Exploring Alternatives to Guardianship for Older Adults

Join us via Zoom as we explore alternatives to Guardianship for Older Adults.

The program will address the role of the National Guardianship Association’s (NGA) Standards of Practice and supported decision-making and other options. It will cover options to consider as an alternative to guardianship, less restrictive options to consider, assessing capacity and how one can combine options.

Speakers:
Erica Costello, senior attorney, ABA Commission on Law and Aging
Elizabeth Russo,  senior attorney at the ABA Commission on Law and Aging

Erica Costello serves as a Senior Attorney at the ABA Commission on Law and Aging, where she works on issues concerning adult guardianship, elder abuse, neglect, and financial exploitation, supported decision-making, and access to courts.  Prior to joining the Commission, Costello was the Adult Guardianship Attorney with the Indiana Supreme Court and assisted courts and the public on all matters relating to guardianship.  Costello earned a B.A. from Indiana University-Bloomington, a M.A. from Northwestern University, and a J.D. from Brandeis School of Law, at the University of Louisville, in Kentucky.

Elizabeth Russo serves as a Senior Attorney at the ABA Commission on Law and Aging.  Prior to joining the Commission, Russo was the Deputy Director of Alaska’s Office of Public Advocacy, a state legal advocacy agency which operates the Public Guardian’s office and the Office of Elder Fraud and Assistance in addition to providing respondent counsel in adult guardianship cases.  She headed the Alaska Public Guardian’s office from 2008-2019.  Russo received her B.A. from Wellesley College and her J.D. and M.P.H. from Boston University.  She has been a nationally certified guardian since 2008.