Course Description
An examination of legal and financial topics related to aging. Focus will be on preparing gerontologists to work with older adults and their families as they navigate complex legal issues.
Syllabus
Student Learning Outcomes, Goals, Objectives:
Students successfully completing this course will be able to:
- Students will examine elder law issues from a gerontological perspective.
- Students will explain the guardianship process.
- Students will compare and contrast the use of wills and trusts.
- Students will draft advance directive documents.
- Students will evaluate different sources of income and paying for healthcare in older age or disability including Medicare, social security, Medicaid, military benefits, and long-term care insurance.
- Students will describe the purpose and significance of elder law.
- Students will recognize who is the client and whether the client has the capacity to act on legal and financial issues in an elder law situation.
Course Grading Information:
| Activity/Performance Measure | Percentage/Points |
|---|---|
| Participation | 72 points |
| Discussions | 30 points |
| Case Studies | 240 points |
| Papers | 158 points |
| Total | 500 points |
Letter grades will be assigned according to the following point structure:
Grading Scale
| Percentage | Letter Grade |
|---|---|
| 466 – 500 points | A |
| 450 – 464 points | A– |
| 435 – 449 points | B+ |
| 415 – 434 points | B |
| 400 – 414 points | B– |
| 399 points and below | F |
Attendance/Participation:
Attendance/participation is not a graded component included in the student's final grade for this course.
Course Materials Purchased by the Students:
No course materials are required.
Scholarly Perspectives
This course engages diverse scholarly perspectives to develop critical thinking, analysis, and debate and inclusion of a reading does not imply endorsement.