: What is POLST?
The 2017 Summit began with keynote speaker Susan W. Tolle, MD, Founder and Director, Oregon Health and Science University Center for Ethics in Health Care, explaining the need to turn advance directives into action as medical orders (POLST: Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment) ensuring treatment preferences near the end of life are honored. Dr. Tolle spoke of the need for physicians and attorneys to collaborate to ensure that the client/patient end-of-life wishes are granted. One example is making sure that your clients’ medical teams have a copy of the advance directive. The keynote message emphasized the need to have the “hard conversations” to find out what matters most to the patient/client as one nears the end of life. Dr. Tolle urged those present to help bridge the gap between medical professionals and legal professionals to make sure that client wishes are documented and followed.
Sessions Galore
The 2017 NAELA Summit brought the practice of elder law and special needs planning to life at an advanced-learning level with more than 30 focused, in-depth sessions in the following practice tracks:
• Abuse, neglect and exploitation
• Marketing
• Health and personal care planning
• Planning for special needs
• Paying for long-term care
• Planning for disability/incapacity
• Income/estate and gift tax
• Litigation
• Public benefits planning
• Practice management
Attendees were able to follow a full immersion track by attending all three breakout sessions offered in the practice area track or select from in-depth breakout sessions that focused on the application of law and the principles and ethics associated with them. Each track offered a relevant ethics breakout session. All sessions offered knowledge that attendees were able to take back home to apply to their practice.
Participants learned not only from the facilitators, who spent many hours preparing for their sessions, but also from each other. Through small group discussions, role playing, and interactive presentations, the participants shared their expertise with each other. NAELA members’ generosity in sharing their knowledge and practical tips never ceases to amaze. NAELA’s public policy team presented the latest legislative and regulatory proposals that could impact the elder and special needs law profession.
Networking, Networking, Networking
No NAELA conference would be complete without ample opportunities to renew old friendships and make new connections. This year’s Summit kicked off with a baked potato bar and slider station in the exhibit hall beginning at 11:30 a.m. on Thursday morning. Attendees were able to refuel before the Summit kick-off and learn about the products and services that our valued exhibitors offer. Participants at the Welcome Reception enjoyed an evening under a beautiful clear California sky. The culture of NAELA was in full evidence at the Welcome Reception, as attendees delighted in spending time with colleagues who shared their passion for serving some of the most vulnerable of our society. Opening day was capped off with a friendly but highly competitive game of team trivia hosted by NAELA members Wendy Cappelletto and Jennifer VanderVeen. Friday was a busy day of learning as a general session and 18 breakout sessions were offered. The day was celebrated with a happy hour at the end of the day with exhibitors and champagne.
For those of you who didn’t make it to Newport Beach this year, the 2018 Summit will be held in November 2018 in Chicago and promises to be another wonderful opportunity to learn from the best facilitators and, more importantly, from each other.
On behalf of the 2017 Summit Planning Committee, we would like to thank each and every attendee for their enthusiastic participation. We hope we see you all in Chicago next year!
Co-Chairs
Bridget O’Brien Swartz, Esq.
Michael A. Kirtland, CELA, Fellow
Members
Wendy Shparago Cappelletto, CAP
Richard A. Courtney, CELA, CAP, Fellow
Professor Roberta K. Flowers
Glenn A. Jarrett, CELA
Jessica L. Kruse, CELA
Stephen Spano, CELA, CAP
Tamara E. Trujillo, Esq.
About the Authors
Michael Kirtland, CELA, CAP, and Bridget O’Brien Swartz, Esq. are co-chairs for the 2017 NAELA Summit.