Legal and Ethical Considerations in Dementia Care: Capacity, Rights, and Clinical Practice
12:00 – 1:30pm via Zoom
1.5 Category I CEUs
Jan H.K.Cardin, Esq.
Sydney Gross, MSW, LCSW-C
Workshop Description
This session will examine the intersection of law, ethics, and clinical practice in supporting individuals living with dementia. We will review different key legal documents, their scope, the implications for care, and potential complications.
Participants will gain a clear understanding of capacity from both legal and clinical perspectives, along with practical strategies for assessing and documenting it. Ethical considerations in therapeutic care will be explored, with guidance for supporting family caregivers and advocating for the dignity, rights, and autonomy of individuals with dementia.
Learning Objectives
As a result of this training, participants will be able to:
- Differentiate between guardianship and power of attorney, including how each is established, the scope of authority, and legal implications for individuals with dementia.
- Define capacity in legal and clinical contexts, explore how dementia impacts cognitive function over time, and identify ways to evaluate capacity.
- Examine the ethical principles and challenges involved in providing therapeutic care to individuals with dementia, such as balancing autonomy, safety, and quality of life.
- Provide guidance to families and caregivers to support advocacy and uphold the rights and dignity of individuals with dementia
Jan H.K. Cardin, Esq. received her undergraduate degree from Brandeis University and subsequently earned her Juris Doctor/Master of Public Administration (JD/MPA) dual degree from Syracuse University College of Law and The Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs. Jan served as an Elder Law attorney with the Law Offices of Adam J. Roa, P.C. for twenty years. Her expertise is in Estate Planning, Financial Elder Abuse Litigation, Medicaid Planning, Guardianships and Probate. In 2023, Jan was named Super Lawyer in the area of Elder Law. To become a Super Lawyer, one is nominated by your peers and independently researched and evaluated for peer recognition and professional achievement.
Jan has been admitted to practice law in Pennsylvania, District of Columbia and Maryland, as well as in various Federal Courts.
Additionally, she has served on the Jewish Community Services’ Board of Directors since 2018 and became the Board President July 1, 2025. Jan encourages people to be proactive in planning to avoid the pitfalls associated with making decisions while in crisis.
Sydney Gross, MSW, LCSW-C grew up in Durham, North Carolina and earned a degree in Latin American Studies from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She and her husband moved to Maryland in 2015 and are members of Bolton Street Synagogue. Through her service with AmeriCorps supporting elderly, frail, and isolated individuals in Carroll County, she discovered her passion for social work geared towards aging. Sydney went on to earn a Master’s in Social Work with a specialization in Aging from the University of Maryland School of Social Work and is a Licensed Certified Social Worker – Clinical and a Certified Dementia Practitioner. She has worked in nursing homes and is now the Manager of Social Work for the specialty hospital units at Levindale Hebrew Geriatric Center and Hospital. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time outdoors and with her family.
Workshop Fees
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General Professional Community: $37.50
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Jewish Day School Educators, JCS Retirees, NJHSA Members: $30
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Current JCS Staff, Board, Advisory Council & Staff of Agencies Funded by The Associated*: Free with Code.
*To request your code and see a list of eligible agencies funded by The Associated, click here.
Jewish Community Services is approved by the Maryland Board of Social Work Examiners to provide
Continuing Education Units.
The Rosa J. Kolker Professional Development series is made possible with funding from Kolker-Saxon-Hallock Family Foundation, Inc.,
a supporting foundation of The Associated: Jewish Federation of Baltimore.